Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Kanavas Will Not Enter U.S. Senate Race

(Brookfield, WI) - State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) today issued the following statement regarding his decision not to run for the United States Senate:


“Since I announced my retirement from the Wisconsin State Senate in January, my family and I have been humbled by the encouragement and support I have received to run for higher office. After several weeks of thoughtful consideration, however, I have decided not to seek election to the United States Senate.

Over the next several months, I will do everything I can to help my party’s nominee defeat Russ Feingold. As a strong fiscal conservative, I will continue fighting to elect Scott Walker our next Governor and ensure the Republican Party has majorities in both houses of the state legislature.”


Senator Ted Kanavas, a software executive and entrepreneur, was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate’s 33rd District, which includes Waukesha and Washington counties, in 2001 after serving four years on the Elmbrook School Board. He is a member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, the Waukesha County Republican Party, the Washington County Republican Party; Order of AHEPA, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Orthodox Christian Charities of Wisconsin. He and his wife Mary live in Brookfield, Wisconsin with their three children. In January 2010, Senator Kanavas announced his retirement from the Wisconsin State Senate.

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Monday, April 19, 2010

The Senate is in session Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Here is a copy of the Senate Calendar for tomorrow. Enjoy!

First Order. Call of Roll.

Second Order. Chief clerk's entries.

Third Order. Introduction, first reading and reference of proposals.

Fourth Order. Report of committees.

Fifth Order. Petitions and communications.

Sixth Order. Referrals and receipt of committee reports concerning proposed administrative rules.

Seventh Order. Advice and consent of the Senate

Eighth Order. Messages from the Assembly.

QUESTION: Shall the Assembly amendment be concurred in?

Senate Bill 121. Relating to: requiring the Center on Education and Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to establish a career conversations program. By Senators Lassa, Taylor, Wirch, Olsen, Darling, and Holperin; cosponsored by Representatives Berceau, Sinicki, Richards, Petrowski, A. Ott, Zepnick, Spanbauer, Toles, and Townsend.

Assembly Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 163. Relating to: requiring health insurance coverage of colorectal cancer screening and granting rule-making authority. (FE) By Senators Wirch, Taylor, Lehman, Hansen, Erpenbach, Risser, Darling, Kapanke, Plale, Coggs, Carpenter, and Lassa; cosponsored by Representatives Colon, Barca, Benedict, Steinbrink, Hixson, Grigsby, Turner, Clark, Hubler, Milroy, A. Williams, Berceau, Jorgensen, Hebl, Hilgenberg, Young, Pope-Roberts, Mason, Townsend, Wood, Pasch, and Bernard Schaber.

Assembly Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 375. Relating to: the exchange of electronic records contained in the Consolidated Court Automation Program and in the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System between the director of state courts and the Department of Children and Families and providing a penalty. (FE) By Senators Sullivan, Taylor, Coggs, Darling, and Lehman; cosponsored by Representatives Knodl, Grigsby, Berceau, Danou, and Townsend.

Assembly Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 383. Relating to: municipal court elections, judges, and procedure, and providing penalties. (FE) By Senators Taylor, Risser, Erpenbach, and Wirch; cosponsored by Representatives Seidel, Parisi, Pope-Roberts, Turner, Tauchen, Pasch, Staskunas, Lothian, Berceau, Danou, and Townsend.

Assembly Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 400. Relating to: operation of all-terrain vehicles to remove snow. (FE) By Senators Holperin, Kreitlow, Cowles, Taylor, Plale, Olsen, Schultz, Erpenbach, and Hansen; cosponsored by Representatives Jorgensen, Clark, Ballweg, Townsend, Radcliffe, A. Ott, Suder, Petrowski, Mursau, Gunderson, and Kaufert.

Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 409. Relating to: a postsecondary education tax credit for businesses; increasing annual limits on angel investment tax credits; awarding grants to the WiSys Technology Foundation, Inc.; business plan competitions and an emerging technology center in the University of Wisconsin System; rural outsourcing grants; requiring the Department of Commerce to award grants to a high-technology business development corporation and grants for converting manufacturing facilities; increasing funding for certain economic development programs; a pilot program providing microloans for the creation of new businesses; increasing funding for certain technical college training program grants; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; and making appropriations. (FE) By Senators Lassa, Kreitlow, Sullivan, Lehman, Vinehout, Jauch, Hansen, Holperin, Miller, Robson, Erpenbach, Risser, Plale, Decker, Taylor, Wirch, Carpenter, and Coggs; cosponsored by Representatives Molepske Jr., Cullen, Zigmunt, Smith, Turner, Berceau, Zepnick, Vruwink, Dexter, and Schneider.

Assembly Amendment 6 pending

Ninth Order. Special Orders.

Tenth Order. Consideration of motions, resolutions, and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading.

QUESTION: Shall the resolution be adopted?
Senate Resolution 12. Relating to: supporting the Marinette Marine Corporation's littoral combat ship project. By Senators Hansen, Holperin, and Decker.

Senate Joint Resolution 70. Relating to: recognizing Aquaculture Day. By Senator Vinehout.
Eleventh Order. Second reading and amendments of senate joint resolutions and senate bills.

QUESTION: Shall the bill be ordered to a third reading?

Senate Bill 435. Relating to: the period for retention of certain election materials in state and local elections. By Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, by request of Government Accountability Board. (Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1, Ayes 5, Noes 0, passage as amended recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1)

Senate Substitute Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 445. Relating to: labeling requirements for certain substances that may create a fire hazard when mixed with organic matter (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Commerce). By Law Revision Committee. (Report passage recommended by committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail, Ayes 7, Noes 0)

Senate Bill 446. Relating to: eliminating a requirement for reporting on the petroleum storage remedial action program (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Commerce). By Law Revision Committee. (Report passage recommended by committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail, Ayes 7, Noes 0)

Senate Bill 616. Relating to: energy conservation standards for the construction of certain buildings, energy and environmental design standards for state buildings, structures, and facilities, energy and environmental design standards for school district facilities and other local government buildings, leasing of state buildings, structures, and facilities, standards for the construction and use of graywater systems, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) By Senators Risser and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Molepske Jr., Mason, Pasch, Roys, Pope-Roberts, Milroy, Sinicki, and Berceau. (Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1, Ayes 4, Noes 1, passage as amended recommended by committee on Ethics Reform and Government Operations, Ayes 4, Noes 1)

Senate Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 624. Relating to: expanding the authority of political subdivisions to make residential energy efficiency improvement loans, and authorizing political subdivisions to make water efficiency improvement loans and impose special charges for the loans. (FE) By Senators Lehman and Sullivan; cosponsored by Representatives Fields, Soletski, and Cullen. (Report passage recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 5, Noes 0)
Senate Bill 651. Relating to: loans to manufacturing businesses for energy improvements, job creation, retooling, or clean energy production; the administration of energy utility programs; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; requiring the exercise of emergency rule-making procedures; and making appropriations. (FE) By Senators Lassa, Holperin, Lehman, Taylor, Kreitlow, and Vinehout; cosponsored by Representatives Mason, Molepske Jr., Grigsby, Shilling, Vruwink, Turner, Zepnick, Fields, and Berceau.

Senate Substitute Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 661. Relating to: general permits for certain wetland restoration activities and providing a penalty. (FE) By Senator Wirch; cosponsored by Representative Black. (Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1, Ayes 5, Noes 0, passage as amended recommended by committee on Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 0)

Senate Amendment 1 pending

Senate Bill 664. Relating to: financial assistance under the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program. (FE) By Senators Miller and Kreitlow; cosponsored by Representatives Pocan and Dexter. (Report passage recommended by committee on Environment, Ayes 5, Noes 0)

Senate Bill 669. Relating to: willful misclassification of an employee as a nonemployee by a person engaged in the painting or drywall finishing of buildings or other structures with intent to evade the laws related to income tax withholding, worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, or employment discrimination and providing a penalty. (FE) By Senators Risser and Lassa; cosponsored by Representatives Pocan and Sinicki. (Report passage recommended by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1)

Twelfth Order. Second reading and amendments of assembly joint resolutions and assembly bills.

QUESTION: Shall the bill be ordered to a third reading?
Assembly Bill 333. Relating to: limiting disclosure of information gathered by news persons. By Representatives Parisi, Pasch, Berceau, Hixson, Zigmunt, Jorgensen, Turner, Molepske Jr., Benedict, Sinicki, Pocan, and Grigsby; cosponsored by Senators Kreitlow, Holperin, Hansen, Schultz, Lehman, Cowles, and Risser. (Report concurrence recommended by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing, Ayes 5, Noes 0)
Assembly Bill 561. Relating to: eliminating the notary requirement for assessor certification renewal (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Revenue). By Law Revision Committee.

Assembly Bill 563. Relating to: eliminating obsolete provisions related to the use value assessment of agricultural land (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Revenue). By Law Revision Committee.

Assembly Bill 564. Relating to: long-term name reservation by a limited liability company (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Financial Institutions). By Law Revision Committee.

Assembly Bill 565. Relating to: changing the registered office or registered agent of a limited partnership or registered limited liability partnership (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Financial Institutions). By Law Revision Committee.


Assembly Bill 566. Relating to: certain review, reporting, and out-of-date requirements regarding the Public Service Commission (suggested as remedial legislation by the Public Service Commission). By Law Revision Committee.

Assembly Bill 600. Relating to: authority of the Public Service Commission regarding fuel costs of certain electric public utilities and granting rule-making authority. By Representatives Soletski, Montgomery, Zepnick, Benedict, Bies, Colon, Danou, Davis, Dexter, Fields, Friske, Garthwaite, Gunderson, Hintz, Honadel, Huebsch, Mason, Mursau, A. Ott, Petersen, Rhoades, Shilling, Sinicki, Smith, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Suder, Townsend, Van Roy, Vos, Vruwink, and Zigmunt; cosponsored by Senators Plale, Kreitlow, Sullivan, Erpenbach, Taylor, Schultz, Olsen, Harsdorf, and Darling. (Report concurrence recommended by committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail, Ayes 7, Noes 0)

Assembly Bill 689. Relating to: Public Service Commission intervenor grants and making an appropriation. (FE) By Representative Pocan; cosponsored by Senator Risser. (Report concurrence recommended by committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail, Ayes 4, Noes 3)

Assembly Bill 713. Relating to: mutual assistance between tribal and county or municipal law enforcement agencies. (FE) By Representatives Hraychuck, Turner, Sherman, Pasch, Hubler, Berceau, Ballweg, Mursau, Molepske Jr., and Vos; cosponsored by Senators Jauch, Coggs, Taylor, Harsdorf, Holperin, Vinehout, Schultz, Lehman, Miller, and Grothman. (Report concurrence recommended by committee on Ethics Reform and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0)

Assembly Bill 898. Relating to: trial job program and transitional jobs demonstration project and making an appropriation. (FE) By Representatives Grigsby, Sinicki, Roys, Pasch, and Molepske Jr.; cosponsored by Senators Coggs, Lehman, Jauch, and Miller.

Thirteenth Order. Third reading of joint resolutions and bills.

Fourteenth Order. Motions may be offered.

Fifteenth Order. Announcements, adjournment honors, and remarks under special privilege.

Sixteenth Order. Adjournment.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Kanavas Statement: Court Ruling Allows Taxpayer Funded Sex Changes for Inmates

In case you missed this story here my press release and a link to JS Online:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/89701297.html

Press Release:

(Madison, WI)…State Senator Ted Kanavas made the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court ruling that will allow inmates in state prisons to receive hormonal therapy and opens the door for taxpayer funded gender reassignment surgery.

“The ruling is absurd,” said Senator Kanavas. “Taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay for hormonal therapy or sex changes for prisoners. This is another prime example of a liberal judge, far removed from the mainstream, overturning the will of the people.”

In 2005 Senator Kanavas co-authored the Sex Change Prevention Act to prohibit tax dollars from being used by state prison inmates for hormonal therapy or sexual reassignment surgery. The bill passed the State Senate unanimously and passed the State Assembly by an overwhelming 82-15 margin. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Charles N. Clevert Jr., ruled the law unconstitutional on the ground that the denial of hormone therapy was cruel and unusual punishment.

“The Wisconsin taxpayer deserves better then this. Hopefully the Appeals Court corrects the ruling and helps restore some confidence in our legal system,” Kanavas concluded.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas and his work in Madison on behalf of the 33rd District, please visit his website at www.SenatorKanavas.com.

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