The state Legislature will vote on several high profile bills today, including one on the Frankenstein veto"" and a bill mandating emergency contraception for all victims of rape.
Compassionate Care
Assembly Bill 377, commonly called the ""Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill"", will be voted on in the state Assembly today. The original bill would require all Wisconsin hospitals provide access and information on emergency contraception to rape victims. Bill co-author state Rep. Terry Musser, R-Black River Falls, said he expects the bill to pass with at least 80 votes in favor.
The bill had an amendment added to it when it was in the Assembly Judiciary and Ethics Committee that supporters say cancels out the bill. Musser said a substitute amendment would be offered tomorrow to reverse the earlier amendment. The bill passed the Senate 27 to six.
Peggy Hamill, state director for the anti-abortion group Pro-Life Wisconsin, said in a statement that the bill would force hospitals to ""violate their consciences.""
Video Competition Act
The Assembly will also vote on Assembly Bill 207, often called the ""Video Competition Act,"" which already passed the Republican-controlled Assembly once earlier this year.
The bill would alter statutes to allow companies like AT&T to enter certain cable markets, according to Adam Raschka, spokesperson for bill author Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay. The bill passed the Senate 23 to nine.
Due to changes made in the Democratic-controlled Senate the Assembly has to vote on the changes made. Raschka said the Assembly would vote in favor of all changes made by the Senate. The bill will update laws that have not been revised since the 1970s, according to Raschka.
State Rep. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, said the bill does not have enough consumer protections. He said he would offer multiple amendments today, though he said it would be an ""uphill battle.""
State Christmas Tree
The state Assembly will also vote on bill that would rename the tree at the state capitol the ""Wisconsin State Christmas Tree"" instead of calling it a ""Holiday Tree.""
Fired Milwaukee police officers
The Senate will vote on Senate Bill 176, the ""Police Pay Bill,"" which would stop fired Milwaukee police officers from receiving money while their cases are appealed. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and state Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, support the bill.
""Milwaukee taxpayers deserve better than this!"" Coggs said in a statement, referencing the $4 million paid to fired officers by the city since 1990.
Milwaukee Police Association Vice President Thomas Fischer said the bill is too punitive, but agrees pay should be suspended for officers charged with felonies. According to Fischer, steps should be taken to make the appeal process faster for officers, with pay still available for those charged with misdemeanors or rule violations.
Frankenstein Veto
The Senate will also vote on Senate Joint Resolution Five, a bill that would stop the governor from combining sentences to form new sentences and therefore dramatically change legislation. The bill, which limits the ""Frankenstein veto"" power, passed the Senate Ethics and Governmental Operations Committee unanimously. If the bill passes the Senate with no amendments it will be on the April 2008 ballot as a referendum. Senate Democratic leadership has previously stated the bill is likely to pass.
