WisPolitics News Summary
Tuesday, 17 July 2001
www.wispolitics.com
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers
From WisPolitics.com ...
--Mexican President Fox is expected to speak at a Milwaukee event this morning.
--A coalition of those involved in homeless issues has its second day of proceedings at the Sheraton Inn in Madison. Go to www.projecthomewi.org
--U.S. Rep. Mark Green is winning the latest WisPolitics.com online poll. Check it out in the right-hand column at www.wispolitics.com
TOP STORIES
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"TRIBE WILL TRY TO FORCE TALKS ON CASINO," Lac du
Flambeau Chippewa plan to immediately invoke 'dispute
resolution clause' in 1992 gaming compact, giving
state 30 days to meet tribe to work out dispute over
Shullsburg casino in Lafayette County.
Monterrey-Millett for McCallum said state will meet
within 30 days, but gov not required to satisfy 'good
faith' bargaining until casino has BIA approval.
Lafayette Board Chair Sauer and Shullsburg Mayor
Morrissey urged talks, said state ignoring plight
brought by use-value assessment. By Richard W.
Jaeger, WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL
"DEMOCRATS CRITICAL OF GOP LEGAL FEES, Republicans set
aside almost $1 million for redistricting battle,"
Senate Dem Leader Chvala called it "an outrageous sum
of money' for one house during 'time of austerity.'
Assembly Chief Clerk Scocos noted $280,802 paid to
date. Senate Chief Clerk Schneider noted $65,362 paid
to-date to Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field. Baas for
Jensen said Assembly preparing for big bill, unlike
shocker of 1990. Also Assembly Dem Leader Black
released LFB figures showing property tax increased
due to GOP budget measures. By RP Jones, MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL
"STATE MAY SUE MMSD FOR DUMPING, DNR says 8 sewage
discharges violated permit," DNR Sec. Bazzell, MMSD's
Mark Kass and Michael McCabe, enviro lawyer Karen
Schapiro comment on situation. By Rohde, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
For the DNR press release and MMSD response, see the WisPolitics.com
press releases posted yesterday:
"OFFICIALS IRKED BY PLAN TO PAY FOR DA POSITIONS,
Revenue from fines, forfeitures," 2 county clerk of
courts, WisCounties' O'Connell, Dem Rep. Balow asking
McCallum to veto funding Asst. DA's by using excess
fines and forfeitures. Chippewa DA Rachel Anderson
defended plan. By Chris Vetter, EAU CLAIRE LEADER
TELEGRAM
"PREVAILING WAGE CHANGES RAISE INDUSTRY EYEBROWS,
Budget proposals would include public jobs, contractor
records," AGC's Boullion, Staab Construction's Jeff
Graves complain budget would force contractors to
keep prevailing wage data as Open Records, allowing
public to bypass DWD in requesting info. Ironworkers
unions Brent Emons said it would lead to quicker
enforcement. DWD's Howard Bernstein rebutted.
Boullion, ABC's Mielke will lobby McCallum for veto.
Mielke added complaint about provision forcing DWD to
add public jbs into prevailing wage calculation. By
Jeremy Harrell, MILWAUKEE DAILY REPORTER
"WHY ARE HOMEOWNERS SUBSIDIZING CABLE TV?" GOP Rep.
Hoven's, Dem Sen. Moen's budget amendment would
exempt digital equipment owned by cable TV stations
from property taxes, primarily benefiting Time Warner
and Charter Communications. $12 million off rolls in
Milwaukee. Industry campaign donations listed to
Hoven and Moen, who both declined interview. Lobbyist
Tom Hanson noted broadcasters already have exemption.
Also, Sunday's London Times extolled Milwaukee Choice
program. By Murphy, MILWAUKEEWORLD.COM
"CLASS REVOLT - WILL TONY BLAIR LEARN THIS LESSON?"
London Times story mentioned Milwaukee Choice, from
June 17, 2001 issue, Review section
"SHERMAN: NORTHERN WISCONSIN WILL DO WELL IN BUDGET,"
Dem Rep. Sherman said, 'When all is said and done, the
budget will still be very much like the budget passed
by Joint Finance,' pushed 'zero-based' budgeting,
'That way, each agency has to justify its existence,
not just an increase or decrease.' By Hinkel, Capitol
News Service, UP NORTH WISCONSIN
"LEGISLATORS SEE OPENING ON STEM CELL STUDIES, In a
Divided Congress, Lawmakers Are Writing Bills,
Scheduling Hearings and Lobbying President," By Ceci
Connolly, WASHINGTON POST
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION editorial: "HCFA becomes
CMS: A name to live up to, Can HHS Secretary Tommy
Thompson do as good a job with reducing Medicare
hassles as he did in finding a new name for HCFA? . .
Thompson has shown he can create the right imagery in
a few words. What remains to be seen is if he can be
as rigorous and creative in paring down Medicare's
hassles."
"HHS ANNOUNCES NEW 'MICRO-GRANT' APPROACH TO ENLIST
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR HEALTH GOALS," By US NEWSWIRE
"MEDICARE PATIENTS WHO TELL OF POOR DOCTOR CARE WIN
RIGHT TO LEARN OF FINDINGS," federal judge ruling. By
Pear, NYTIMES
WISCONSIN
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WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL
-- "GOP BUDGET HIKES PROPERTY TAX MORE, Democrat plan
has smaller rise," LFB analysis shows $276 hike on
$106,671 home with Assembly budget, $198 hike under
Senate budget. Assembly Dem Leader Black touted
results. Speaker Jensen said Dems higher on all taxes
combined. By Milfred (not available online)
-- "LABOR SUPPORTS ALASKA DRILLING, Unions unlikely
backer of wildlife refuge plan," by Schlesinger,
Boston Globe
-- "STEM CELL SCIENTIST LEAVING FOR BRITAIN, The
California researcher says the climate in the United
States is increasingly hostile," By Elias of AP,
-- WSJ editorial: "DEAR COMMUNISTS: YOU HAVE A LOUSY
RECORD . . Here is the letter by Milwaukee Mayor John
Norquist that welcomed the Communist Party U.S.A. to a
convention in Wisconsin's largest city this month.
What follows is the welcoming letter Norquist should
have sent . . ."
-- "TOBACCO FUND CUT INCREDIBLE," OP-ED BY Wis.
Tobacco Control Board Dir. David Gundersen
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
-- "CHIPPEWA BAND SAYS MCCALLUM VIOLATED PACT, Lac du
Flambeau hope to force meeting on Shullsburg casino,"
Tribal Chairman Henry "Butch" St. Germaine,
Monterrey-Millet for McCallum comment. AG Doyle also
announced state was intervening in federal lawsuit by
3 tribes seeking Hudson casino, motion would allow
state to defend authority under compact law. By
Hinkel
-- "DASCHLE URGES AMNESTY FOR ALL ILLEGAL WORKERS, He
says Bush proposal shouldn't be limited to Mexican
immigrants," US Senate Dem Leader addressed National
Council of La Raza convention, 'Congress needs to
pass, and the president needs to sign, a broad
legalization program for undocumented, long-term
workers," so they can use Medicaid and CHIPs. Dem.
Sen. Lieberman also pushed legalization. Fleischer
for Bush said border safety, new guest worker program
being crafted, 'part of creating an orderly process to
what has been a very disorderly process along the
border.' By Durhams
-- "MEXICANS DESERVE MORE RIGHTS, FOX SAYS, In
Chicago, visiting leader pleads for undocumented,
doesn't call for amnesty," By Skiba
-- "LA RAZA CHARTER EFFORT WILL AID 2 AREA GROUPS,
Bruce Guadalupe school, La Causa Inc. are set to get
education grants," By Pabst
-- "NORQUIST RAISES $87,000 IN 6 MONTHS, But in the
same time span, he spends $71,000," mayor's top
adviser Bill Christofferson noted money raised 'without
lifting a finger,' shows 'the mayor has the ability to
raise a substantial amount of money if he does decide
to run again.' Some top donors listed. Council Pres.
Pratt and Alder Nardelli declared for mayor,
Municipal Judge Bobot possible. By Borowski
-- "RESIDENTS THINK MPS IS UNDERFUNDED, SURVEY SAYS,
But some question how money is spent," Public Policy
Forum's Browne comments on 900-resident survey done
with local consultant Debra Kenner. MMAC Pres. Sheehy
praised Super Korte on fiscal matters. By
Schulhofer-Wohl
-- "GROUP SEEKS TO IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY CLIMATE,
Accelerate Madison to help start-ups," Accelerate
Madison founder and president Chris Bedard comments on
plan to show businesses how to leverage info tech. By
Gertzen
-- "FAIR BOARD APPROVES EXPO HALL, $36 million
structure could be open for 2002 State Fair," GOP Rep.
Gunderson said some vendors worried about effect on
them, have contacted lawyers. By Toosi
-- MJS editorial: "A BAD SIGN OF THE TIMES . .
legislators . . quietly inserted - no billboards for
these guys - an item into the state budget that would
allow a company to clear trees, shrubs and virtually
any vegetation on public right of way up to 700 feet
in front of its billboard . . If some lawmakers are
bound and determined to cut something that may
interfere with the public's view, they can start with
this item." (see similar editorial at Ashland)
-- Spivak-Bice column: "OUT-OF-STATE VENDORS ON TAX
COLLECTOR'S LIST . . Capitol types scrounging for
every nickel . . painstakingly going through their tax
records looking for out-of-state merchants who hawked
their wares at fairs and festivals here but failed to
pay Wisconsin income taxes," DOR's Tom Beyer comments
on search for tax deadbeats. Also blurbs on Nii-Jii
Entertainment - Kenosha Casino, and WMC's Pugh and
RPW's Fischer turned down offers to replace McCallum
spokeswoman Hull.
GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE
-- "MERCURY EMISSIONS TARGETED, Proposal would
regulate coal-burning power plants," WPS' Tom Meinz,
DNR's Jon Heinrich, Sierra Club's Uram sportsman
Garfinkel comment on DNR's proposal. By Scott
Hildebrand (see similar article at Wausau)
-- "BUSH RESIDENCY PLAN WOULD HELP AREA IMMIGRANTS,"
By Cynthia Hodnett
-- GBPG editorial: "IMMIGRANTS VITAL TO AREA . .
'Somewhere, somehow we need the immigrant population,
or we will fall behind economically and politically,'
[DWD's] Terry Ludeman . . told migrant workers and
employers at a business conference in Oconomowoc . .
respecting and welcoming diversity, understanding . .
problems of language and status, and offering help
when it's needed . . right thing to do and it's the
smart thing to do as baby boomers contemplate
retirement."
RACINE JOURNAL TIMES
-- RJT editorial: "PROCREATION BAN OVERSTEPS STATE
AUTHORITY . . Wisconsin's Supreme Court blundered
badly last week . . In a 4-3 vote . . along gender
lines . . backed the sentence . . on David W. Oakley .
. court blithely sweeps into the bedroom -- and the
maternity ward . . Such licensing and controls are
more suggestive of countries like China . . decisions
on procreation are the province of a couple and not
the state and this should not be used as a carrot or a
stick in the judicial process . . ruling should be
appealed."
ST PAUL PIONEER PLANET
-- "HISPANIC CONFERENCE ATTENDEES WELCOME IDEA OF
LEGALIZING UNDOCUMENTED MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS," La Raza
conventioneers comment in Milwaukee. By Kong of AP
-- "AVERAGE REBATE CHECK IS $330, Minnesota sales tax
refunds due by Labor Day," By Sweeney
ASHLAND DAILY PRESS
-- ADP editorial: "CLEARING THE WAY . . budget . .
provision allowing businesses and sign companies to
clear vegetation on highway right-of-ways could have a
staggering impact on Wisconsin scenery . . one could
erect a sign in an obscured area, then come onto the
public right of way and cut down trees as an
afterthought . . A travesty, yes, and abysmal public
policy . . trees should stay . . this provision that
should fall under the ax of a veto pen."
-- ADP editorial: "DON'T CUT STEWARDSHIP FUND . .
Assembly version of the budget cuts the Stewardship
Fund by $2.1 million . . Stewardship Fund raises
capital through the sale of bonds, the increase in
interest payments is minimal even if the committee
adopts the more generous Senate version -- which it
should . . ."
Dem Rep. Sherman op-ed: "GOOD SLOGAN MAKES BAD PUBLIC
POLICY . . In a series of cases in 1962, the United
States Supreme Court changed everything. First, the
court ruled in Baker v. Carr that federal courts had
the authority to oversee reapportionment . . Reynolds
v. Sims . . set the rules for all future
reapportionment . . result of these ill-advised public
policy decisions . . virtual disenfranchisement of
areas like ours . . time for Baker V. Carr, and its
progeny to be re-examined."
EAU CLAIRE LEADER TELEGRAM
-- "UW-EC STUDENT TRYING TO START GREEN PARTY,"
Matthew Mortwedt organized meeting for 7 tonight at
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library to establish a
local chapter of the Green Party. By Julian Emerson
WAUSAU DAILY HERALD
-- "MERCURY RULE TOO COSTLY, UTILITY SAYS, Power
plants would be forced to cut emissions," WPS' Ed
Newman, DNR's Jon Heinrich comment on DNR's new
mercury emissions rule, potential rate increase to
cover costs. Weston power plant mgr. Dennis Maki
pending DNR informational hearings. By Amber Paluch
GM TODAY
-- "TAX CUTS, EDUCATION REFORM WINNING ISSUES, GOP
governors say," 10 govs (featuring PA's Ridge and CT's
Rowland) and 2 hopefuls (Jersey City Mayor Schundler
and Mich. Lt. Gov. Posthumous) at RGA meeting on
Mackinac Island on Monday. By AP
THE NATION
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INDIANAPOLIS STAR
-- "MORE THAN 100,000 PUT THEIR NAMES ON 'DO NOT
CALL' LIST FOR TELEMARKETERS," Ind. AG Carter's office
began compiling list just days after General Assembly
enacted law in the session that ended in April. Law
takes effect Jan. 1. By AP
-- "DEMOCRATS WORKING ON PEG FOR VOTERS, Centrists
hope their message will give the party political pull
for the 2004 election," about 650 Democratic
Leadership Council members gathered in Indy today for
5th annual 'national conversation,' looking for 2004
wining message. By Mary Beth Schneider
-- "NEW LAW DEFINES TERRORISM IN INDIANA, Measure
classifies certain acts as felonies and enables
officials to prepare response plans," national
terrorism expert Peter Beering helped draft GOP Rep.
Ralph Foley's bill defining terrorism. By John Fritze
DETROIT NEWS
-- "LAWMAKERS IDLE ENGLER'S ONLINE TAX, GOP refuses
to help governor collect state sales revenues that add
up to $210 million per year," Mich. GOP Gov. Engler
ascends presidency of NGA next month, wanted Mich.
among 13 states with laws streamlining sales tax law
to help collect Internet sales taxes, but Legislature
adjourned without action on the bill, 'I hope members
talk to retailers when they're home. Maybe they've
been in Lansing too much.' State teachers union,
Realtors back measure, business interest mixed. By
Gary Heinlein and Charlie Cain
-- "GOVERNOR'S RACE FOCUSES ON CHOICE, Blanchard
questions Granholm's stance on abortion issue," 13
months before Dem primary, AG Granholm, ex-Gov.
Blanchard duking it out over which of them is really
pro-choice. By Laura Berman
IN FORUM
-- "VENTURA LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION TO RUN FOR 2ND
TERM," Minn. Gov. Ventura said 'biggest question on
whether I seek re-election is: Is there something I
can accomplish? . . not going to be governor just for
the sake of being governor . . I have to feel that I
can make a meaningful change to the positive. And
something has to be out there that inspires me to do
that.' By Christopher Sprung
BOSTON GLOBE
-- "TROLLEYS OR 'RAPID' BUSES: Decision near in JP,
Critics question plan's efficiency," Bus Rapid
Transit, at half the price of light rail, becoming
next national transportation policy frontier. By
Raphael Lewis
-- "MEEHAN MAKES BID TO RETAIN HOUSE SEAT, Seen
dropping out of governor's race," By Frank Phillips
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
-- "STATE STUDY: ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS POSE SLIGHT
DISEASE RISK," Cal. Dept. of Health Services
researchers stressed findings are not conclusive. By
Coren and Lyons
LATIMES
-- "POLL ON DAVIS IS AN EYE-OPENER," Cal. Gov. lost
46-41 to Dem US Sen. Boxer, lost 55-28 to Dem US Sen.
Feinstein in pollster David Binder statewide survey
in May. Poll of all voters showed only 31% support
for Davis. By Skelton
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