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Happy Tuesday from the Wisconsin Capitol! It's a busy day here today, with the Assembly and Senate both in session AND a state Supreme Court primary election. I'll be keeping tabs on all of it, but I can't be in 3 places at once — so follow some of my press corps colleagues, too!
The Senate gaveled in a few minutes ago. A few things on the Senate calendar: A bill, proposed by @GovWalker, to allow the state to seek a federal waiver to offer a reinsurance program. This is designed to lower premiums for those insured under the individual marketplace.
Also on the Senate calendar: A bill that would ban health insurance plans from covering elective abortions for state employees. More on that here:http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/election-matters/wisconsin-lawmakers-clash-over-proposal-to-block-state-health-plans/article_357a1607-6bc3-5fb2-9a31-06bd32afc298.html …
Another bill up in the Senate today would allow developers to build on some wetlands without a permit. The Assembly passed that bill last week: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/election-matters/wisconsin-assembly-approves-bill-rolling-back-wetlands-regulations-for-builders/article_878e8b89-331a-5772-8c15-9306fc9d43f7.html …
Another one in the Senate, passed by the Assembly last week, will increase sparsity aid for rural schools and allow low-spending districts to raise their revenue limits without a referendum. http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/election-matters/budget-committee-oks-increasing-sparsity-aid-raising-revenue-limits-for/article_5474b68f-56e0-56e7-a7d5-e5f2fc2cde63.html …
The Senate will also take up a set of bills proposed by @GovWalker to overhaul the state's welfare program — but they're not expected to vote on a bill that would require a photo ID on FoodShare cards. The Assembly passed those bills last week:http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/election-matters/wisconsin-assembly-approves-welfare-overhaul-bills/article_7bf11c8a-3e9a-56aa-8e77-3d56971fb8e4.html …
The Assembly is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. What're they up to? So glad you asked. The Assembly plans to split its work between today and tomorrow. It'll be back on Thursday with a whole 'nother calendar, too.
The Assembly is also set to vote on @GovWalker's reinsurance proposal. It also plans to vote on another Walker proposal, to establish a $50 million rural economic development fund.
More on @GovWalker's plans for the rural economic development fund here:http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/election-matters/walker-says-m-economic-development-fund-could-help-keep-young/article_ad7baed4-e564-51fd-8567-be0580b6cf93.html …
Also on the Assembly calendar: A bill to overhaul the state's juvenile corrections system. That bill is going through some last-minute changes, and @MollyBeck has the latest here:http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/lawmakers-revise-juvenile-corrections-overhaul-to-address-county-state-concerns/article_df695d33-018e-5a5e-950e-4014d2492722.html …
There's a state Supreme Court primary, too! I spoke with the candidates here: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/election-matters/candidates-for-wisconsin-supreme-court-navigate-partisan-trend/article_be855a77-d247-53b3-bbed-a7370981c76e.html … and @MollyBeck has a handy Q&A guide here: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/supreme-court-candidate-q-a/article_70bf4212-535c-5a5e-9dce-ddea726404d0.html …
.@SpeakerVos says the Assembly plans to be in until 10:30 or 11 p.m. tonight. Focus today is on health care bills and rural economic development proposal. Criminal justice bills tomorrow.pic.twitter.com/H1UiPaktpS
.@RepAmy31 has a bill up today that would allow a minor to receive temporary outpatient mental health treatment (no medications or inpatient) for 30 days without a parent’s consentpic.twitter.com/xfrfsXtUTG
.@rep89 has several opioid-related bills up today: helping local law enforcement stop illegal drug flow, support regional prosecutors for drug cases, train county officers on addiction, offer $ for long-acting medically assisted treatment for people leaving county jailspic.twitter.com/ATS9kxFAF1
.@RepRohrkaste says when he used to recruit people into private sector in WI, tax structure made it challenging. Says GOP has done a good job of making that more inviting. Rohrkaste bill would authorize an ad campaign for WI to recruit millennials.pic.twitter.com/8EnXBUPQS7
.@Tranel4Assembly’s bill would create a $50 million economic development fund for projects in rural communities.pic.twitter.com/enjBH00tb0
Would @SpeakerVos support allowing teachers to arm themselves? Vos says local school districts should be allowed to make a lot of decisions, if one wants to train a teacher/guard in defense he’s “open to talking about it” but that “doesn’t mean we’re going to have a bill”pic.twitter.com/scTk0WQg8m
On the bill exempting rent-to-own businesses from the Wisconsin Consumer Act, @SpeakerVos says it will create certainty for the industry. @GordonHintz says it will allow the industry to prey on the poor. Vos says Hintz "threatened" Dems who might've supported it.
Dem Rep. Debra Kolste moves to pull a bill that would require universal background checks for gun purchases from committee and take it up on the floor. Assembly is standing informal now.
Rep. @KleefischJoel has introduced a substitute amendment (that is, it would replace the background checks bill), which would provide grants to school districts who employ armed safety officers.
.@PeterWBarca says the amendment is not germane. @SpeakerVos says it is: "People want us to make sure that kids who are at schools are safe."
If you're wondering where we are in the process now, Democrats have pulled one of their bills to the floor. Republicans introduced a substitute amendment, which would replace the Dem bill. Dems have now introduced an amendment to the GOP substitute amendment.
Now, it appears at first glance that the Dem amendment to the GOP substitute amendment to the Dem bill is, simply, the original Dem bill.
In other news, I just had a standoff of politeness with a lawmaker as we both approached a doorway. We're nice here in Wisconsin.
Now Republicans have introduced a substitute amendment to the Dem amendment to the GOP substitute amendment to the Dem bill that they pulled from committee to debate on the floor. Got that?
This GOP amendment is a little longer. It includes grants for armed school safety officers and also appears to cover mandatory minimums for repeat firearm crimes and straw purchasing of firearms.
Dems have asked to stand informal so they can read the amendment. Republicans are objecting. @GordonHinz calls them "cowardly," says they don't want to take a vote on universal background checks.
Here's a link to the GOP amendment that's currently up for debate: http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/raw/proposal/2017/a2276 …
The Assembly has been on the floor for almost four hours. It has not voted on any of the bills on its calendar.
The Assembly is now voting on the GOP substitute amendment to the Dem amendment to the GOP substitute amendment to the Dem bill. Vote is 68-27, amendment is adopted. Here it is: http://docs.legis.wi.gov/raw/proposal/2017/a2276 …
Now the Assembly will debate a Dem amendment, the language of which mirrors the original Dem legislation that was pulled for debate. The bill would require universal background checks for firearm purchases in Wisconsin. Here it is: http://docs.legis.wi.gov/raw/proposal/2017/a2280 …
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