CAPITOL REPORT
Walker Recall Effort Underway
The next step in the ongoing effort to recall GOP Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch began in earnest on November 15 with the formal filing of paperwork with the Government Accountability Board.

Recall organizers, including United Wisconsin are leading supporters in petition drives around the state and must gather 540,208 valid signatures within 60 days. Once the signatures are filed, the accountability board under state law has 31 days to review the petitions. If the board determines enough valid signatures have been filed, an election will be held as early as late March. If more than two members of any party decide to run, the election will be a primary followed by a general election, probably in late April.

The election dates could vary if the accountability board isn’t able to review all the signatures within 31 days. If that should occur, the board could ask a Dane County circuit judge for additional time. The dates could be delayed if legal challenges are filed.

If successful, the recall election for governor would be the third to be held in the nation’s history.

Recall Timeline:
November 15, 2011    
Formal filing of paperwork setting the recall process in motion
January 14, 2012     
540,208 signatures must be gathered
January 17, 2012    
Signatures turned in to accountability board
February 17, 2012    
Deadline for accountability board to 
complete review
March 27, 2012    
Tentative election date (or primary election)
April 24, 2012    
General recall election

New Tax Districts Could Spur Growth
Gov. Scott Walker signed a new law which allows development tax districts to cross city lines. The first district could occur in the Green Bay area, where Gov. Walker, along with local officials called the new law an innovative idea for promoting economic development in the face of a still struggling economy.

Cities, towns and villages previously had been limited to operating tax-increment finance districts within their own borders. Under the new law, neighboring municipalities can establish such development districts jointly to promote larger projects or implement a coordinated regional development strategy.

Local officials have used Lambeau Field as a potential area where the concept could be implemented. 

Talks are already under way with Green Bay, De Pere and Ashwaubenon officials about forming a tax-increment finance district to spur new development and beautification along the Ashland Avenue corridor just east of the stadium.

Wisconsin Reduces Fees for Filmmakers
In an effort to make it easier for small businesses to tap into the $500,000 film tax credit program, Gov.Walker has signed legislation to reduce the application fees for the film tax credit program administered by the Department of Tourism.

The up-front application fee was previously set at two percent of the budgeted production expenditures or $5,000, whichever was less. The new legislation now sets these fees to either two percent of the production budget or $500, whichever is less.

The film tax credit program is available to qualifying film, television, advertising/commercial and video gaming projects.

According to Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett, “The feedback we received from the state’s film industry showed that the application fees in the original film tax credit program were cost-prohibitive. Lowering the threshold created by steep application fees allows smaller budget film projects to have access to the program and meet our objective to grow the state’s creative economy and small businesses.”

STATEWIDE
Wisconsin Credit Unions Show Increases 
in Third Quarter
“Wisconsin credit unions had another solid performance in the third quarter,” Department of Financial Institution’s Secretary Peter Bildsten said. “It is encouraging to see positive trends in several key areas. This bodes well for state credit union members and the Wisconsin economy.”

Compared to the quarter ending June 30, 2011, Wisconsin’s 211 state-chartered credit unions in the third quarter:
•    
Grew assets by nearly one percent, from $21.6 billion to 
$21.8 billion.
•    
Increased savings deposits by one percent, from $18.85 billion to $19.02 billion.
•    
Grew total loans by 1.5 percent, from $16.06 billion to $16.3 billion.
•    
Reported earnings of 0.52 percent, compared to 0.53 percent for the 2nd quarter.

New Nuclear Power Plants Proposed
No new nuclear plants have been built in Wisconsin in more than 35 years, however, that could change if Rep. Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee) is successful next spring in repealing the state’s moratorium on nuclear plant development.

Honadel, the head of the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities states, “As a legislator, I don't believe any type of energy should be off the table.”

Wisconsin law requires a federal nuclear waste repository must be available and a new plant must be “economically advantageous to ratepayers” before it can be approved by the state Public Service Commission.
 
Unemployment Rate Dipped Slightly in October
Wisconsin’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.8 percent in September to 7.7 percent in October. Declines in manufacturing, health care, construction and retail contributed to the state’s loss of 9,300 private sector jobs in October. Meanwhile the leisure and hospitality sector achieved one-month gains. 

“Wisconsin’s unemployment rate decreased over the month and our state’s labor market has improved over the course of this year, but the decline in total jobs over the month reaffirms our exposure to challenges in the national and global economy,” Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson said.

NORTHEAST
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Upgrade to Stevens Point Airport Announced
Gov. Scott Walker has approved an $82,000 project at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport to upgrade the airport’s Automated Weather Observing Station, which provides pilots with information such as altimeter setting, dew point, temperature, wind speed and direction, visibility and cloud height.

The approval releases $2,050 in state funds for the program. The city of Stevens Point will pay $2,050, and $77,900 will come from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Green Bay to Operate 
Buses Again
The Green Bay Transit Commission voted to terminate its management contract with Ohio-based First Transit Inc. effective Jan. 1.

After five years with First Transit, city officials believe it can operate Green Bay Metro as a city-run transit system, saving taxpayers about $230,000 a year.

The city contracted with First Transit in 2007 at a time when Green Bay Metro was struggling with financial problems, operational challenges and regulatory compliance issues.

Transit commissioners said they are pleased with how the contractor performed in helping the city-owned bus system return to stability.

The network serves more than 1 million riders annually on 14 routes throughout Green Bay, Ashwaubenon, De Pere and other surrounding communities.

State Tree to Take Center Stage at the White House
A 20-year-old Balsam Fir from Marquette County has made the long trek to Washington, D.C. where it was presented to First Lady Michelle Obama the day after Thanksgiving.

The official White House Christmas Tree comes from Tom and Sue Schroeder’s farm near Neshkoro.
 
Winning the national Christmas tree contest occurred when the Schroeder’s 18-foot tree was handpicked by the White House Superintendent of Grounds and an official with the National Park Service.
 
NORTHWEST
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit Takes Place December 13-14
Business and community leaders are invited to attend the fifth annual Governor’s Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit, December 13-14 in Minocqua. The Summit is the combined work of several state agencies and will address key issues such as economic growth, workforce development, technology, transportation, clean and renewable energy, small business development and natural resources.
 
The Summit includes a “Conversation with Leadership,” briefings on key issues within state agencies as they pertain to northern Wisconsin, including the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Department of Revenue, Department of Workforce Development, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. Registration ($75) and an agenda is available online at www.northwoodssummit.com.
 
SOUTHEAST
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Lake Geneva Man is a CNN Hero
This summer, Lake Geneva businessman Sal Dimiceli was named a CNN Hero. A short video including an interview and footage of him helping local people aired on CNN. In September, viewers chose him as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011 — remarkable everyday people changing the world. Through his local newspaper column and his nonprofit, Sal Dimiceli helps about 500 people a year with food, rent and other necessities. A single 2011 Hero of the Year will be chosen by public vote from the top 10, with a ceremony to air live on CNN at 
7 p.m., December 11.
 
Will Allen Named on Forbes ‘Foodies’ List
Michael Pollan, author of the best selling “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” has named seven people he deems to be the world’s most powerful foodies. Milwaukee’s own Will Allen is No. 4 on the list, compiled by Pollan for Forbes magazine. Others on the list include First Lady Michelle Obama and Josh Viertel, president of Slow Food USA. Allen, founder of the urban farm Growing Power, has garnered wide acclaim for his efforts, collecting various awards including a MacArthur Foundation grant. “His Milwaukee urban farm Growing Power has demonstrated that urban agriculture can bring not only food to the inner city but good jobs as well,” Pollan writes.

SOUTHWEST
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Fresh Madison Market Goes Mobile
Jeff Maurer, the owner of University Avenue’s Fresh Madison Market will take his show on the road. Maurer sees a need to offer his store’s fresh produce, especially fruits to Madison neighborhoods that normally do not have abundant healthy food options.

His solution is a 34-foot, refrigerated trailer containing a mobile grocery store. A driver and cashier will operate the traveling store, where patrons will have the option to choose from a variety of nutritional food staples.

"Costwise, we believe we’ll be able to operate on a much lower margin than a typical supermarket because we won’t have all the overhead costs,” said Maurer.

Power Line Project for 
La Crosse Area Questioned
A report by Wisconsin Public Service Commission staff says the proposed high-voltage power line that would cross the Mississippi River from Minnesota into Wisconsin near La Crosse may not be justified — at least, based on the needs of the La Crosse area.

An executive summary of the report questions the proposed $450 million, 345-kilovolt transmission, CapX2020 power line and the need for the growing demand for electricity in the La Crosse/Winona, Minn. region. 

The CapX2020 project is a series of major transmission lines that would extend 700 miles from the Dakotas to Wisconsin. A consortium of 11 utility companies is working on the project, including three in Wisconsin.