May 30, 2008
Volume #30, Issue #15
STATE EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS OK’D BY STATE LAWMAKERS - This week State
lawmakers approved
contracts with 15 State employee bargaining units, including the five AFSCME
Council 24 units. All contracts
were overwhelmingly approved by State legislators with only a handful of
naysayers. Here is the tally:
Administrative Support unit contract (Senate Bill 574) - Senate vote was
31-1, with Senator Mary Lazich
(R-New Berlin) casting the sole “no” vote and Senator Jauch (D-Poplar) not
present. The State Assembly
voted 93-3, with Representative Robin Vos (R-Racine), Representative Bill Kramer
(R-Waukesha) and
Representative Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) voting against approval.
Blue Collar unit contract (Senate Bill 575) - Senate vote was 31-1, with
Senator Lazich voting no. The
Assembly vote was 92-4, with Representative Frank Lasee (R-Bellevue) joining
Representatives Kramer,
Vos and Vukmir saying no.
Professional Social Services unit (Senate Bill 576) - Senate vote was
30-2, with Senator Glenn Grothman
(R-West Bend) joining Senator Lazich in voting no. The Assembly vote was 91-5,
with Representatives Kramer,
Lasee, Vos and Vukmir voting no along with Representative Don Pridemore (R-West
Bend).
Security and Public Safety unit (Senate Bill 577) - Senate vote was 31-1,
with Senator Lazich voting no.
Assembly vote was 91-5, with Representatives Kramer, Lasee, Vos and Vukmir being
joined by
Representative Terry Van Akkeren (D-Sheboygan) voting no.
Technical unit (Senate Bill 578) - Senate vote was 31-1, with Senator
Lazich voting no. Assembly vote was
92-4, with Representatives Kramer, Lasee, Vos and Vukmir dissenting.
Governor Doyle will hold a bill signing ceremony next week.
LAWMAKERS TRY BUT FAIL TO OVERRIDE VETOES - On Wednesday,
Republicans in the State
Assembly attempted to muster up 64 votes (that is, 2/3 of 96 legislators
present) to override three separate
vetoes made by Governor Doyle when he signed the ‘budget repair’ bill into law
on Friday, May 16.
Republicans sought to undo vetoes of legislative action on school funding, the
SeniorCare prescription
drug assistance program and transportation. It takes a 2/3 vote of legislators
present in both the Assembly
and Senate to override a gubernatorial veto.
GOVERNOR APPOINTS SENATOR BRESKE AS RAILROAD COMMISSIONER - This
week the State
Senate bid farewell to the long-serving Senator from the North, Roger Breske
(D-Eland). Senator Breske
will serve as the new State Railroad Commissioner. The appointment of Senator
Breske means that there
are two open seats in the State Senate, the other being vacated by Senator Carol
Roessler (R-Oshkosh).
LEGISLATIVE WEBSITES. . .For those
"online", here are some good info spots: