Wisconsin Legislative Tracker for 2009-10

WELCOME This is your insider's view on the Wisconsin Legislature. The Sierra Club lists the key State Budget provisions, legislative bills and administrative rules that the Club is tracking on the following table. Thank you for contacting your State Representative and State Senator on the issues you care about. By taking part in the process, you influence the focus of public policy that protects our clean air, water and land and ensures a clean energy future for our families, for our future.

The two priority issues of the Sierra Club's John Muir Chapter are (1) promoting a clean energy economy that will reduce greenhouse gases and global warming and (2) protecting the Great Lakes and other water resources. Group and Chapter leaders also work on a broad range of related environmental issues throughout Wisconsin, such as air quality, forestry and public lands, biodiversity and endangered species, environmental toxins, invasive species, smart growth, recycling and waste disposal, agricultural policies and more. We are also active in local elections, since out best hope for long term gains is building a strong legislative base to protect our environment. The John Muir Chapter evaluates the voting record of all legislators. See the 2007-08 Wisconsin Legislative Scorecard prepared by SC-JMC.

2009-10 Wisconsin Legislative Bill Tracker

Name	Bill	Issue (s)	Status	Sierra Club's Position
Bienniel Budget	2009 AB 75	Budget provisions related to aquatic invasive species, coastal management grants, CAFO fees, Great Lakes Compact implementation, out-of-state waste, clean sweep, renewable energy, RTAs, Clean Air Act staff	Referred to Joint Committee on Finance	Click here to read a recent memo that includes our position on select budget items.
Restore Independence to the office of DNR Secretary	AB 138	Related to the appointment and term of service of the secretary of natural resources and vacancies on the Natural Resources Board	Referred to Assembly Committee on Natural Resources	Support
Control Pollution from Open Burning	AB 114	Related to restriction of open burning of solid waste, illegal storage or disposal of waste tires, and providing a penalty	Assembly Committee on Natural resources public hearing on 03/11/09	Support
Keep electronic waste out of landfills	SB 107 / AB 278	Relating to the sale, disposal, collection, and recycling of electronic devices, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing penalties.	Amended and Passed Senate Committee on Environment 05/07/2009, Assembly Natural Resources Committee Hearing on 06/03/2009	Support Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on electronic waste
Designate Brunsweiler River as a Wild River	AB 7 / SB 6	Relating to designating a portion of the Brunsweiler River as a wild river.	Passed the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources on 02/17/09	Support
Designate Totogatic River as a Wild River	AB 43 / SB 47	Relating to designating a portion of the Totogatic River as a wild river.	Passed the Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources on 02/26/09 by a vote of 7-0	Support Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on Wild Rivers
Would Allow Garbage Burning to Count towards Renewable Goals	AB 88	If passed, this bill would allow garbage burning to count towards state RPS goals.	Referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities.	Oppose
Clean Lakes Bill	AB 3 / SB 5	Restricts the use and sale of fertilizer containing phosphorus and other turf fertilizer and providing a penalty.	AB 3 passed the Assembly on February 24, 2009 before passing in the Senate on March 24, 2009. Governor Doyle signed it into law on April 14, 2009!	Support Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on the Clean Lakes bill.
Uniform Wind Siting Bill	AB 256 / SB 185	Regulation of wind energy systems and granting rule-making authority.	Public hearing held on 05/12/2009	Support Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on the uniform wind siting bill.
Impartial Justice Bill	SB 40 / AB 65	Public financing of campaigns for the office of justice of the Supreme Court, making appropriations, and providing penalties.	Public hearing on 05/27/2009	Support
Incentives for Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings	AB 205	Adopting changes to the Internal Revenue Code for state income tax purposes related to deductions for energy efficient commercial buildings.	Public hearing on 05/12/2009	Support

Please contact us with any questions: Chapter Director: Shahla Werner, PhD, shahla.werner@sierraclub.org 608-256-0565 and Volunteer Lobbyists: Jim Connors, seconnor@wisc.edu, 608-233-8553 and Caryl Terrell, Legislative Com. Chair, carylterrell@charter.net, 608-833-8828.

Last updated 06/02/2009

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Other Sessions

Wisconsin Legislative Tracker 2007-08