June 19, 2013

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Ultrasound bill poised to pass Senate

June 12, 2013 By

Legislation which would require doctors perform or arrange ultrasounds for women seeing abortions in Wisconsin is poised for passage in the state Senate, after Democrats in the chamber used a procedural move to block a final vote on Tuesday. The Senate is due back on the floor at 8:00 a.m. Governor Scott Walker has already said he’ll sign the bill if passes the legislature.

The bill is from state Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), who has argued that such procedures ought to be part of the “standard of care” prior to any abortion. “It’s relatively routine to have that ultrasound, and this bill assures that every woman has that standard of care,” said Lazich. “There’s no reason a woman should have a lesser standard of care.”

Democrats, who offered numerous amendments to the measure, argued that politicians in the Senate are in no position to determine appropriate standards of care, and that the real rationale for the bill is to throw up further roadblocks for women seeking abortions. The measure establishes penalties for doctors who fail to perform ultrasounds or refer their patients to clinics where they can receive them.

“The intent is to tell a woman and her doctor they’re not capable of making a decision on their own,” said Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton). “We should be state Senators. We shouldn’t be doctors, and we shouldn’t be God,” said Senator Tim Cullen (D-Janesville).

“Instead of pretending that we’re that we’re trying to provide a higher level of care, just say “I don’t agree with abortion, and I want to put up all the roadblocks I can between a woman and her right to make that choice,’” said Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee).

The debate over the amendments featured plenty of frank talk – a virtual political vagina monologue – as Democrats repeatedly made reference to women’s anatomy. “Let’s trust women to make choices for themselves, and for the love of Wisconsin, let’s stay out of their vaginas,” said Minority Leader Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee).

“I went to my I-phone to look up the various methods of abortion” said Lazich, the bill’s author. “It describes the manual extraction, the vacuum extraction, or the machine vacuum extraction.” All of those, Lazich said, potentially more risky and painful than an ultrasound. Republicans did allow a Democrat amendment requiring free clinics to offer transabdominal ultrasounds as well as the more invasive transvaginal procedure.

Opponents of this bill (SB 206) and other GOP measures designed to restrict access to abortion rallied on the Capitol steps as debate got underway Tuesday. The bill also requires doctors performing abortions in Wisconsin to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of where the abortion is to be performed. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said that provision would require it to close its clinic in the Fox Valley.

UPDATE: The Senate passed the bill Wednesday morning on a party line vote. It now heads to the Assembly.

Filed Under: Featured Story, Health & Medicine, Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Elections and campaign reform bill ready for Assembly vote

June 11, 2013 By

A big elections and campaign reform package is headed to a vote in the state Assembly with many of the most contentious elements stripped out. Members of the Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee voted 8-1 to advance the amended bill (AB 225) to a vote in the full chamber on Wednesday.

One new provision would double individual donation limits to Assembly and Senate candidates and statewide offices, including governor. Current individual amounts are $500 for Assembly races, $1000 for Senate campaigns and $10,000 for constitutional offices. “A 500 dollar limit was pretty low, a thousand dollars for a Senate seat was pretty low,” said Representative Cathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls), the committee chair.

The contribution limits have been unchanged since the 1970s. Representative Terese Berceau is a Madison Democrat who supports the changes. “I don’t know how we can quantify more money since Citizens United,” Berceau said. “Really, it is unlimited money and whoever can raise the most. And right now, Republicans have a significant advantage over Democrats.” She said Democrats, who rely more on small donors, would benefit from the change. The limits would be tied to the Consumer Price Index and subject to biennial review.

Representatives of organizations who testified against the omnibus legislation when it was introduced a week ago found the changes contained in the amendment a mixed bag. Jay Heck with Common Cause in Wisconsin was pleased that provisions of the bill dealing with disclosure of outside groups spending on Wisconsin elections,voter ID, and the state Government Accountability Board, have been taken out. Other parts of the bill remain problematic. “This bill keeps in the ability of lobbyists to make contributions (to legislative campaigns) earlier in the process,” Heck noted. “We need that like we need a hole in the head. We don’t need lobbyists giving money earlier and more often. This a package that could have been worse. It’s better. The fact that it’s bipartisan is significant.”

“We like seeing online voter registration,” said Andrea Kaminski with the League of Women Voters. It legislation sets up online voter registration for people with valid drivers licenses or state issued I.D.  Still, Kaminski expects the most objectionable provisions of the bill will back later. “This amendment now has removed the most onerous, restrictive provisions for voters, but all of those things have been introduced individually. They’re not behind us yet.”

“I don’t necessarily think that this bill is a Christmas present to us,” said Berceau. “I totally anticipate that there may be a downside that comes later. We know that.” The only member of the committee to vote against the bill on Monday, Representative David Craig (R-Big Bend) said he still had questions.

In a sign that the measure may have prospect of passage in the state Senate, Senate President Mike Ellis told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he supports the concept of raising campaign contribution limits and allowing online voter registration, but would still need to look at the entire bill.

Filed Under: Featured Story, Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Baldwin rallies Democrats at state convention

June 10, 2013 By
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (Photo: Andrew Beckett)

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (Photo: Andrew Beckett)

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) says Republicans are more interested in fighting the same old battles than moving the country forward. Speaking to delegates at the Democratic Party’s state convention in Oconomowoc over the weekend, Baldwin criticized Republicans’ continued pushes to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to pass a budget she says will put up road blocks to economic recovery. The Wisconsin Democrat says all of those issues were talked about during the elections last fall, where both sides laid out their plans, defended them, and then Americans voted. Baldwin says Democrats won, and Republicans need to “get over it.”

AUDIO: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (:46)

The freshman Senator talked about the struggles facing the middle class and how changes are needed to keep that way of life from disappearing. She says Republicans need to work with Democrats on plans that will help strengthen the economy. She called on delegates to help send a message in 2014 by showing up at the polls and defeating Republican candidates.

Baldwin’s message was reflected by many other top elected officials in the Democratic Party who addressed the convention over the weekend. Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) accused opponents of the Affordable Care Act of spending $5 to attack the landmark health reforms for every $1 being spent to inform people about the upcoming changes, while Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) invoked the lyrics of Dionne Warwick, by saying Republicans choose to “walk on by” those who are in need.

AUDIO: Rep. Gwen Moore (:48)

State Sen. Chris Larson (Photo: Andrew Beckett)

State Sen. Chris Larson (Photo: Andrew Beckett)

Majority Republicans at the state level were also criticized by many of those speaking at the convention. Governor Scott Walker, the state budget, and proposed election reform legislation were all the subject of attacks. Senate Democratic Leader Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) referred to the budget, which the Legislature will take up later this month, as just a “huge tax break for wealthy Republican donors.”

Before the convention even got underway Friday, Republican Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Joe Fadness said in a statement that the GOP has been working to clean up a deficit and high unemployment left over from the days of Democratic control. Fadness said that “over the last two years Governor Walker and Republican leaders put things back on track. By balancing the budget, lowering the tax burden facing middle-class families and making it easier for job creators to succeed, we are now moving forward.”

Filed Under: Featured Story, News, Politics & Government

The recall, one year later

June 5, 2013 By
Governor Scott Walker becomes first governor in US history to survive recall election (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Governor Scott Walker becomes first governor in US history to survive recall election (FILE PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

A year ago today was a big one for Governor Walker, when he easily overcame a recall challenge and became the first governor in the country to survive such an attempt. It made him a darling of conservative Republicans and opened tremendous national exposure and fundraising opportunities, according to political scientist Charles Franklin.

It could also make him a viable candidate for president. Franklin says “his travel schedule right now, and the fact that he does have this national base of supporters, makes it very hard to believe that he would not test those waters for 2016.”

However, Franklin says the real question is whether he can do those things while still serving as governor, with the full support and enthusiasm of the voters, given that he first has to face a reelection bid for governor in 2014. Despite a heavy travel schedule with stops in key primary states and plans to write a book, Walker has so far downplayed any plans to run. Walker has frequently said he’s happy to be governor right now.

AUDIO: Charles Franklin (:22)

Walker handily defeated Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in the recall a year ago tonight. State Republicans are holding a rally in Pewaukee tonight to mark the occasion.

John Colbert, WIBA

Filed Under: Featured Story, News, Politics & Government

Budget panel rejects Medicaid expansion

June 4, 2013 By

The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee is standing by Governor Walker’s decision to reject federal funding to expand the Wisconsin’s Medicaid programs.

The budget provision adopted on a 12-4 party line vote Tuesday allows the state’s poorest residents to enroll in BadgerCare, while pushing those living above the federal poverty line toward federal exchanges. State Representative Pat Strachota (R-West Bend) defended the plan as the responsible way to deal with implementing the federal health care law, while lamenting the fact that Wisconsin even has to make changes to comply with the contentious overhaul.

Wisconsin is one of more than a dozen states to reject federal dollars that would allow those living at up to 133 percent above the federal poverty line to enroll in Medicaid programs. Democrats argue the decision means Wisconsin will miss out on about $120 million in federal funding and end up costing state taxpayers more money up front. However, Governor Walker and Republicans have expressed concerns about the long term availability of that funding.

State Representative Dean Knudson (R-Hudson) was one of several Republicans to point out that the federal dollars come from taxpayers as well, adding that the GOP plan was less expensive than an alternative offered by Democrats, once both state and federal dollars were considered.

The plan does include a $30 million increase in state dollars and $43.5 million in federal money to compensate hospitals for treating low-income patients and those who lack insurance. Democrats argue the provision shows the GOP recognizes its plan will fall short, which state Representative Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) called a “pitifully small and weak lifeline” that does nothing for people who need help.

Republicans did approve the removal of a cap on coverage for childless adults living below the poverty line, which will expand coverage to almost 83,000 people. They also added protections that will allow the state to continue providing coverage for families living at up to 200 percent of the federal poverty limit, if an exchange system is not in place by October 15 of this year.

Debate over the Medicaid provision raged for hours Tuesday, as the Finance Committee tries to wrap up its work on the two year state budget. The meeting was stopped at several points because of outbursts from protesters in the audience, who were quickly removed by Capitol Police. The panel is expected to continue meeting late into the night, with provisions dealing with school funding, a statewide expansion of private school vouchers, and an income tax cut still on the table.

Filed Under: Budget, Featured Story, Legislature, News
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