Wisconsin State Assembly - March 6, 2009
Governor Supports Increase in Car Insurance Rates
In the Governor's budget proposal, there is a provision that would require auto insurance coverage minimums to increase. The minimums would change from $25,000 personal injury, $50,000 each accident, and $10,000 property damage to $100,000, $300,000, and $25,000 respectively. If these changes go into effect, Wisconsin will have the highest mandatory auto insurance coverage limits in the nation. Currently, Wisconsin has some of the most affordable auto insurance rates in the nation.
These changes are expected to increase auto insurance rates by an estimated 33 to 43 percent. To put this in plain dollar terms, a family with an auto policy containing the minimums set in current law, and who pays $848 annually, would see rates rise to between $1,100 and $1,300.
I will work to remind the Governor that the economy is in a recession and families are struggling to pay for essential goods and services. Families do not need this added cost which increasingly seems like a solution in search of a problem. Wisconsin’s current coverage minimums are sufficient to cover over 90 percent of all claims and are fifth highest in the nation.
Adding to the cost of auto insurance will push families off of the ranks of the insured and into a position that leaves them open to a catastrophe in the case of an auto accident. If these changes are coupled with an auto insurance mandate in the future, it would be a perfect storm forcing families to spend more on auto insurance or pay penalties when they shouldn’t reasonably have to. Wisconsin and New Hampshire are the only states in the nation that do not require auto insurance.
If this proposal is obviously bad for families, you may wonder why the Governor is proposing this at all. I can not definitively say, but it is a fact he has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from trial attorneys and they are the only group I have seen defending this proposal. They stand to reap a large amount of money if this proposal passes. You be the judge.
I look forward to working with my colleagues during the budget deliberations to do what is necessary and responsible, not what is desired and reckless which is what this proposal by the Governor is.
Yes to Increase in Gun Fees, No to Sex Offender Monitoring?
In the Governor's budget, he is proposing a 300 percent increase in the gun purchasing background check fee. This is an increase that would raise the fee from $8 to $30. The Attorney General requested a $5 fee increase to cover the actual cost of performing the background checks. That amount would properly fund a program which keeps guns out of the hands of criminals and is a responsible request. However, arbitrarily raising the fee, as the Governor is proposing for unspecified reasons, is not justified and should be opposed.
This increase is perplexing after a careful look at what the Governor is cutting in his budget. Governor Doyle, after signing into law and lauding a sex offender GPS monitoring proposal last session, is now proposing to gut the program only two years later. He is cutting millions from the program and scaling back the monitoring to a passive tracking system that will put children in danger of serious sex offenders.
Under the original proposal, that is current law, the most egregious sex offenders would be monitored by GPS 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to make sure they are away from schools, day cares, and any other area that is considered off limits. These sex offenders are the worst of the worst. Examples of the crimes these offenders must have committed to be in the GPS monitoring program include raping a child under the age of 12, violently raping or molesting children between the ages of 13 and 16, raping a child with a mental disease or handicap, or other similarly horrible acts against children.
The Governor's proposal to put these sex offenders on passive tracking means that we would no longer be able to instantly track them. Law enforcement would only know of their whereabouts when they check in with enforcement personnel or after a crime has already been committed.
Making a budget is about setting priorities. The Governor's increase in gun purchasing fees and cuts in GPS monitoring of sex offenders are telling of his priorities. He supports balancing the budget on the backs of gun owners and putting children at an unnecessary risk. I support reasonable fees, responsible background checks, and policies that keep our children safe from sex offenders.
Wisconsin Jobs Now Task Force is Launched
The Wisconsin Jobs Now Task Force is a statewide effort aimed at giving Wisconsin’s employers an opportunity to share their ideas on how we can create jobs. I am a contributing member and will be attending meetings of the task force around the state.
This task force will give small businesses the opportunity to share their invaluable real world experience with legislators. By opening the door to job creators we can hopefully convince Madison politicians how to truly create jobs and become a partner with business instead of an adversary.
Wisconsin needs to become a more business friendly state if we want to attract job creators to the state and keep our existing businesses healthy and located here in the state we love.
Wisconsin Jobs Now Task Force
Roundtable Discussion
Tuesday, March 10
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Rock Garden Banquet & Conference Center
1951 Bond Street, Green Bay
Wisconsin Jobs Now Task Force
Roundtable Discussion
Milwaukee Area
March 23
Time and Place TBD
Wisconsin Jobs Now Task Force
Roundtable Discussion
Eau Claire Area
March 30
Time and Place TBD
Business owners, employees, or anyone with helpful job creating ideas can submit those to the task force via our Web site at, Wisconsin Jobs Now. I look forward to working on this task force to make Wisconsin a strong job creator and to help our unemployed become employed again.
Area Wrestlers Make us Proud at State
Wrestlers from Coleman, Lena, Peshtigo, and other area schools had and continue to have a great year in high school wrestling. Many members of the teams made it to the state tournament and performed very well when they were there. View the individual wrestler results by weight class using this link.
The wrestlers, coaches, and families deserve our congratulations for their great season. It truly was a spectacular year. They have and continue to make us proud.
They are competing in the team state wrestling tournament this weekend. Follow the team results by using this link. The wrestling team state tournament takes place at Camp Randall in Madison on March 6th and 7th.
I am always happy and in fact look forward to hearing from constituents. If you know of someone who might find this e-newsletter of interest, feel free to forward it to them. Also, please have them contact me at Rep.Nygren@legis.wi.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter.
State Representative John Nygren
State Capitol, Room 127 West - Post Office Box 8953 - Madison, Wisconsin 53708
Telephone: (608) 266-2343 or toll free (888) 534-0089
Email: Rep.Nygren@legis.wi.gov
On the Internet:
Representative Nygren's Web Page