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Senate committee postpones policy on voting age

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by Pedro Oliveira Jr.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Wisconsin Senate deferred voting on a bill Tuesday that would grant voting rights to certain 17-years-olds after some officials expressed concern with technical provisions of the bill.

State Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, requested the bill be referred back to the Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs Committee.

Coggs declined Tuesday to comment on the action.

Senate President Fred Risser, D-Madison, who drafted the bill, said Coggs requested the referral after some county clerks expressed concern that the bill could complicate the process of running elections.

"It was some technical problem that he wanted to straighten out, but I anticipate that the bill will be back before too long," Risser said. "I understand that the clerks were concerned about something on the bill, but I'm not sure what the problem is."

Senators voted to send the legislation back to committee unanimously.

The proposed bill would allow individuals who will turn 18 by the general election to vote in the preceding primary elections. If passed by the Legislature, a statewide referendum would be required for the bill to become law.

Supporters of the bill hope it will be enacted by January 2009.

Committees approve film credits bill

A bill moving the effective date of tax credits available to film companies passed two legislative committees Tuesday.

The Assembly's Jobs and the Economy Committee approved the bill unanimously with one member absent. The Senate's Economic Development, Job Creation, Family Prosperity and Housing Committee approved the bill 6-to-1, with state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, the lone dissenting vote.

Vinehout said she opposed the bill because the tax credits give an unfair advantage to the film industry over other industries.

"What we really want is every tax bill to have an accountability component," Vinehout said. "Yes, we want the film industry to come, but we also need the resources for other industries."

Supporters of the bill say the tax credits will provide film companies a financial reason to produce movies in Wisconsin, creating new businesses and new jobs. Eventually, supporters say initial state costs will return an economic boost.

Before heading to the Legislature, the bill must first clear the bipartisan Joint Finance Committee.

Assembly delays sick-leave bill

An Assembly Democrat delayed the passage of a Republican-authored bill Tuesday that would strip elected officials of their sick-leave benefits, according to The Associated Press.

State Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, objected to voting on the bill and the Assembly was unable to overrule the objection with a two-thirds vote, the AP reported.

The bill will likely be taken up by the Assembly next week, according to the AP, even though Senate leaders have said they have no interest in addressing the legislation.

— Keegan Kyle contributed to this report.

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