Some ideas that failed to become laws

Over the past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed providing you with a series of updates on some of the bills that were passed by both the state Senate and Assembly over the last month and are awaiting consideration by Gov. Jim Doyle. The governor can either sign the bills into law or veto them.

In addition to these bills, hundreds of other proposals never made their way through the complete legislative process. In fact, a vast majority of 978 Assembly bills and 708 Senate bills that were introduced over the past two-year session will not make it to the governor’s desk. Following is a list of some of the more controversial bills that will not become law this year:

• “Green cleaning” of government buildings – Create a state council on healthy and environmentally sensitive cleaning that would determine state-imposed “healthy and environmentally sensitive cleaning” standards for all state and local government buildings in Wisconsin. The council would determine what cleaning processes, restroom cleaners, general purpose cleaners, hand soap, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry care products and vacuum cleaners could be used in cleaning government buildings.

• National popular vote – Sign Wisconsin onto a “national popular vote” agreement among several states. This agreement, if ratified by enough states, would require that Wisconsin’s Electoral College votes in presidential general elections be awarded to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote nationally – even if that candidate does not win the popular vote here in Wisconsin.

• Beer tax increase – Increase Wisconsin’s beer tax from $2/barrel to $10/barrel.

• Joint and several liability – Allow a plaintiff to recover all damages in a lawsuit from a defendant even if the defendant is only 1 percent liable. Currently, a defendant must be at least 51 percent liable for an injury before having to pay all damages.

• Driver cards for illegal immigrants – Provide state-issued picture ID driver cards to illegal immigrants living in Wisconsin.

• Allowing felons to vote – Allow felons to vote if they have been released from prison but are still on extended supervision, parole or probation.

• Medical marijuana – Legalize the medical use of marijuana in Wisconsin.

• Legislative review of ward boundaries – Require the submission of municipal ward boundaries to the state legislature for review prior to the implementation of new lines.

• Banning lead wheel weights – Prohibit the installation of a wheel weight or other wheel-balancing product that contains lead when replacing or balancing a tire on a motor vehicle.

• Consideration of criminal background – Ban a landlord or employer from considering an individual’s criminal record in making apartment rental or employee hiring decisions.

• Menu labeling – Mandate certain restaurants to disclose on a menu the number of calories in a single order of a menu item. The restaurant must also disclose the suggested daily caloric intake. If a restaurant offers food in a salad bar or buffet line, it must disclose the number of calories next to the food.

Again, this is just a small list of the bills that did not receive enough support to receive final consideration for enactment by the governor. If there is continued interest in the idea, new bills will have to be re-introduced next January for consideration by the new legislature and the new governor.

If there is a specific legislative bill that you have been following and are unsure of its outcome, please contact me and I will provide you with an update on whether or not it was passed. You may also check on a bill’s status by visiting the legislature’s homepage on the Internet at www.legis.wi.gov.

As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you. Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling (888) 295-8750, writing to me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at Sen.Leibham@legis.wi.gov. You can also logon to the 9th Senate District online office at www.leibhamsenate.com.

It is an honor representing the residents of the 9th District in the state Senate.