Just when you thought it was a done deal that any further recalls of Wisconsin state senators would take place in the districts that originally elected them and not in their newly re-drawn ones, not so fast my friends.
Two things popped up on the radar to potentially put that issue further in question. In testimony to a Senate committee yesterday, Government Accountability Board director Kevin Kennedy said for the recalls to take place in the old, original districts, petitions would need to have been circulated before May.
Not wanting to deal with the scenario at all, numerous Republican lawmakers are talking about changing state law to ensure any potential recalls take place under the new, friendlier-to-them districts.
As the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:
“Any bill to change when the new districts take effect would have to move through quickly because recall petitions can be circulated for a new batch of lawmakers starting Nov. 4 - a week from now. Asked if she thought a bill could pass, (Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), chairwoman of the Senate Transportation and Elections Committee) said: “The Legislature can move mountains when they need to or they can move like molasses in January.”
CONCEALED WEAPONS
The Milwaukee paper is reporting this morning that Gov. Scott Walker will allow concealed weapons in many parts of the State Capitol.
“Under rules planned for one chamber, guns would be allowed on the Assembly floor and in the Assembly viewing galleries, said sources who have been briefed on the plans. That would mean the public could bring guns into the viewing galleries but would still have to adhere to other existing rules, including one that bars the use of still cameras and video cameras.”
The Senate has not yet decided what its policy will be.
The new law allowing for concealed weapons permits to be obtained goes into effect on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Keeping with its policy on the topic, the Green Bay Packers announced they will not allow concealed weapons into Lambeau Field. Signs will be posted at every entrance before the next home game.
ECONOMY IN WISCONSIN
Economic news out of Washington this morning is modestly optimistic as consumer spending and business investment lifted the economy at nearly double the rate of earlier this year, but analysts say the 2.5% growth in the July-September quarter is not enough to reduce unemployment.
News on that front also is out this morning with Bloomberg reporting that fewer Americans filed for unemployment assistance last week than the week before.
“Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment assistance last week, while those on benefit rolls dropped to a three-year low, signaling limited improvement in the labor market.
First-time jobless claims decreased by 2,000 to 402,000 in the week ended Oct. 22, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. “
Secretary of Workforce Development Reggie Newson
We’ll be discussing the labor front in Wisconsin on tomorrow’s Here and Now with the new Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development Reggie Newson.
The former Gov. Jim Doyle appointee was given his new job by Gov. Scott Walker earlier this week. Newson became the deputy secretary earlier this year after serving in the Department of Transportation since 2005.
As its website states, “The Department of Workforce Development conducts important research, performs data analysis and identifies issues and trends that influences the state’s employment picture.
If you have questions for Secretary Newson, feel free to email them to us at: [email protected] and I’ll try to get them asked.
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