The state Senate adjourned the last general-business floorperiod of the 2014 regular session on April 1, 2014, after passing more than 50 bills. The Assembly previously adjourned early on March 21, 2014.

Gov. Scott Walker has six business days to sign or veto legislation he receives. While the Legislature has no plans to return this year, Walker may call a special session to pass a bill requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.

Photo of the Wisconsin State Capitol courtesy of Dori on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a bill allowing lobbyists to start making campaign donations to candidates seven weeks earlier than previously allowed. 2013 Wisconsin Act 153 allows a lobbyist to personally make political contributions as early as April 15 of a general election year, the same day candidates can circulate petitions for office.

The Act also increases the registration threshold from $25 to $300 for committees making or receiving political contributions.

The Act is effective on March 29, 2014, one day following publication.

The Assembly has passed a bill to widen the ability of lobbyists to provide campaign contributions.

Senate Bill 655 allows a lobbyist to deliver or personally make political contributions as early as April 15 of a general election year, the same day candidates can circulate petitions for office.

Currently, lobbyists must wait until June 1 to make contributions. The bill now goes to Gov. Scott Walker.

The Senate passed a bill to widen the ability of lobbyists to provide campaign contributions. Senate Bill 655 allows a lobbyist to deliver or personally make political contributions as early as April 15 of a general election year. Currently, lobbyists must wait till June 1 to personally make contributions.

A proposal to allow lobbyists to deliver campaign contributions during a floorperiod did not pass. The bill now goes to the Assembly.

The Senate is considering campaign finance bills to narrow reporting requirements of advocacy groups and widen the ability of lobbyists to provide campaign contributions. Senate Bill 654 would further distinguish non-reportable “issue advocacy” from reportable “candidate advocacy.”

Briefly in 2010, the Government Accountability Board (GAB) used its own discretion to classify campaign activity until both liberal and conservative groups filed lawsuits.

Senate Bill 655 allows a lobbyist to deliver political contributions at any time and allows for lobbyists to make personal contributions as early as April 15 of a general election year. Currently, lobbyists are prohibited from delivering contributions during a legislative session and must wait till June 1 to personally make contributions.

The Government Accountability Board has updated the lobbying website at https://lobbying.wi.gov.

Visitors to the site can search by lobbyist or lobbyist principal to view total lobbying hours by lobbyists and total lobbying expenditures by lobbyist principals.

A lobbyist principal’s entire report can also be accessed, including the subject matter of lobbying efforts.

Gov. Scott Walker has called a special session of the Legislature to address the implications of the troubled federal launch of the Affordable Care Act.

The special session will begin on December 2, 2014.

Walker hopes lawmakers will agree to delay the transfer of over 77,000 Medicaid cases from BadgerCare to health exchanges.

Photo of the Wisconsin State House courtesy of Dori on Wikimedia Commons.

Lawmakers ended the 2013 regular session early Friday morning, November 15, 2013, after approving an anti-abortion license plate, increased coverage for mental health services, and changes to voting hours and voter ID laws.

The first special session concerning property tax relief concluded earlier this week, but Gov. Scott Walker plans to call a second special session sometime in December to delay the transfer of Medicaid cases from BadgerCare to health exchanges.

Legislators return for the 2014 regular session January 14, 2014.

Photo of the Wisconsin State Capitol by Dori on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Scott Walker has called a special election to fill a vacancy in the 82nd Assembly District.

The election will be held December 17, 2013.

If more than one candidate files for the seat, a primary election will be held November 19, 2013, the same day as special general elections to fill vacancies in the 21st and 69th Assembly Districts.

Gov. Scott Walker has called a special election to fill a vacancy in the 21st Assembly District.

The election will be held November 19, 2013.

If more than one candidate files for the seat, a primary election will be held October 22, 2013.

State lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at keeping former legislators out of the lobbying ranks following the end of their terms. Senate Bill 33 would prohibit legislators from lobbying for two years following the end of their public service.

Representative Dana Wachs, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “If we don’t start doing something about these issues, I think our republic is somewhat in danger. We’re supposed to represent people, not corporations.”

The state does not currently have a prohibition against lobbying after public service, but it does prevent state public officials from appearing, on behalf of someone else for compensation, before a governmental entity under the former official’s responsibility for one year following employment.

Photo of the Wisconsin Capitol Building by Dori on Wikipedia.

Governor Scott Walker has set the date for the special election to fill the vacant 98th district state assembly seat. The date will coincide with the already scheduled spring primary and general elections on February 19 and April 2 respectively.

Representative Paul Farrow’s former seat is vacant because he won a special election for a state senate seat in early December.

Four republicans have already announced their intention to run for the seat, but it is unclear who will run on the democratic side.

Governor Scott Walker announced the dates of the special elections for a state Senate seat that was recently vacated. Rich Zipperer resigned his seat in 33rd senate district, which represents the Milwaukee area, to serve as Walker’s chief of staff.

The special primary election will take place on November 6 and the general election will take place on December 4. The primary elections will only take place if there are two or more candidates from the same party who declare for the seat.

Two republican candidates have already announced their intentions to run for the Senate seat.

A complaint filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) is asking for an investigation of whether scholarships provided to legislators by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) violate state ethics and lobbying laws.

Additionally, the complainant, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), requests an examination of whether legislators are receiving impermissible gifts while attending ALEC conferences.

In its press release, the CMD argues that while Wisconsin prohibits legislators from accepting anything of value from lobbyists or corporations that employ lobbyists, the scholarships paying for legislators’ travel to ALEC conferences are funded entirely by corporations, many of which employ lobbyists in the state.

The CMD specifically asks the board to consider

• Whether ALEC scholarships violate W.S. sections 13.625 and 19.45;

• Whether the scholarships fall under an exception in W.S. section 19.56;

• Whether legislators are appropriately disclosing the scholarships;

• Whether the scholarship fund is being used for more than reimbursement; and

• Whether legislators attending ALEC conferences are receiving other impermissible gifts such as tickets to sporting events or free food and drinks.

Exhibits attached to the complaint can be found here.