Legislature to Get Back to Work….Sort Of

The Wisconsin State Assembly is back at work soon. Hurray!

After a month-and-a-half of hibernation, it appears the State Assembly is going to put on their pre-fall election show.

And a show it is. It is unlikely that many of the bills we take up will go anywhere, as the State Senate may not be in until May for a week of action. And, the Senate has shown a bit more responsibility in not passing some of the more sensationalistic or damaging bills the Assembly has. After all, if every Republican passes a bill or two to show how “effective” they are, the Assembly has more members thus more bills. We have to turn them out to appease the special interests. Who cares if they become law?

Look for TABOR II, or the Taxpayer Protection Act, to come up next week, likely on Thursday. After all, it is “Tax Freedom Day” on Friday. You need the extra points for style, since the bill has little substance.

What else will come up? SB1 the bill to merge the Ethics and Elections Board is a possibility. The Death Penalty referendum? That isn’t dead yet, is it? Gas prices too high or just right for big oil and their benefactors? Health care? Huh, what?

And will an ethically-challenged legislature pass meaningful campaign finance reform? Or will we pass a bill that does nothing or contains a poison pill requiring a gubernatorial veto? I guess we’ll just wait and see.

But get ready. The show is about to begin. And I’m sure it will be brought to you by some of the biggest lobby groups in the state. After all, who can operate without commercial sponsors? Certainly not this legislature….