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Assembly could act quickly on OWI reforms

August 26, 2009 By

The Assembly will return to the Capitol in September to vote on a number of bills that have piled up over the summer, and Democratic Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) says one of their top priorities will to be to reform the state’s drunk driving laws.

Sheridan says he’d like to see a package of bills taken up and passed by lawmakers within the first two weeks of their return to the Capitol next month.

Sheridan says a major focus of that package will be to create stricter penalties for repeat offenders, which include making 4th offense DWI a felony and increasing license revocation periods. He also wants look at requiring ignition interlock devices for first time convictions.

Many advocates for tougher drunk driving laws have called for OWI to be a felony on the second or third offense. However, Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan says that would put a huge financial strain on the corrections system. Instead, he says the focus should be on drug and alcohol treatment for early offenses.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:00)

Filed Under: Politics & Government, Transportation, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Feingold town hall meeting in New Richmond

August 26, 2009 By

Senator Russ Feingold thinks health care reform supporters may finally be getting a word in edgewise. Feingold says people interested in knowing what’s really in the Democrats’ health care plans should go to the House of Representatives’ web site and look up House File 3200 – because the Senate doesn’t really have a bill yet.

AUDIO: Senator Russ Feingold (:15 MP3)  

Local Republican, ‘Tea Party’ and anti-abortion groups urged members to pack the meeting, and some 150 people who attended loudly cheered opponents of health care reform legislation, and tried to shout down supporters of a public option.

AUDIO: Feingold (:15 MP3)

Feingold sat calmly as speakers called Social Security and Medicare “theft” and demanded elimination of those programs, federal education support and programs for the poor.

Feingold said last week he didn’t think a health care reform bill ‘would pass by Christmas or even this year’ but now thinks supporters have ‘balanced’ the debate after opponents dominated the early discussions.

AUDIO: Feingold (:25 MP3)

Feingold calls the death of Senator Edward Kennedy a huge loss, although not one that will have a practical effect on the health care debate

Submitted by Jeff Petersen, WIXK

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Manitowoc mayor back to work

August 26, 2009 By

Manitowoc’s banged up mayor is back at work after a weekend skydiving accident. “I’m feeling a little better, still have a quite a headache,” says Mayor Justin Nickels.

Nickels was jumping tandem with instructor Andy Van Handel of Green Bay at Moosefest-a benefit for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin- when they rolled and slid an estimated 40 feet after landing. The mayor struck his head, and struck the leg of spectator Steve Scheur. Scheuer broke his leg and will undergo surgery sometime next week.

AUDIO: Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels (:15 MP3)

Submitted by Damon Ryan, WOMT

Filed Under: Human Interest

More green degrees in Wisconsin

August 26, 2009 By

Profiting while protecting the earth, that’s what a new degree program offered through UW-Extension teaches. The Dean of Continuing Education, Outreach and E- Learning says the B.S in Sustainable Management encompasses business systems, social systems and natural systems. David Schejbal says learning how those three areas interact is key for the curriculum. Students can expect to learn about carbon trading, reducing water use to increase bottom line, in addition to creating close ties with the community to have a productive workforce.

Schejbal says the market will see a growth in these skills which can be applied in many fields. The Obama administration also predicts a 52-percent increase in green jobs by 2016.

The Sustainable Management courses, available online, are available through UW Parkside, Stout, River Falls, and Superior.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :55)

Filed Under: Economy, Education, Environment & Conservation

China a big red bandage?

August 26, 2009 By

The health care debate has revived focus on the nation’s debt as critics of the Democrats’ plan say it will sink the country further into the hole. Meanwhile citizens at town halls have expressed fears of China slowly taking over by continuing to absorb the US debt.

Barrett McCormick, Chairman of Marquette University’s Political Science Department, says the relationship between the two nations is “very ambiguous.” He says militarily China is not an American ally although there has been some collaboration on some issues such as dealing with North Korea.

Economically speaking there is an incentive for continued cooperation among the two parties, according to McCormick. China needs the US to maintain strong currency and to continue importing their goods. The US needs the Asian nation to continue lending money.

The political scientist says China is becoming concerned with the value of the dollar deflating and the American economy not being as productive as it once was.

Meanwhile President Obama recently announced the federal deficit is expected to reach 9 trillion dollars over the next decade, two trillion more than estimated earlier.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :70)

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Labor, Politics & Government
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