Wisconsin Supreme Court Results Still Unknown

The results of the closely followed Wisconsin Supreme Court justice race are still unofficial, but preliminary results are putting Justice David Prosser ahead of challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg.

The Associated Press had initially reported Kloppenburg the victor by a count of 244 votes. However, a discovery of uncounted votes in Waukesha County gave Prosser a boost of around 7,500 votes.

On Friday, April 8, Director and General Counsel of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Kevin J. Kennedy issued a statement on the Supreme Court results.

Kennedy stated that "because of the attention on vote totals from Brookfield, I am dispatching GAB staff to Waukesha County today to review the business processes and verify the reported results in the election for Supreme Court justice.  I have been in close contact with Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus since her news conference on Thursday, and have directed her to make the official returns from the polling places available for public inspection. These documents are public records. I believe she is now taking steps to ensure transparency and public confidence in the official results."

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Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-District 10)

• SB9, an act co-authored by Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, has cleared the Committee on Rules and has been placed on the Assembly calendar for Tuesday, April 12. The legislation seeks to extend the use of dairy and livestock farm investment credits until Jan. 1, 2017.
• On April 4, SB54 was introduced. Co-authored by Harsdorf, the act seeks to classify synthetic canniboids (also known as synthetic marijuana) as a schedule one substance in the state of Wisconsin. Under the legislation, a person found in possession of synthetic canniboids could be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to six months, or both. Second-time offences would be considered a class I felony, and subject up to $10,000 in fines or be imprisoned for up to three and a half years, or both. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations.
• Harsdorf has two Joint Finance Committee meetings scheduled for the week, one on Monday and one on Wednesday.

Rep. Dean Knudson (R-District 30)

• Rep. Dean Knudson has no committee meetings scheduled for the week.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

• On April 5, Sen. Ron Johnson voted in favor of H.R.4, the Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011. The legislation seeks to repeal requirements for the reporting to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of payments of $600 or more to corporations that are not tax-exempt and of gross proceeds paid in consideration for any type of property. The bill has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and now awaits a signature from President Barack Obama before becoming law. 
• On April 8, Johnson put out a press release, commenting on the then ongoing budget talks. Johnson stated that "This budget should have been passed last August, and their failure and lack of leadership is now coming back to haunt us."
• Tweet of the week: "Rep. Paul Ryan lays out a 'Path to Prosperity' http://on.wsj.com/h3oF57 What do you think?"
• Johnson has two Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs meetings scheduled for the week. The first is on Wednesday at 11 a.m., the second is on Thursday at 10 a.m.
• Johnson has a Special Committee on Aging meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)

• On April 5, Sen. Herb Kohl voted in favor of H.R.4, the Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011.
• On April 7, the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) of 2011 was introduced. The bipartisan legislation has the support of Kohl, as well as Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)  and Sen. Robert Portman (R-OH). The legislation seeks to increase the maximum weight for trucks driving on the Interstate System from the current 80,000 to 97,000 pounds. Kohl had commented in a press release that "We must do everything we can to lessen the shock of $100-per-barrel oil and $4-per-gallon gas, and we must reduce our usage of and dependence on foreign oil." Kohl added that "this is a common sense bill that will save money for the American companies that make everyday products as well as the families that use them." The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• Kohl's No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2011 has made significant progress, as it cleared through the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill now awaits scheduling for the Senate. Kohl had released a press statement on April 7 highlighting the legalisation's passage through the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• Kohl released a press statement on April 7, announcing that the Federal Government was giving $1,393,805 in emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to Wisconsin.
• Kohl has a Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 2:45 p.m.
• Kohl has two Judiciary Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, one at 10 a.m. and the second at 3 p.m. 
• Kohl has a Special Committee on Aging meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI)

• In his weekly YouTube address, Kind discussed the need for Republicans and Democrats to come together and tackle the deficit without hindering economic growth. 
• On April 7, Kind voted against H.R. 910: Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011. The legislation seeks to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change, and for other purposes. It passed the House of Representatives with a 255-172 vote, with 5 not voting. The legislation now awaits a vote in the Senate.
• On April 8, Kind voted against H.J.Res.37 - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to regulating the Internet and broadband industry practices. The resolution disregards the FCC's regulations that deal with net neutrality. The resolution passed the House of Representatives with a 240-179 vote, with 13 representatives not voting. It now awaits a vote in the Senate. 
• On April 9, Kind voted in favor of H.R. 1363:Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011. The legislation allocates appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes. The act has passed both the House of Representatives and Senate, and awaits a signature from President Obama.   
• Tweet of the week: ".@pcaseywi If there is a #govtshutdown I will not accept my pay for that time period - just like I reject my Cost-Of-Living Adjustment."
• Kind has a Committee on Ways and Means meetings scheduled for Wednesday.