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JFC approves Impartial Justice bill

November 3, 2009 By

A plan to allow public financing of Supreme Court elections clears a legislative committee.

The proposed legislation would allow candidates for the Supreme Court to fund their campaigns with money collected from a tax check-off and the state’s general fund. State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) says the bill will bring integrity back to the high court, which has been tainted after recent elections because of heavy spending by outside groups during the campaigns.

However, state Representative Robin Vos (R-Racine) says the measure just makes taxpayers foot the bill for judicial campaigns. State estimates put the price tag of public financing at about $3.5 million. Vos says that money could be better spent elsewhere.

The Joint Finance Committee approved the plan Tuesday on an 11-4 party-line vote. The Legislature could vote on it later this week.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:09)

Filed Under: Legislature

Supreme Court hears marriage amendment suit

November 3, 2009 By

A lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s same sex marriage ban was argued before the state Supreme Court on Tuesday. William McConke, a professor at UW Oshkosh, filed his original suit in Dane County, arguing that the 2006 marriage amendment violated the state’s single subject rule for amending the constitution. A circuit court found that McConkey had standing to challenge the amendment, but that the referendum met the single subject test. McConkey appealed the ruling, and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen cross appealed, sending the case to the Supreme Court.

Madison attorney Lester Pines presented McConkey’s arguments before the justices. “The first section (of the amendment) relates to the definition of marriage – only a marriage between one man and one woman,” he noted. “The second section relates to something other than that, and what it relates to other than that is to restrict the rights of unmarried people.” Pines argued that in that in fact, the amendment as written had two distinct purposes: “to define marriage as between one man and one woman,” and to “restrict the legislature from providing . . . certain rights to unmarried individuals.” The definition of marriage, Pines asserted, “has nothing to do . . . with defining marriage as between man and one woman. It has to do with something else.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Human Interest, Politics & Government

Republicans want to roll back auto insurance mandates

November 3, 2009 By

State Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) wants to reverse auto insurance changes contained in the last state budget. He and other GOP lawmakers claim the increased mandatory levels of coverage have led to spikes in premium costs.

State Representative Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) says with the economic downturn, families should not have to deal with rate increases, some of which are around 50 percent.

At the capitol press conference, State Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) had issue with Democrats slipping the auto insurance mandates into the budget rather than risking public input by introducing a seperate bill.

State Senator Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) says despite the intention to require all drivers have auto coverage, the mandates will actually prompt some motorists to drop their insurance as they can no longer afford it. Ellis calls the mandates a “payback” to campaign donors.

AUDIO: Mike Ellis (MP3 :16)

Fifteen Republicans are backing the legislation along with one Democrat, Senator Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee.

Filed Under: Economy, Legislature

Deputy arrested on sex charges

November 3, 2009 By

A Halloween party with underage drinking in Rock County may have led to a sexual assault and subsequent arrest of a sheriff’s deputy. Milton police officers responded to an early morning report of a sex assault. Police Chief Jerry Schuetz says 38-year-old Steven Stenulson was arrested Monday as a result of the allegation and was jailed in Dane County.

Stenulson is on administrative leave, relieved of all police authority and had his weapon and deputy card revoked, pending the outcome of a criminal and internal investigation. This includes physical evidence that has been sent to the state crime lab.

Milton police are also investigating the home where the incident was reported. Schuetz says further enforcement is expected for the owners who permitted alcohol be served to minors.

Contributed by Beth Wheelock-WCLO

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Race to the Top bills continue to race through legislature

November 3, 2009 By

Governor Jim Doyle’s education reforms remain on the fast track at the Capitol. The Assembly Education Committee held a hearing Monday on a package of five bills which will enable the state to be eligible for federal Race to the Top education funding. Committee member, Republican Steve Nass, says it’s too bad it took the lure of that money for lawmakers to do something to help Milwaukee schools. “The trigger has always been, ‘if there’s money out there then let’s do it,’” said Nass, who called MPS “a sad story, a basket case,” and added that “instead of doing something even ten years ago, we really did nothing.”

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:65 MP3)

But Milwaukee Democrat Christine Sinicki said the point is that they’re doing something now. “I had some very major concerns and questions with the Race to the Top funds to begin with,” said Sinicki. “But . . . these are the changes that need to be made, to make Milwaukee better. And in order to make Milwaukee Public Schools better, we need to have the funding.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Politics & Government
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