thewheelerreport.com
Online supplement to The Wheeler Report
Published by: Wheeler Reports, Inc. - 111 W. Wilson St. #401 - Madison, WI 53703


May 2008

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Legislators & Legislative Issues.
Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association.  Memo to legislators regarding transportation provisions of the budget repair bill. 
Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin.  Seven days to "Black Tuesday." 
Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association.  Groups rally to protect transportation fund.
AAA-Wisconsin.  Memo to legislators regarding transportation funding provisions of the pending budget adjustment bill. 
WMC.  Memo to legislators:  Budget adjustment bill transportation fund provisions.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Kreuser sees budget-repair bill impasse.
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter. Secret budget negotiations may eventually prompt vote.

Rep. Bies/Sen. Lasee.  Legislators urge feedback from area small businesses. 
Sen. Jauch.  To hold press conference and listening session with Lac Courte Oreilles members Friday. 
Beloit Daily News.  Editorial:  Don't be bluffed by budget fear. 

State Agencies & Officials.
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. Consumer Alert: Seniors Beware.
Dept. of Commerce.  Invest in America event highlights overseas investment in America. 
DATCP.  State veterinarian Ehlenfeldt honored at UW Platteville commencement. 
Dept. of Tourism.  Governor's Council on Tourism takes meeting "on the road" to southwest Wisconsin. 
Wisconsin State Journal. No exceptions: Wisconsin lobbyists cannot donate to a fundraiser for a legislative aide with cancer.
DNR.  Weekly News Report (International Migratory Bird Day May 10, other stories). 
DNR.  Winsert, Inc. pursues big green goals as a Green Tier participant. 

Statewide.
UW Survey Center.  Badger Poll:  Wisconsin residents' opinions on health care reform.  
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. state leads in prison drug gap.

Organizations.
Wisconsin Counties Association.  e-News (Foth's Good Government Awards). 
WI Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. Survey of Metro Milwaukee reveals working conditions for nurses and quality of care are worsening.
Various Environmental Groups. Weigh in on proposed changes to mercury regulation.
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger. Thermal treatment of PCB paint disputed.
Wisconsin Literacy.  6th annual Celebration of Literacy May 8.
PRNewswire.  FOX News Channel's Brit Hume to emcee Bradley Prize Gala in Washington, D.C.
Natural Resources Foundation of WI/Americorps.  Join forces for largest invasive plant battle in Wisconsin. 

Energy/Food.
Sen. Carpenter.  Letter to Speaker Huebsch, Majority Leader Decker asking for re-evaluation of state fiscal support for ethanol. 
Sen. Kohl.  Urges immediate action for global food crisis. Appleton Post Crescent story.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. GOP group wants curbs on ethanol.
Rep. Ryan.  Moving toward a more coherent energy policy. 
Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance.  New UW-Madison study shows ethanol not responsible for rising food prices.
New Richmond News.  Wisconsin AG Secretary upset with plan to eliminate ethanol subsidies. 

Wisconsin Energy Corporation.  Wisconsin Energy's Klappa to participate in panels at Goldman Sachs 8th annual Power and Utility Conference.

Business.
WMC.  45 companies nominated for environment awards.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Great Wolf CEO resigns.
PRNewswire. Great Wolf Resorts reports 1st Qtr results.
PRNewswire.  AirTran Airways launches Milwaukee expansion with nonstop flights to more destinations.
Wisconsin Radio Network.  Harley's edgy new ads.

Education.
PRNewswire.  Renaissance Learning (Wisconsin Rapids) releases groundbreaking reading habits report. Link to the report. 

UW Madison Daily Cardinal. Regents close to naming UW chancellor finalists.
Wisconsin State Journal. Report: Faculty flight a 'crisis situation' at UW-Madison.
UW Madison Daily Cardinal. Senior Class president charged with misdemeanor theft.
UW Madison.  Alumnae to speak at spring commencement ceremonies.
Wausau Daily Herald. Wisconsin school costs high.
Green Bay Press Gazette. Fox Valley Tech announces new president.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Elmbrook mixes in half-day kindergartners.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. UW safety program criticized.

Courts.
Wisconsin Supreme Court.  Today's opinion:  Nic J. Eichenseer v. Madison-Dane County Tavern League, Inc. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story. 

Local Officials & Issues.
Milwaukee Rising.  Top city officials sign letter opposing expansion of North-South I-94; sections of County Grounds detention basins wash away.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Editorial:  Transit:  Immediate survival.
Dane County Executive Falk.  Releases requirements for the 2009 county budget.  Memo to department heads. 
Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission.  Public listening sessions to provide input for the draft Dane County Shoreland and Riparian Management Plan. 
Milwaukee County Supervisor West.  Statement on the passing of Del Porter.
Milwaukee Mayor Barrett.  To recognize Public Service Recognition Week.
 Main Street Milwaukee, others.  Taste of SOHI Friday, May 16. 
Milwaukee County Executive Walker.  Announces March passenger count at all-time high for Mitchell International. 
La Crosse Tribune. County: How much 'green' is jail worth?
Wisconsin State Journal. Expert calls Dane County 911 staffing inadequate
Janesville Gazette.  Editorial:  Rock County 911 offers assurances to residents. 
  .
Campaigns, Elections & Politics.
Democratic Party of WI. Local Democrats elected as national convention delegates.
Center for Competitive Politics.  Legislator occupations - change or status quo after clean elections?  Link to full study. 
One Wisconsin Now.  McCain education plan:  All teachers left behind.
Racine Journal Times. Linda Flashinski to challenge Rep. Vos for Assembly (63rd District).

Congress.
Sen. Feingold.  To question counterterrorism nominee about Intel gaps.
Sen. Feingold.  Statement on farm bill MILC provision. 
Sen. Kohl.  Lauds stronger MILC provision in farm bill. 
Rep. Petri.  Statement from hearing on aviation emissions. 
Rep. Kind.  Announced Third Congressional District Art Contest winners.
 

Monday, May 5, 2008
Legislators & Legislative Issues.
Rep. Black.  Survey shows strong support for health insurance for all.
Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.  Christian Schneider:  Public libraries - No longer just for the literate.
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters.  Conservation Notice of the Week. 

Budget Repair Bill. 
Rep. Pridemore.  Encourages colleagues to cut spending to fix the $652 million budget deficit.  LFB memo on unpaid leave. 
Transportation Development Association.  Eight days to "Black Tuesday."
Sheboygan Press. Editorial: Solve budget problem, don't just pass it on.

State Agencies & Officials.
State Treasurer Sass.  Announces results of fourth unclaimed property eBay auction. 
DOJ. Receives victim and witness protection grant to assist in fighting violent crime in Milwaukee.
DOJ. Fassbender receives award for investigative work.
WisDOT.  Public information meeting set for May 14 for WIS 69/92 improvements in Belleville. 
WisDOT.  Public information meeting scheduled May 13 for US 2/WIS 13 intersection in Bayfield County. 
WisDOT.  Public information Meeting scheduled May 15 for WIS 27. 
WisDOT.  Public information meeting scheduled May 12 for US 53 in City of Osseo. 
DATCP.  Governor Doyle declares week of May 18-24 as Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week. 

Milwaukee Mayor Barrett, others.  Letter to WisDOT urging balanced transportation approach regarding I-94 north/south corridor.
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.  April 2008 Administrative Actions.
Wisconsin State Journal. Was politics a factor in Sass' hiring decisions?
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Guards use sick days to inflate salary.

Education.
UW Eau Claire Spectator. Candidate stresses engaging students.
UW Eau Claire Spectator. Candidate thinks global.
Wausau Daily Herald. Justice Bradley: Higher education critical for economic success.
La Crosse Tribune. UW-La Crosse adding program to address student drinking.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Better pay luring UW chancellors.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Waukesha West loses national title by hairbreadth.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  UW Stout designer finds place with sitters and skaters.

Energy.
Customers First!  The Wire (newsletter):  Power breakfast focused on warming, other stories.

Health.
Medical College of Wisconsin.  Receives grant to study retinal cell development. 
DHFS.  You can control your asthma - World Asthma Day. 

Statewide.
Missing Persons Network of Wisconsin.  Receives JJ Keller gift to fund recovery efforts for Wisconsin families. 
Sierra Club, others.  Environmental groups weigh in on proposed changes to mercury regulations.
Oshkosh Northwestern. Officials: Rise in day care complaints due to awareness.
Wisconsin State Journal. Fines can't go to non-profit and anti-crime groups.
Wisconsin State Journal. Falk says limits on surcharges hurt 911 Center.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. State-sanctioned killing of mute swans shelved.
Minneapolis Star Tribune.  Brrrr is the word in Wisconsin for the fishing opener.
PRNewswire.  Fire sprinklers where we live, work and play: Building Safety Week is May 5-11.

Business.
Wisconsin Realtors Association.  Realtors return to Capitol Hill - Mid-year legislative meetings to focus on effort to stabilize housing markets.
Plum Creek Timber Company.  Replants about 1.5 million seedlings on
Wisconsin land.

La Crosse Tribune. Kwik Trip is still family-owned and still growing.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Menards breaks new ground.
PRNewswire.  Lands' End announces winners of the 2008 'Teachers Light the Way' Contest.
PRNewswire.  Manitowoc Company directors approve 2 cent quarterly dividend.
Superior Daily Telegram.  Retail sales drop in some counties, not others. 
Wisconsin Ag Connection.  Specialty cheese production sets another record.
Door County Advocate.  Drought expected to affect '08 cherry crop.

Local Officials & Issues.
Milwaukee County Board Chairman Holloway.  Statement on mass transit funding. 
Milwaukee County Supervisor Coggs.  Appointed chair of County Board's Finance and Audit Committee. 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Editorial:  Milwaukee County government:  Time to blow it up? 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Shift sought in water quality focus.
Green Bay Press Gazette. Brown County warrants rack up $1.3 million tab.
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter. Local landfill may be PCB waste site.
Racine Journal Times. Police consider sleek new squads.
La Crosse Tribune. City, county using more cell phones.
RiverTowns.net.  Law enforcement turning up the heat on I-94. 

Noted.
Green Bay Press Gazette. USS Green Bay nears completion.

Congress.
Rep. Baldwin. Dane County Regional Airport secures $9.2 million in federal funds for improvement projects.
Rep. Baldwin.  Cautions seniors on "notch" solicitations. 
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter. Farm bill negotiators agree to changes in dairy program.

Campaigns, Elections & Politics.
Appleton Post Crescent. Caucus selects six for big vote.
Racine Journal Times. Four people from county will go to Denver.
Wausau Daily Herald. Feingold still not revealing preference for Obama or Clinton.
Tomah Journal.  Editorial:  WE are better than THEM:  It's another form of elitism. 
 

Friday, May 2, 2008
Budget Repair Bill.
Transportation Funding Coalition.  Memo to legislators urging support for transportation provisions of the bi-partisan budget repair agreement. 
Transportation Development Association.  Eleven days left to avoid governor's doomsday option.
Green Bay Press Gazette. Budget deal still eludes Wisconsin.
Wisconsin State Journal. Doyle: Expect roadwork delay, unpaid bills if no budget deal is reached.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Doyle pushes on budget-repair bill.

Legislators & Legislative Issues.
Sen. Erpenbach.  Cover the Uninsured Week reminded of need for expanded health care.
Sen. Kedzie.  "Buy now, pay later' budgeting is risky. 
Sen. Robson, Rep. Hixson.  Statements on Chromalox/Ogden manufacturing plant closings.
Sen. Robson, Rep. Sheridan.  Statement on Simmons layoffs.  Janesville Gazette story. 
Sen. Schultz.  Citizen help needed to write state public policy. 
Sen. Schultz.  Schultz in Richland Center, Platteville and Lancaster on Friday. 
Rep. Musser.  Details digital changeover. 

La Crosse Tribune. Bill could lower drinking age.
The Capital Times.  Risser appointed to passenger rail panel.
Rhinelander Daily News.  Catch-and-release muskie season becomes political battle.

Statewide.
PRNewswire.  SBA disaster loan deadline Is June 2.
Wisconsin Council on Children and Families.  Memo to legislators:  Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program and budget adjustment bill. 
Appleton Post Crescent. DNR ready to hook fish virus law violators.
Appleton Post Crescent. Gas tax holiday mixes signals.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Measles outbreak is national.
Janesville Gazette.  Editorial:  Wisconsinites must absorb sobering report.

Agencies & Officials.
Governor Doyle.  Breaks ground on Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery.
Governor. Thanks PSC Chair Ebert for outstanding service.
Governor Doyle.  Wisconsin specialty cheese production sets record.
Governor Doyle.  To attend 43rd annual Governor's Fishing Opener in Garfield Saturday.
DOJ. State settles air pollution lawsuit against three electric utilities.
DOJ. Supreme Court allows mayhem with school zone penalty enhancer to move forward.
DOJ.  Court finds state has probable cause to commit Blodgett to treatment.
DOJ.  Jefferson County resident to serve jail time for unlawfully demolishing building before removing asbestos.   
DOJ.  Prairie Sand & Gravel of Prairie du Sac settles environmental lawsuit for violation of waste management laws.
DOT. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
DOT.  Traffic deaths last month were second lowest for month of April.
DNR.  Warden honored for her contributions to waterfowl program.
DNR.  Proposed sanitary sewer service area planning boundary changes. 
DWD.  Meeting notices for week of May 5-9. 
Attorney General. Meets with Brown County law enforcement officials at roundtable hosted by Rep. Van Roy and Sen. Hansen. Green Bay Press Gazette story.
Dept. of Tourism.   Lake Geneva wine festival earns $30,000 grant.
Dept. of Commerce.  Building Safety Week May 5-11.
DHFS.  Medicaid director visits Wausau BadgerCare Plus Enrollment Fair.  Fact sheet. 
Office of Justice Assistance.  Homeland Security awards grants for evacuation plans, emergency exercises. 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. With prices rising, prisoners see cuts in staples and extras.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Editorial:  Auto emissions:  A misfire on testing.

Education.
WEAC.  Five priorities to agenda for 2008-10.
Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools.  Celebrating the activism and courage of youth and adult leaders. 
DPI.  12 students named Presidential Scholar semifinalists for Wisconsin. 
DPI.  Superintendent Burmaster op ed:  Thank a Teacher.  May 4-10 is Teacher Appreciation Week. 

Oshkosh Northwestern.  (UW Oshkosh Chancellor) Wells withdraws candidacy for Pennsylvania post.
UW Madison.  Mechanical Engineering building project wins preservation award. 
Green Bay Press Gazette. Interim chancellor selected for UW-Green Bay.
UW Madison Daily Cardinal. UW officials implement emergency texting.
Wisconsin State Journal. Groundbreaking  today for Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery.
La Crosse Tribune. After lawsuit, school ends restriction on artwork.

Energy.
Sierra Club.  Alliant Energy double talk to protect public health from mercury disappoints many.
Dairyland Power Cooperative.  Helps fund scope for river observation. 

Local Officials & Issues.
Madison Mayor Cieslewicz.  Weekly schedule May 5-10. 
Dane County Executive Falk.  Weekly schedule May 3-11.
Dane County Youth Commission.  Falk announces 2008 Youth Grants.
Milw. Ald. Davis. Honors sister city agreement with council resolution.
Milwaukee Alderman Donovan.  Cops and kids team up for clean up. 
Milwaukee Mayor Barrett.  The Barrett Report:  Your government at work for you. 
Wisconsin State Journal. Dane County's grade for particle pollution remains 'D' in annual air quality report.

Healthcare.
Wisconsin Catholic Conference.  Stem cell research must serve all, sacrifice none, bishops say. 
Wisconsin State Journal. TomoTherapy's latest cancer treatment machine could be on market in 2012.

Business.
New North, Inc.  New North cheese manufacturers help set production records. 
Wisconsin Radio Network.  Governor expects Miller to maintain Wisconsin ties.
Janesville Gazette.  Lawmakers appeal to GM chairman.

Congress.
Wisconsin Farmers Union.  Urges legislators to act quickly on farm bill.
WI Federation of Cooperative/Minn. Association of Cooperatives.  Encourged by progress made in farm bill.

Rep. Baldwin. House passes historic medical nondiscrimination act.
Rep. Kind. Offers motion to support farm bill conservation.
Sen. Feingold.  Feingold, Hagel effort to strengthen intelligence gathering passes committee. 
Sen. Feingold.  Calls for funding to fix problems with troop housing. 
Rep. Ryan.  On rate cuts:  Enough is enough. 
Rep. Kagen.  Wins another battle in the fight against discrimination in health care.

Campaigns, Elections & Politics.
Democratic Party of WI. Wisconsin activists run to be delegate to Democratic National Convention.
Beloit Daily News.  Editorial:  Voter photo ID just makes sense. 
RiverTowns.net.  Minnesota GOP says Franken owes Wisconsin too. 

Noted.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Jim Stingl: Cougar-cide adds to list of Chicago's sins.
 

Thursday, May 1, 2008
Budget Repair Bill.
DOA Secretary Morgan. Letter to Joint Finance Chairs on General Fund Condition.
Rep. Sherman. Opposes combining budget, Great Lakes Compact bills.
Rep. Cullen. Letter to Huebsch asking for Great Lakes Compact hearing and opposing combining compact with budget repair.
Green Bay Press Gazette. Governor, legislative leaders to meet today on the budget.

Legislators & Legislative Issues.
Sen. Breske. Urges residents to check state un-claimed property lists.
Sen. Hansen. Receives Gaylord Nelson Human Services Award.
Sen. Lazich Column. Photo ID's are constitutional, so what are we waiting for?
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission. Sen. Fred Risser appointed to commission.
State Engineering Association. Open government a key issue when state engineers meet with their legislators May 7.
Oshkosh Northwestern. Area lawmakers get mixed reviews on state ethics reform.
Capital Times. Lobbyists make new friends with Assembly Democrats.
Capital Times. Ho-Chunk can't get DeJope refund, court rules.

Badger Poll
 Badger Poll. Wisconsinites opinions on some environmental issues.
Wisconsin Environment. Badger Poll finds strong support for environmental protections and clean energy.

Education.
WisTax. Wisconsin spent 8.5% more than U.S. to operate schools.
UW System. UW-Parkside chancellor finalists named.
UW System. Reilly recommends interim UW-Green Bay Chancellor.
Green Bay Press Gazette. School districts feeling pinch from rising food prices.
UW Madison Daily Cardinal. Students, faculty affected by rare WiscMail outage.
UW Eau Claire Spectator. Report: Things looking good in UW System.
UW Eau Claire Spectator. Health insurance bill passes Student Senate.

Statewide.
Racine Journal Times. Shillings is first bar in Racine to go smoke-free.
Wisconsin State Journal. Badger State Games to leave Madison (for Fox Cities).
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Latino numbers rise 4.3% in state.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More than $3 million in aid approved.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Mayor, county leaders argue over 911 surcharge.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Groups say state too secret on children.
Ashland Daily Press. Group sues feds over ballast water, VHS protection.

State Agencies and Officials
DPI. Public libraries contribute significantly to Wisconsin economy.
WisDOT. May Law of the Month: Drivers must yield to pedestrians.
Social Security Administration. Columns for the month.
DHFS. Protect yourself against disease.
DHFS. Medicaid Director visits Green Bay BadgerCare Plus Enrollment Fair.
DNR. Weekly outdoor report. (Fishing opener, Fire Conditions, and more)
Attorney General Van Hollen. Announces Amber Alert poster contest winner.
Attorney General Van Hollen. Oshkosh man charged with securities crime in six-count felony complaint.
DWD. Secretary Gassman encourages Madison students to sign Governor Doyle's Wisconsin covenant.
La Crosse Tribune. Health department reports case of measles in Viroqua.

Energies
Wisconsin Energy Corporation. Wisconsin Energy cites customer satisfaction, construction progress, improved earnings in annual meeting.
Midwest Environmental Advocates. DNR issues WPDES permit to Charter Street coal plant.

Courts
Supreme Court. State v. Leonard Quintana.
Supreme Court. State v. Clayborn Walker.
Portage Daily Register. Kammer to lead State Bar; Portage lawyer ran on unusual platform of not requiring membership.

Business.
Clean Wisconsin. Industrial groups use procedural ruse to block mercury regulation.
PRNewswire. Alliant Energy announces 1st Qtr 2008 results.
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter. Manitowoc Co. expands to China.
La Crosse Tribune. Three Rivers Bus Service to close.
Wisconsin State Journal. Bankruptcy rate in Dane County lower than Wisconsin, national averages.

Organizations
MMSD. 3.5 Tons Turned in at medical collection day.
American Farm Bureau Federation. Food price rise result of complex issues, biofuels only small part.
Midwest Environmental Advocates. Expert report addresses problems of industrial livestock agriculture.
Pro-life Wisconsin. Inserts finally in Marquette University official newspaper.

Local Officials & Issues.
Milwaukee County Executive Walker. Announces hiring of new budget director.
Green Bay Press Gazette. Green Bay must pay $5.3 million in Younkers deal.
Oshkosh Northwestern. Former judge being considered for state committee.
Capital Times. Badger State Games leaving Madison.

Congress.
Sen. Feingold. Statement on 5 year anniversary of President declaring "Mission Accomplished".
Sen. Feingold. Works to make voting easier for all Americans.
Cong. Petri. Proposes bill to help small truckers and independents cope with fuel prices.
Racine Journal Times. Rep. Ryan announces Mobile Office will resume its visits in May.
Capital Times. GM job losses could change Ryan's tune on trade.

Noted.
Wisconsin State Journal. Melon seed-spitting contest saved in Pardeeville.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Chicago, Milton cougar the same.

Campaigns, Elections & Politics.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Five years after "Mission Accomplished," John McCain is fine with 100 more.
Wisconsin State Journal. McCain building coalition in Wisconsin.