Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend, the town of Vernon and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Weekly Highlights
Another very busy week at the State Capitol.
Tuesday the Senate debated 21 amendments to Special Session Senate Bill 1. After four and half hours of debate the bill was approved and sent to the State Assembly. I met with Gary Hamblin to discuss his Senate confirmation as Secretary of Corrections. His confirmation will be before the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs January 25, 2011. The first notice of a public hearing of the committee I chair, the Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections was published. The committee will be holding a public hearing for the photo voter ID bill, Senate Bill 6 (SB6), January 26, 2011.
Wednesday was meetings about the photo voter ID bill, and some of the members of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors visited my office. The new Secretary of Children and Families, Eloise Anderson, and the new Secretary of Regulation and License, Dave Ross, met with about their confirmation hearings. I put into circulation for sponsors a bill that adopts federal law for state income and franchise tax purposes creating a deduction for future depreciation of items placed in service after September 8, 2010, and before January 1, 2012, and for property placed in service after December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 2013. The bill mirrors federal law and incentivizes job creation.
Thursday the State Senate approved Special Session Senate Bill 2. After debating two
substitute amendments and four amendments, the bipartisan bill was approved and sent to the State Assembly. I had more meetings about photo voter ID, and met with representatives of Waukesha County Technical College. I put a bill into circulation for sponsors that will provide mandate relief and eliminates duplication. A provision within the 2009-11 State Budget requires law enforcement to collect data on all occupants of every vehicle stopped by an officer. The new requirement to collect data is a duplication of the driver data that officers must collect and record on citations and is obtained by officers via the driver's license. This bill eliminates duplication and provides mandate relief to local units of government. More importantly it allows law enforcement to put limited resources to better use fighting crime.
Friday finds me reviewing over 155 constituent contacts, returning numerous phone calls, and preparing for the next very busy week.
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