September 15, 2006
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS SET
Tuesday, voters statewide went to the polls for partisan primaries to whittle down the field of candidates in November. Congressional, statewide, Assembly and Senate positions were all on the ballot. The statewide positions included races for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor and Attorney General. The statewide offices on the Democratic primary ballot were Attorney General and Secretary of State.
For Lt. Governor, State Representative Jean Hundertmark (R-Clintonville) defeated former Deputy State Treasurer Nick Voegeli (R-Sun Prairie). For Attorney General on the Republican side, former Western Wisconsin District U.S. Attorney J.B. Van Hollen defeated Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher.
In the Democratic Attorney General primary, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk defeated incumbent Peg Lautenschlager. For Secretary of State, incumbent Doug La Follette defeated former legislative staffer Scot Ross.
In the State Senate, three incumbents (two Democrats and one Republican) faced primary opponents with all of them winning and moving on the general election. Four incumbents (two Democrats and two Republican) won’t face any opposition in November, including Dane County State Senator John Erpenbach (D-Middleton).
In the State Assembly, nine incumbents (five Democrats and 4 Republicans) faced primary opposition. All nine survived the challenge and will move on to the general election. Some of those incumbents who won in the primary will not face any competition in November. There are 38 incumbents (24 Democrats and 14 Republicans) not facing opposition.
In Dane County, Representative Dave Travis (D-Waunakee) defeated his primary opponent Henry Sanders. Travis will not have opposition in November. Senator Jon Erpenbach and Representatives Gary Hebl, Terese Berceau, Spencer Black, Mark Pocan and Sondy-Pope Roberts are unopposed as well. (Senators Fred Risser and Mark Miller are not up for re-election this year.)
The Democratic primary in the 47th Assembly District represented by Eugene Hahn (R-Cambria) faces a possible recount. The preliminary results have Meagan Yost defeating Dan Jardine. Representative Joe Parisi (D-Madision) faces Republican Dan Long and Representative Bret Davis (R-Oregon) will face Democrat Janis Ringhand in the general election. Representative David Ward’s seat (Assembly District 37) will feature former legislative staffer Greg Gasper, who defeated Dennis Lund and Joseph Hermany in the Republican primary, and Andy Jorgensen who defeated Walt Christensen in the Democratic primary.
For a full listing of all legislative candidates is available at http://thewheelerreport.com/lxn06/index.htm.
EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES RELEASED
The Office of Administrative Legal Services released this week a letter outlining guidelines for the political activities of university employees. Essentially, there are three restrictions that should be noted.
First, it is a violation of state law for a UW employee to engage in political activities while at work. This has been interpreted to include working on or assisting with a political campaign; displaying signs and similar items or materials supporting a partisan political candidate in the workplace; and using campus mail, e-mail, telephones and equipment for political activities.
Second, it is a violation of state law for anyone to ask a UW employee to make a political contribution or to help with a political campaign while the employee is at work. This includes sending a request for a contribution or help with a campaign to a UW employee's work mailing address or work e-mail address.
Third, it is a violation of state law to enter a UW building or facility for the purpose of requesting a political contribution or help for a political campaign. There is an exception for University residence halls at Chapter UWS 18.06(16m), Wisconsin Administrative Code.
In addition to these specific restrictions, state and university policies restrict the use of university time, facilities, equipment, information technology resources and supplies to university business; including WiscMail email accounts.
For a complete list of guidelines, please refer to the memo issued by the Office of Administrative Legal Services. It can be found at http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu/view.php?get=legalmemo.
STATE REVENUE COLLECTIONS EXCEEDED ESTIMATES BY $80 MILLION
Actual state General Purpose Revenue collections were $12.3 billion for the year ending June 30, $80.5 million higher than estimated in January. The figures were included in the Wisconsin Economic Outlook report released by the Dept. of Revenue. The report also shows increased employment in 2005 (1.2%) and higher personal income (4.5%).
UW SYSTEM, WTCS PARTNER TO REQUEST FUND FOR VETERANS TUITION REMISSIONS In a letter recently sent to the Higher Educational Aids Board, the Board of Regents teamed with the Wisconsin Technical College Board to ask that HEAB request funding for the reimbursement program for tuition remissions for veterans and their dependents.
The 2005-07 budget (2005 Wisconsin Act 25) created a 50% tuition remission for certain veterans and a 100% tuition remission for certain dependents of veterans at UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System institutions. No general purpose revenue was provided to fund these remissions. Since the current tuition remission programs were established, the UW System has provided tuition remissions to 1,467 students at a cost of approximately $4.3 million. The WTCS has provided tuition remissions to nearly 900 veterans or veterans’ dependents at a cost of approximately $765,000.
It is hopeful the HEAB request will be part of the Governor’s 2007-09 biennial budget request presented to the Legislature in February 2007.
For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Directors, State Relations
608/262-8967