Transit budget a key test for legislative campaigns (UPDATE)

By Paul Snyder Campaigns for the state Legislature and the growing debate over transportation spending are likely to collide in the November elections. Many Wisconsin counties are lining up advisory referendums to ask voters if they support a constitutional amendment protecting Wisconsin’s transportation budget from raids to support the general budget. Those referendums would be [...]

Booze interest holds sway in Legislature

Published: June 11, 2010
Tags: drunken driving, law, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, state Legislature, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

By Matt Pommer A watchdog group is blaming large legislative campaign donations for what the group calls a tepid approach to tightening drunken driving laws. In the last decade, the booze industry — including manufacturers of alcohol products, distributors and taverns — has contributed $2.53 million to legislative candidates and leadership committees of both parties. [...]

Watching the clock is a waste of time

Published: May 7, 2010
Tags: constitution, curfew, filibuster, Jeff Wood, Miller Park, Scott Walker, state Legislature, Wisconsin Supreme Court

By Matt Pommer Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker says he favors a law limiting the hours the Legislature can work. That is a silly idea, regardless of whether the curfew is 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. A curfew invites the minority party — be it Democrat or Republican — to talk and talk to snarl [...]

Rail planning stalled at the station

Published: January 5, 2010
Tags: grant, Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail, Mayo, Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, Southeastern Wisconsin Coalition for Transit, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, state Legislature, tax, Thomas, Transit Now, Yunker
Comments: 2

By Sean Ryan Timing and money are confusing the board in charge of building the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail. For the project to begin, the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority needs the state to approve new legislation and the federal government to approve grants for commuter rail construction. Without a state law letting local governments create new [...]

Work-zone video meets legislative resistance

Paul Snyder paul.snyder@dailyreporter.com The Wisconsin County Highways Association wants a video eye on motorists driving through road construction zones, but the group first needs to bypass skepticism in the Legislature. “There are a lot of generic concerns about enforcing laws as a result of what happens on TV,” said state Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, D-Manitowoc, and [...]