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Wisconsin Legislative SpotlightMaintained by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), this page provides an overview of recent and upcoming activities in the Wisconsin Legislature. The LRB revises its content weekly during legislative floorperiods. Links to more detailed information are highlighted in the text. |
The next legislative floorperiod will commence on September 15. The schedule of floorperiods for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session was established by 2009 Senate Joint Resolution 1.
On Thursday, September 17, Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) will leave for a second deployment to the Middle East. Suder is a staff sergeant with the Wisconsin Air National Guard and works with the life-support unit that assists F-16 pilots. He will assist the US military’s ongoing efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Suder’s first deployment was to Qatar in 2004.
Rep. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) will be redeployed to the same unit as Rep. Suder. Roth is a member of the 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. He is a staff sergeant and works on maintaining F-16 aircraft. He was first deployed to the Middle East in 2008.
In September and October, the Attorney General's office will be offering seminars at various locations on the state's open meetings and public records laws.
On August 17, 2009, Governor Jim Doyle announced that he will not run for a third term as governor. Doyle, a Democrat, was first elected in 2002. The next gubernatorial election will be in 2010. Of Wisconsin's 43 governors, only one, Tommy Thompson, has served more than 8 years in office (1/1987-2/2001). Assuming that Doyle completes his current term, following him in longevity in office would be Jeremiah Rusk (1/1882-1/1889) and Patrick Lucey (1/1971-7/1977).
As of September 11, this session 39 bills have been passed by the legislature and signed into law. The most recent, 2009 Wisconsin Act 39, signed on August 13, 2009, lowered the minimum hunting age to 10 years old as part of a newly-created hunting mentorship program. The law went into effect September 1.
A list of enacted legislation from the 2009 session can be viewed at: http://www.legis.wi.gov/2009/data/acts/.
2009 Assembly Bill 413, introduced on September 4, would allow judges to increase the maximum period of imprisonment if a day care provider commits sexual assault or causes bodily harm to a child.
The Legislative Council introduced 2009 Senate Bill 279 on August 28, and 2009 Assembly Bill 408 on August 31. The bills were prepared by the Council's Special Committee on Domestic Biofuels.
2009 Assembly Bill 406, introduced on August 31, would require that anyone challenging a person's right to vote must be a resident of the same ward or election district of the elector he or she wishes to challenge and would require the challenger to provide proof of residence.
2009 Senate Bill 275, introduced on August 26, would prohibit employment discrimination based on an applicant’s credit history.
For times and locations of public hearings this week, see the Schedule of Committee Activities.
“ An Analysis of State Legislators Who Also Currently Serve in the Military (National Guard or Reserve)” by Hawaii State Rep. K. Mark Takai (August 8, 2008)(328.14/ H31). This article is based on a survey that has been updated twice since the data was originally compiled in 2006 and was presented at the Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Nashville, Tennessee.
Send comments to LRB.Reference@legis.wisconsin.gov
Last revised: September 11, 2009