May 13, 2010

Governor Signs Bills for Milwaukee
Job Creation, Families, & Charities

UW-Milwaukee Initiative, Strengthening Families Bills, & Estate Tax Provisions Approved

(MADISON)  Bills crucial to Milwaukee job creation, protection of families, and honoring charitable giving were signed into law today at UW-Milwaukee by Governor Jim Doyle.  Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee) was on hand and thanked the Governor for swift action on the important legislation. 

“By signing into law, the UW-Milwaukee Initiative, Milwaukee will see over 3100 jobs created or sustained in this project and a major investment in the future of Wisconsin’s economic engine – research in Milwaukee,” Taylor commented. “In addition, the Governor approved two very important measures on family issues from the Strengthening Families committee and also protected the inheritance rights of countless numbers of people and charities that were threatened by the changes to the federal estate tax.”

Governor Doyle approved:

Senate Bill 514, which enumerates projects in the UW-Milwaukee Initiative .  The bill authorizes the construction of the Freshwater Sciences Initiative Research Building, the Kenwood Integrated Research Complex, and the Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Campus acquisition and redevelopment.

Senate Bill 670 , Changes to Formulas Used in Estate Tax Calculations.  With federal law changes to the estate tax, an heir to an inheritance could have been disinherited under the law.  This provision could have affected charities that were part of estate planning gifts.  Senator Taylor and Rep. Bob Turner (D-Racine) authored the bill with the support of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Assembly Bill 296 , the Coordinated Services for Families Bill, makes changes to the state’s coordinated service team approach to family issues.  The bill was recommended by the Joint Legislative Council’s Strengthening Wisconsin Families Committee, which Taylor co-chaired with Rep. Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake).

Assembly Bill 823 , Strengthening Training for Foster Care Parents, enhances training requirements for foster care parents that were included in the biennial budget.  This bill was also recommended by the Strengthening Wisconsin Families Committee.