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Doubts about Michigan offer to GM

June 30, 2009 By

Governor Doyle is questioning how Michigan beat out Wisconsin in a bid to have General Motors build a new line of small cars in Janesville.

The automaker announced last week that it would build a new car line in Orion, Michigan, rather than reopening a facility in Janesville. Governor Doyle says he's curious how they beat out an offer from the Badger State. Even though he doubts he'll ever see the offer, the governor says he believes Wisconsin had a better offer on the table.

Doyle says Michigan won the new production line by offering temporary benefits Wisconsin already has in place. He cites a personal property tax credit on equipment over the next ten years, something Wisconsin already offers permanently.

Despite his curiousity, Doyle isn't offering any details of what Wisconsin offered GM to bring back work to Janesville. The governor says it was a "part of negotiations" and he's not going to talk about it publicly. 

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:03)

Filed Under: Business Tagged With:

Wolves are federally protected … again

June 29, 2009 By

The Federal government takes back its control of gray wolves.

One might find it hard to keep track of the on again, off again listing and de-listing of protections for the gray wolf population. As a result of recent legal action, gray wolves in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan are once again protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, at least until after public comment.

"That's basically the gist of the lawsuit – that there wasn't ample time for the public to comment on the final rule that de-listed wolves earlier this year."

Georgia Parham, spokesperson with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, says her agency reached a settlement with a coalition of animal rights' groups to re-list the wolves until the public has ample time to express their opinions and concerns. 

"So under terms of the agreement, which I understand still has to be approved by the court, we will provide an additional opportunity for people to comment on the rule."

Parham says wolves have exceeded recovery goals and are thriving under state management, so after an agreed-upon period of time, she'd like to see wolf management return to the states' control.

Currently up to 626 gray wolves are estimated to live in Wisconsin, from just 25 in 1979.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:21 MP3)

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation

Deer kill charges dismissed

June 29, 2009 By

A second Waupaca County judge has dissmissed felony level charges against the second of three men charged in a deer killing case. Monday, circuit judge Phillip Kirk issued an order dismissing 6 mistreatment of animal charges against 24 year old Rory Kuenzi of Weyauwega. Kuenzi, along with his brother, 23 year old Robbie Kuenzi and 23 year old Nicholas Hermes, both also of Weyauwega, were all charged in connection with the running down of deer with snowmobiles in the Waupaca County town of Lind in January.

Earlier this month, circuit judge John Hoffman dismissed the felony charges against Robbie Kuenzi. Lawyers for the two men argued that since misdemeanor hunting charges were also filed, the mistreatment of animals statue didn't apply. The judges agreed. the misdemeanor hunting charges against the two remain. Hermes has a hearing in front of Waupaca County judge Ray Huber July 22nd.

 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Legislative leaders see budget differently

June 29, 2009 By

Democratic and Republican leaders have differing views of the state budget signed today. With the governor's signature on the $62 billion, two year spending plan, Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan said he's proud of the budget work done by Democrats – without Republicans.

"We did everything we could to ask them to be a part of this," said Sheridan. "And quite frankly, their response was 'our number one goal is the next election, to take back the majority."

But Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald said Sheridan's Democrats have gone on a tax hiking, fee increasing bender. "You know, we're at five billion in new taxes and fees in just over five months of the legislature being controlled by Democrats," said Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald said the budget signed by Governor Jim Doyle increases state spending by six and a half percent – and pays for it with a variety of tax and fee increases, while doing nothing to spur job creation. He predicts that – absent an improvement in the economy – a budget repair bill will be needed.

State Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Democrats are hanging their hats on a couple of claims. First of all, that they got the budget done on time. "I can tell you right here today, I'd rather be sitting at the conference committee table into September or October, if it meant that we could whittle out some of these tax increases," said Fitzgerald. "It's five billion dollars in new taxes. Five billion with a B. I think once Wisconsinites hear that, and figure out that that's the bottom line on this budget, they're not gonna be happy."

 

As for Doyle's budget vetoes, Fitzgerald said the governor eliminated some pork in a few items, but otherwise fell far short of the mark, with a budget hung with "Christmas tree ornaments" for Democratic lawmakers to take back to their districts.

 

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Budget, Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Governor signs state budget

June 29, 2009 By

Governor Jim Doyle signs state budget For the first time since 1977, Wisconsin's state budget has been signed into law before the end of the fiscal year.

Governor Jim Doyle signed the budget bill Monday morning during a ceremony at the Executive Residence. Doyle says the $62 billion spending plan protects his top priorities, while making some of the deepest cuts ever in state history.

The governor made 81 vetoes to the plan, which he says will reduce spending by $10 million. Those include changes to provisions on education funding, motor vehicle insurance requirements, and the state's film tax credit program. Doyle also vetoed a provision that would have allowed for the creation of a Milwaukee regional transit authority, saying the measure put the process on the "wrong track."

Many items remained untouched in the budget, such as a plan to lower capital gains tax exemptions and a 75-cent increase in the cigarette tax. The budget also makes cuts to state agencies across the board and could result in over a thousand state workers being laid off.

Republicans say the plan is filled with special interest policy items and billions in new spending. Doyle maintains that it actually cuts state spending and any increase is due to funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Governor says it's easy for Republicans to criticize from the sidelines. 

AUDIO: Doyle's budget message (MP3 24:46)

Filed Under: Budget, Politics & Government, Top Story
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