In this update:

• Legislative Updates
• Administration Updates
• Federal Updates

Legislative Updates

Vos on WisEye’s ‘Newsmakers’

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) was on WisEye’s ‘Newsmakers’ to recap the past year and identify goals for the upcoming year.

Topics included in the interview:

• Greatest accomplishments: shared revenue deal, housing package, literacy deal.
• Biggest disappointments: veto of tax cut package, veto of workforce reforms.
• Legislative priorities for 2024: Speaker’s Task Force bills, medical marijuana, UW-System, abortion referendum.
• Audit of DEI in state government.
• GOP confidence in 2024 election.
• Wisconsin Elections Commission.
• Support for Right of First Refusal (ROFR) bill.
• PFAS remediation funding.
• Legislative redistricting.

Watch the full interview: click here

Agard and Hesselbein on WisEye’s ‘Newsmakers’

Sen. Melissa Agard (D) and Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein (D) were on WisconsinEye’s ‘Newsmakers’ to reflect on the past year’s achievements and challenges and to look ahead to 2024.

Topics included in the interview:

• Universities of Wisconsin deal.
• Bipartisan bills passed.
• Becoming the new Senate Minority Leader.
• PFAS contamination.
• Education funding.
• Legalizing cannabis.
• Redistricting
• Possible future bipartisan bills.
• Childcare bills.
• 2024 presidential election.
• Goals and predictions for 2024.

Watch the full interview: click here

Audit finds wait times improving for DSPS licensing

According to a recently released audit of the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), the average time it took the agency to issue professional credentials in FY 2022-23 decreased significantly from the three prior fiscal years. The improvement in wait times was achieved despite the number of credentials issued by DSPS increasing 51% during the same fiscal year. The audit attributed the drop in part to DSPS’s adoption in May 2022 of an online credentialing system, called LicensE, to process health care credentials. The agency started processing business credentials in May 2023 using the same system. Meanwhile, the audit noted the need for comprehensive written policies for administering credentials. The audit also claimed DSPS “did not consistently provide in a timely manner” the information requested by auditors.

Addressing the findings that DSPS was unresponsive, DSPS Secretary-designee Dan Hereth said processing credentials as quickly as possible is his agency’s top priority and that he would not allow the audit process to “jeopardize our investment in modernizing our credentialing operations.” Sec. Hereth said that phase three implementation of the LicensE online credentialing system was delayed as a result of the “the significant audit demands.” Sec. Hereth also said DSPS has been working hard to update its policies and procedures as it continues to modernize its credentialing process.

The GOP co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Sen. Eric Wimberger and Rep. Bob Wittke, released a joint statement on the findings contained in the audit report. “It’s a recurring theme that agencies don’t have policies in place for basic operating procedures,” Rep. Wittke said. “The LAB offers excellent recommendations for DSPS to do better for their customers.” Meanwhile, Sen. Wimberger said the audit “demonstrates an apparent apathy from DSPS toward those whom they are supposed to be serving.” He said he expects “DSPS will work diligently to implement the recommendations given to them by the LAB, and take this as an opportunity to improve their procedures to better assist those trying to work in Wisconsin.”

Senate committee votes in favor of Blumenfeld nomination as DOA secretary

The Senate Committee on Government Operations voted 5-0 in favor of Kathy Blumenfeld’s appointment to serve as Secretary of the Department of Administration (DOA). Secretary-designee Blumenfeld was appointed by Governor Tony Evers (D) in January 2022 after leading the Department of Financial Institutions from 2019 to 2021. In this role, she also serves on the boards of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), the Wisconsin Center District, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

JCOER approves UW pay raises, Vos says DEI reform just beginning

The Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) voted 5-1 to implement pay raises for UW-System employees that were originally funded in the state budget. The raises were approved as part of a deal brokered between GOP legislators and the UW-System that would see over $800 million in new investment for the state university system in exchange for curtailing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) positions and programming on campus. The lone dissenting vote came from Sen. Chris Kapenga (R), who posted to X that he approved of the DEI reform, but not “wasteful capital spending on vanity projects” for UW-System.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) said during the JCOER hearing that he intended to continue working to eliminate DEI from state government. “We are not done yet trying to look at how pervasive DEI is throughout the entire system of state government,” Speaker Vos said. “I have faith that legislative Republicans will begin a much-needed long-term, in-depth review of every part of DEI in state government – be it in the Department of Corrections, or the UW System, the tech colleges or every part of state government. So stay tuned, this was just the first step, and hopefully a lot more to come.” Speaker Vos confirmed his interest in continuing to pursue DEI reform during an interview with WisEye the next day, saying the Legislative Audit Breau would launch a formal audit of DEI in state government starting in early 2024 with the goal of having a report submitted by January 2025. Gov. Tony Evers’ spokesperson Britt Cudaback posted to X that “We agree with the private sector—including our state’s largest employers, WMC, and local chambers of commerce—and will continue our efforts notwithstanding the small-minded objections of legislative Republicans.”

Neubauer appoints Baldeh to WEDC board

Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D) has appointed Rep. Sambeh Baldeh to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors. He will replace Rep. Francesca Hong (D). In a press release announcing the appointment, Rep. Neubauer said she appointed Rep. Baldeh because of his background in business and his ability to market the state globally. “With his experience in the private sector, both as a software engineer and as a small business owner, Rep. Baldeh has firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities that come with doing business in Wisconsin and knows the critical importance of investing in our communities.”

Commenting on his appointment, Rep. Baldeh wrote in a press release that he has “seen firsthand the challenges and possibilities that come with doing business in Wisconsin and the good that WEDC can create in our communities.” He also promised “to continue to serve as a voice for our underrepresented communities and to bring a diverse and globally-oriented viewpoint to the Board of Directors.”

Wichgers circulates new resolution to impeach Meagan Wolfe

Rep. Chuck Wichgers (R) is circulating a new resolution calling to impeach Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe for the use of absentee ballot drop boxes. Rep. Wichgers was an original co-sponsor of a more extensive initial impeachment resolution, which alleges 15 counts, including unlawful advocacy of the use of drop boxes. However, since being announced by Assembly Republicans in September and subsequently assigned to the Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight, the resolution has not advanced any farther. Rep. Wichgers’ new resolution claims Ms. Wolfe unlawfully authorized the use of drop boxes by sending local clerks the memos on best practices. The resolution also charges the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) found Ms. Wolfe “had exceeded her authority in authorizing the use of ballot drop boxes.” LAB released an audit in 2021 reporting that drop boxes were neither expressly authorized nor barred under state law.

Administration Updates

Evers urges legislature to take action on PFAS standards

Governor Tony Evers (D) urged the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) to release $125 million allocated in the budget to address PFAS contamination and asked the legislature to take “legislative action” that would enable the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to continue advancing PFAS groundwater standards after an analysis from the agency determined the standards cannot be implemented without further legislative approval. The analysis from DNR found the cost to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals to implement and comply with the rule would exceed the $10 million-limit established under the REINS Act by $23 million.

Gov. Evers wrote in a letter addressed to Sen. Rob Cowles (R) and Sen. Eric Wimberger (R), “To expedite resuming this important rulemaking process, and consistent with the commitment you made to me to pursue legislation to that effect, my office has drafted legislation in partnership with the DNR for the Wisconsin State Legislature to take up expeditiously. I urge you to do so without delay.” Gov. Evers further wrote that SB 312 is “not workable” without groundwater standards implemented. The drafted legislation would provide an exemption under the REINS Act.

Sen. Wimberger and Sen. Cowles were critical of the letter from Gov. Evers, claiming the administration had been dismissive of the REINS Act threshold in the past, pointing to surface water standards for PFAS promulgated by the DNR last year without legislative approval. “After years of Governor Evers and DNR inaction on comprehensive PFAS rules, and repeated assertions that the $10 Million REINS Act threshold was not triggered to stop them, now claim today that they cannot act because of the $10M REINS Act threshold,” Sen. Wimberger and Sen. Cowles wrote in a prepared statement. “The 13.10 request is another cynical attempt to maintain enforcement powers over pollution victims while wastefully spending with no plan.” The two GOP senators did not comment on whether they would introduce the legislation requested by Gov. Evers.

State’s general fund has positive GAAP balance four years in a row

Governor Tony Evers (D) announced a record high $6.7 billion positive balance in the state’s general fund for the 2022-23 fiscal year using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). According to the state’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the GAAP balance increased more than 40%, going from $4.6 billion at the end of FY 2021-22 to $6.7 billion at the end of FY 2022-23. Gov. Evers also noted the state’s Transportation Fund balance increased by nearly $40 million while the state’s total long-term debt decreased by more than $175 million.

“Wisconsin was facing a deficit when I first took office, but we’ve worked hard to make smart, strategic investments and stay well within our means to be in the best fiscal position we’ve ever been in as a state,” said Gov. Evers. “This work and positive news didn’t happen by accident—I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work of state workers across my administration whose efforts contribute every day to this positive news. We’ll keep working in the months and years ahead to maintain our state’s positive economic momentum and continue making the investments Wisconsinites need and deserve.”

Federal Updates

Biden touts economic policies, investments during stop in Milwaukee

President Joe Biden (D) visited Milwaukee this week to tout his economic agenda, as well as his administration’s investments in infrastructure. He also pushed back on comments made by former President Donald Trump regarding illegal immigrants. President Biden said “Investing in Black economic prosperity lifts everybody up. You know, we always believe diversity is our strength as a nation. I don’t believe, as the … former president said again yesterday, that immigrants are polluting — polluting — our blood.” He spoke at the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce to discuss his economic policies and announced a project to revitalize the 30th Street Corridor in Milwaukee as a finalist for a federal program that provides relief for economically distressed areas. President Biden also highlighted his administration’s efforts to replace lead pipes with the work of Hero Plumbing in Milwaukee. “This is the United States of America, for God’s sake,” Pres. Biden said. “Everyone should be able to turn on a faucet and know whatever they’re drinking was clean and pure and not have to worry about it.”

In a virtual press conference prior to Pres. Biden’s visit, Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brian Schimming said Bidenomics has driven up costs by 17% since the president took office. “So this is pounding everyone in society, and some could argue it’s certainly hurting some folks worse than others,” he said. “So we’re committed to being very, very active not only in the African American community, but in the Hispanic community statewide as well, because this president’s record is a disaster.”