September 14, 2009

But the only job-creation bill from Assembly Democrats is one that pins its hopes on windmills. Another major jobs bill, offered by at least three Democrats, remains a work in progress with no outright support from party leaders.

Democrats are also still working behind the scenes with Gov. Jim Doyle and others on a bill that will ensure Wisconsin can qualify for more than $4 billion in federal education stimulus money.

The state Senate began its fall session Tuesday and the Assembly starts Wednesday. The session is scheduled to last into early November.

Democrats are trying to distance themselves from the tax increases that were part of the state budget passed in June to deal with the record-high $6.6 billion shortfall.

Much of what Assembly Democrats outlined as their priorities on Tuesday included proposals that won't cost much, or any, money to implement. Many of the ideas, like toughening drunken driving laws, are likely to pass with bipartisan support.

The Assembly will vote Thursday on a comprehensive drunken driving bill, said Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville. The bill will make the fourth offense, instead of fifth offense, a felony.

Other parts of the package include requiring ignition interlock devices for all repeat offenders and for first-time offenders whose blood alcohol content is above .15, nearly double the legal limit of .08.

But a more politically difficult idea, criminalizing a first offense, isn't in play. Wisconsin is the only state where a first-offense drunken driving charge is a traffic violation and not a crime. The bill up for a vote Thursday would make the first offense a crime if there is a child under age 16 in the car.

The Senate bill remains in committee but will be acted on this fall, Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker said.

Democratic leaders said their job-creation ideas will build on tax incentives and other tax credits included in the budget that they say have already helped retain companies like Mercury Marine, which considered relocating to Oklahoma.

The only new jobs creation bill cited by Assembly Democrats was one that will make it easier for wind farms to be built in the state. That passed the Senate on Tuesday and was scheduled for a vote Wednesday in the Assembly. Doyle supports it.

It's not that there aren't other job-creation ideas out there.

A bill designed to raise $145 million in order to match $135 million in federal money for technical colleges and college aid has been introduced by state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine. But it relies on raising the income tax 1 percent on people earning over $1 million, an idea that hasn't garnered the full support of the Democratic caucus.

Assembly Republicans planned to announce their own job creation plan on Wednesday. It includes making a jobs tax credit take effect sooner and cutting taxes on capital gains reinvestment.

Democrats are also still working on making sure Wisconsin can qualify for $4.3 billion in federal "Race to the Top" stimulus money. Wisconsin, along with California and Nevada, has a law banning student test scores from being linked with teacher evaluations — which will disqualify those states from being eligible for the money.

Lawmakers, the governor, the state Department of Public Instruction and others are working on a bill to put Wisconsin in the best position possible to qualify, said Doyle's spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner.

Other priorities Assembly Democrats outlined include:

— Removing the governor's ability to appoint the head of the Department of Natural Resources. Doyle used to support such a move, but now opposes it. However, a majority of lawmakers in both the Senate and Assembly have signed on to the bill, raising the possibility of a veto override.

— Better educating the public, and requiring all real estate appraisers to be licensed, in order to reduce home foreclosures.

— Providing full public financing for all state Supreme Court races.

Associated Press