News 03.29.17
29 March 2017 News
A Republican-backed proposal to allow Wisconsin residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit is drawing opposition from at least one Republican member of the state Senate. Sen. Luther Olsen of Ripon says he opposes the bill that was circulated Tuesday for co-sponsors. Olsen says it’s important for people wanting to carry concealed weapons to get firearm safety training. He also opposes changes under the bill that would allow concealed weapons on school grounds that don’t prohibit them. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he is “generally supportive” of the bill and will monitor public support before determining next steps. The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action praised the Wisconsin bill, which would make the state the 13th to pass a so-called “constitutional carry” law.
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A Fond du Lac man accused of providing drugs to boys and sexually assaulting them is scheduled to go on trial next month. A jury trial is scheduled to begin April 17th for James Rasmussen on more than 60 charges including first degree sexual assault of a child, exposing genitals to a child, child enticement, soliciting a child for prostitution and delivery of marijuana. Rasmussen is being held in the Fond du lac County Jail on $100,000 cash bond.
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Hidden handguns could be legally carried without a license in Wisconsin under a far-reaching, Republican-backed proposal being circulated for co-sponsors. The bill unveiled Tuesday would also allow licensed concealed carry permit holders to bring firearms into places where they are currently barred, including school buildings, unless signs are posted prohibiting them. Bill co-sponsor Republican Rep. Mary Felzkowski says its intent is to remove the “barrier of the concealed carry permit” so people can exercise their constitutional right to carry a gun. The measure would also create a new concealed carry license that doesn’t require holders to pass a gun training course. It’s unclear whether the measure has enough support among Republicans who control the Legislature to pass this session.
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The Legislature’s public dissection of Gov. Scott Walker’s $76 billion state budget proposal is beginning. Seven weeks after Walker unveiled his two-year spending plan, the Legislature’s budget-writing committee on Tuesday began hearing directly from the state agencies affected. The three days of hearings kick-off the roughly two-month review of the budget by the Joint Finance Committee. The biggest battles are expected over how to pay for roads and whether to go along with Walker’s $649 million increase for public schools. The Republican-controlled panel will hear only from Walker appointees and other agency heads over the next three days. The public gets a chance to weigh in at six hearings throughout the state in April. The budget committee is expected to begin taking votes to reshape Walker’s budget in early May.
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A key legislative committee approves a bill that would relax high-capacity well regulations, clearing the way for a full Senate vote. The Republican-controlled Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform voted 3-2 on party lines Tuesday to advance the bill to the Senate. Chairman Steve Nass conducted the vote by paper ballot rather than having the committee meet in person, drawing the ire of conservationists who fear high-capacity wells deplete ground and surface waters. Nass aide Mike Mikalsen says Democrats set up the paper ballot system in 2009 and Nass is simply utilizing their system. He says Democrats will be able to debate the bill on the Senate floor. The chamber is expected to take it up next week.
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