— Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce spent the most of groups that lobbied the Capitol during the 2021-2022 legislative session, at nearly $1.4 million, followed by the Wisconsin Hospital Association at $1.3 million and the Wisconsin Realtors Association at nearly $1.2 million.
They were also the top three spenders in the 2019-20 session.
Groups overall spent $67.4 million to lobby the state Capitol in the 2021-22 session, an increase of more than $3 million over the previous two-year period. Though up from the almost $64.1 million spent over 2019-20, the amount was still short of the record $70.2 million spent during 2017-18.
That session was marked by budget deliberations in 2017 that dragged into early fall, as well as a December 2018 lame-duck session in which Republicans pushed through a series of measures to rein in the powers of incoming Dem Gov. Tony Evers and AG Josh Kaul.
The COVID-19 pandemic broke out at the tail end of the 2019-20 legislative session, forcing the Senate to cancel its final floor period before it had planned to adjourn. Groups still managed to spend $13.9 million during the final six months of 2020, though that was down compared to both the last half of 2018 and 2022.
For top-spending WMC, some of its top priorities last session focused on workforce issues. The group’s chief lobbyist, Scott Manley, said that will continue this session with a push to provide job skills training to high school students and to expand the state’s voucher programs. Manley said the group supports the latter to provide more educational opportunities.
Last session, the group supported legislation such as a bill to use federal COVID-19 funds to increase the number of people with commercial driver licenses. In his veto message, Evers objected to using COVID-19 funds for the initiative; Manley said expanding CDLs remains a priority.
“We’re going to take another run at some of those issues, as well, in this upcoming session and hopefully get the governor to sign them,” Manley said.
The WHA’s Eric Borgerding said COVID-19 drove the more than 11 percent increase in the number of hours the group spent lobbying the Capitol last session compared to 2019-20. Along with various bills that were related to COVID-19 policies, the period included a series of regulatory waivers from the federal government that impacted policies at the state level.
“COVID for us has been an awful experience in a lot of ways, but it’s also been a pilot program for regulatory reform,” said Borgerding, the WHA president and CEO.
Tom Larson, executive vice president of the Wisconsin Realtors Association, said some of what drove the spending increase last session was the reality of divided government with Dem Gov. Tony Evers and a GOP-controlled Legislature. There was also a new majority leader in the Senate as Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, replaced Scott Fitzgerald, who was elected to Congress.
One of the Realtors’ big pushes last session was a package of eight bills to address workforce housing. All eight passed the Assembly, but only two made it through the Senate. The guv signed one that created a rehab loan program to target older housing stock but vetoed the other, which sought to identify shovel-ready workforce housing sites for developers.
“Trying to get consensus on issues takes more time,” Larson said. “Nothing is simple anymore. Even the easy ones are sometimes hard.”
The top five for this past session was rounded out by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation at $1.1 million and Wisconsin Infrastructure Investment Now Inc. at $998,227. The latter group reported zero hours lobbying the Capitol. But it has long done issue advocacy, and those expenses are included on the lobbying reports filed every six months with the state Ethics Commission.
See full lobbying numbers for 2021-22:
https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/230210Lobby21-22.pdf
See the numbers for the 2019-20 session:
https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/230210Lobbying19-20.pdf
— WMC’s Wisconsin Business World has launched the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Education Impact Awards program.
The program seeks to collect, highlight and share best practice approaches to manufacturing, engineering or technology education in schools. Educators who encourage students to become engaged in science, technology, engineering and mathematics should apply, according to a WMC statement.
Wisconsin Business World Senior Director Michelle Grajkowski said she’s thrilled to highlight STEM educators in the awards program.
“So many MET teachers go above and beyond to instill a passion for learning, introduce students to local industries and connect them with their community business leaders, truly shaping the next generation of Wisconsinites,” she said.
Awards include cash prizes for first, second and third places in middle school and high school levels. Submissions are due Mar. 31.
See the release:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisconsin-business-world-launches-new-educator-awards-program/
— The Wisconsin Bankers Association has named Fortifi Bank CEO Gregory J. Lundberg as its “Banker of the Year.”
Lundberg joined Fortifi Bank, based in Berlin, Wis., in 2010 after previously working at Citizens Bank, Johnson Bank and Associated Bank. He serves on the WBA Board of Directors and is also involved in the organization’s Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow Section and Advocacy Officer Program.
Lundberg dedicated more than 200 hours to community service over the past year, including with The Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area and Green Lake’s Town Square Community Center, as a board member, according to a release.
“It is a joy to recognize Greg as the 2022 Banker of the Year,” said WBA president and CEO Rose Oswald Poels. “In addition to his values-driven leadership of Fortifi Bank, he extends his service to his community and to the banking industry.”
See the release:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisconsin-bankers-association-berlin-wis-banker-honored-as-banker-of-the-year/
— St. Norbert College announced Laurie Joyner, who was most recently president of St. Xavier University in Chicago, as its ninth president and first woman to lead the college.
Joyner has been president of St. Xavier since 2017. Before that, she served as president of Wittenberg University in Ohio and held leadership roles at Rollins College in Florida. Joyner will replace Interim President Thomas Yunkel, who has led St. Norbert over the past year.
Joyner said she is “honored and humbled” to have been chosen for the role.
“The college’s rich Catholic, Norbertine tradition and deep commitment to the liberal arts is powerful in preparing graduates for lives of meaning, leadership and service,” Joyner said. “SNC is a well-respected college based on its reputation of academic excellence, engaged students, an abundance of faculty and staff talent, a strong sense of community, and successful graduates who maintain strong connections with the college.”
See the release:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/st-laurence-university-laurie-joyner-appointed-next-president/
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STORY TOPICS
EDUCATION ^top^
– UW-Madison expands tuition promise for low-income students to cover room, board and other college costs
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ENVIRONMENT ^top^
Counties in Wisconsin with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years
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FOXCONN REPORTS ^top^
– Federal class action lawsuit alleges Foxconn not fully paying Wisconsin employees
https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2023/02/10/foxconn-accused-in-lawsuit-of-not-fully-paying-employees/69888927007/
MANUFACTURING ^top^
– The pandemic caused Wisconsin manufacturers to shore up domestic supply chains
https://www.wpr.org/pandemic-manufacturers-domestic-supply-chains-reshore
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https://www.ehextra.com/c3232b2e-a8b4-11ed-aadc-b352f55ac481.html
MINING ^top^
– Committee tables Lafarge expanded gravel mining operation plans in Wheatland; deliberations to resume March 8
https://journaltimes.com/c1535cf0-5e31-53ce-b39e-095516ddb81b.html
POLITICS ^top^
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race is expected to top a record $6 million in spending. And that’s just for the primary.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/10/wisconsin-supreme-court-race-expected-to-top-6-million-dollar-spending-february-primary-2023/69890580007/
REAL ESTATE ^top^
– One way Madison may add lower-cost housing downtown: More floors
https://captimes.com/f976b6f6-9ac4-5cb8-85cc-238944622ce3.html
TOURISM ^top^
– Johnsonville Sausage added as Summerfest sponsor
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PRESS RELEASES ^top^
See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/
