Conservatively Speaking

Here is what happened on the floor of the state Senate today.

1) The state Senate honored the University of Wisconsin Badger football team for their outstanding season last year and their bowl game victory over Arkansas on New Year's Day.

2) The state Senate also honored Wisconsin Badger All-American offensive lineman Joe Thomas, who is almost certain to be a number one selection in the upcoming National Football League draft.

3) Senators approved a Senate Joint Resolution declaring March 2007 American Red Cross Month.

4) Senators concurred in an Assembly Joint resolution honoring the life and service of President Gerald Ford.

5) Senators approved Senate Bill 13, legislation that I co-sponsored to allow access to pending paternity proceeding information for purposes of administering the child support establishment program.

Here is the analysis of the bill from the Legislative Reference Bureau:

Under current law, the record of a pending paternity action is confidential, except that the child's parents and the parties to the action and their attorneys may have access to the record, and additional specified persons may have access if the child is the subject of another type of proceeding, such as a juvenile guardianship or delinquency action. For purposes related to the child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical support liability program (program), which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in conjunction with county child support agencies, DWD and county child support agencies may obtain information from the clerk of circuit court on a case−by−case basis about any pending paternity action in which DWD or the county child support agency is a party.

DWD and county child support agencies, however, are not allowed general access to the Web site that is maintained through the Wisconsin Supreme Court's Consolidated Court Automation Programs case management system and that contains information about all pending paternity actions.

This bill authorizes DWD and county child support agencies to have statewide access to the records of all pending paternity actions for purposes related to administering the program, regardless of whether DWD or a county child support agency is a party to the action to which a record relates.


6) Senators approved Senate Bill 52 that relates to daylight saving time and closing hours for certain alcohol beverages retailers.

Here is the analysis of the bill from the Legislative Reference Bureau:

Federal law governing daylight saving time supersedes state law governing daylight saving time. Effective through 2006, federal law provides that daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ends at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October each year. Beginning in 2007, federal law provides that daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November each year.

The current state statute defining standard time provides that daylight saving time begins at 1 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ends at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October each year.

This bill provides that daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November each year.

Under current law, with exceptions, no premises for which a Class "B" license (authorizing the retail sale of beer for consumption on or off the premises where sold) or a "Class B" license (authorizing the retail sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption on or, subject to certain conditions, off the premises where sold) has been issued may remain open between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. However, on Saturdays and Sundays, closing time is 2:30 a.m. rather than 2 a.m.

This bill provides that, on the Sunday that daylight saving time begins, closing time is 3:30 a.m. rather than 2:30 a.m.


Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald made a statement. Senator Fitzgerald noted in the previous legislative session, Democrats frequently gave floor speeches denouncing Republicans on the issue of health care. Today, Senator Fitzgerald said Senate Democrats who now control the state Senate have scheduled several floor sessions, but have failed to schedule any health care proposals for Senate consideration.

Senate Democrats say there will be a statewide tour of the Senate Health Committee. I am a member of the Senate Health Committee and will post details about upcoming public hearings and health care proposals as soon as they are available.