Despite the largest blizzard of the year, state lawmakers met on Wednesday for both a regular and special session of the Legislature.
One of the main issues both chambers dealt with was a Department of Commerce overhaul. After the Joint Finance Committee voted Monday to partially privatize the department, the Senate did the same by a vote of 21-10.
The new Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation would take control of growing the state's economy from the Department of Commerce. The details of how it will run have yet to be determined, which is an issue for some Democrats.
""There's no accountability in this legislation. It's just this new entity with $87 million,"" state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said.
Later in the day, the Assembly voted 59-33 in favor of the bill. It will now go to Gov. Scott Walker's desk for final approval.
Both chambers also took up a Brown County wetlands bill backed by Walker.
The bill would create a wetland regulation exemption to allow businesses to develop on a wetland near Green Bay without a permit. The Senate voted in favor of the bill, 20-11, while the Assembly passed it 56-35.
The Assembly also passed a bill that would give the governor more authority in how administrative rules are given final approval on a partisan 58-34 vote.
The bill fixes a rules process that supporters said is too complex and hurts businesses.
""We need these jobs and economic growth in the state of Wisconsin,"" Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Merrill said.
Assembly Democrats disagreed, with Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, not buying into the idea the bill affects the economy or jobs.
