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Governor signs Malinda's Act

March 27, 2009 By

Gov. Doyle signs Malindas Act at the Capitol Legislation that imposes tough new restrictions on traveling sales crews has been signed into law by the Governor.

Governor Jim Doyle says the bill, known as Malinda's Act, regulates an industry that's gone unchecked for far too long. The measure signed Thursday afternoon requires companies employing traveling sales crews to pay semi-monthly wages and prevents them from seizing cell phones or ID cards from the workers. It also requires companies to register with the state, conduct criminal background checks, and make sure vehicles used to transport sales crew meet safety standards.

The legislation is named for Malinda Turvey, one of seven members of a traveling sales crew who were killed in a van crash near Janesville ten years ago. Doyle says the crash shed light on an unchecked and abusive industry. He says it's unfortunate that it took a decade to pass the measure.

Malinda's father, Phil Ellenbecker, thanked the governor and lawmakers who continued the fight to pass the legislation.

Companies who use traveling sales crews have raised concerns that it will make it harder for them to do business in Wisconsin. If they treat their employees fairly, Doyle says they have nothing to worry about. 

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:01)

Filed Under: Legislature, Top Story

Electronic filing prompts concerns

March 27, 2009 By

A state lawmaker is worried Wisconsin's electronic filing system for campaign finance reports could prevent people from considering a run for public office.

State Senator Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) says the system being used by the Government Accountability Board is confusing and hard to understand for the non-tech savvy. He says it may be keeping some potential candidates from running for office, because they're worried about being unable to meet filing requirements.

The concerns were raised this week during a confirmation hearing for GAB member Judge Gordon Myse. The judge admits the new technology can be hard for some candidates to adapt to. However, Myse says staff help is available for candidates who are having a hard time using the system.

Ellis says candidates should still be able to file a hard copy of their reports, which GAB staff could then adapt for electronic use. The Neenah Republican plans to draft legislation that would give candidates the option to file a paper report, instead of an electronic version.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:05)

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Study finds little difference between voucher, MPS students

March 27, 2009 By

A study shows few performance differences between voucher students and those in Milwaukee Public Schools. UW-Madison's Dr. John Witte says the study shows no significant differences between students in Milwaukee Choice schools and Milwaukee Public Schools. "There is no overall statistically significant difference between the MPCP and MPS student achievement growth in either math or reading, one year after they were carefully matched to each other," said Witte. "Average achievement growth in MPCP tended to be somewhat higher than MPS, especially in math," he said, but added that the differences were not statistically significant. 

Voucher students did not do as well as MPS students in fourth grade. In 8th grade, voucher students did a little better than MPS students in two out of three subjects. Deb Lindsey, director of research in the Milwaukee Public Schools, said she's not surprised by the findings – kids in all Milwaukee schools face enormous challenges. "Kids in Milwaukee, particularly kids in poverty, are underachieving," said Lindsey, something that was known even before the study began. Researchers compared the kids in the past two school years.

"It's clear to me that we are grossly failing the vast majority of our kids in this community right now," said Cory Nettles, a voucher supporter and founder of the Milwaukee Quality Education Initiative. "We have a moral obligation and responsibility to do better." Susan Mitchell, President of School Choice Wisconsin, saying failing voucher schools should be removed. "The reports indicate a wide variation of performance levels," noted Mitchell. "We should utilize existing means, and develop new ones, to remove low performing schools from the program."

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:50 MP3)

Filed Under: Education

Report shows hospitals' impact

March 26, 2009 By

A new report examines the economic impact of Wisconsin's 145 hospitals. "I think probably the scope and the scale of the hospital sector would surprise many people," says Professor Andrew Lewis, community development specialist with the Center for Community and Economic Development at UW-Extension . "Most people in communities that are served by hospitals recognize hospitals as major employer. I doubt whether they have a complete understanding as to how big that sector is."

Generating more than $22 billion dollars in economic activity, and employing more than 100,000 people in Wisconsin, Lewis says hospitals are among the top ten employers in a majority of the state's 72 counties, and are among the top five employers in 20 counties. The study from UW Extension and the Wisconsin Hospital Association indicates the health sector is an economic mainstay that provides stability and growth, while remaining less sensitive to economic downturns than other industries.

Filed Under: Business, Health & Medicine

Doyle: "God help us"

March 26, 2009 By

Fond du lac 061708 (Photo: Jamie Haack/American Red Cross) Governor Doyle is appealing to a “higher authority” today when it comes to spring flooding.

With spring rains already causing flooding concerns across southern Wisconsin, the governor says he's watching the situation closely. Speaking this morning to a statewide conference on emergency management, Doyle said “God help us” that the flooding isn't as bad as last year.

Doyle says last year's record flooding in southern Wisconsin gave emergency management personnel valuable experience, so they are more prepared if there's a repeat of the devastation this spring.

Doyle also responded to complaints from residents around Crystal and Fish Lake in northwestern Dane County, who are upset that the DNR hasn't acted quickly enough to allow water to drain into the Wisconsin River. The governor says he has asked staff to look into the issue, and it is a situation they are watching.

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (MP3 :36)

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, Fires/Accidents/Disasters Tagged With:
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