Wisconsin lawmakers will return to the floor Wednesday as they debate both reform of drunken driving laws and a change in structure of Milwaukee Public Schools, two issues that have been developing for months.
In an extraordinary session called by members of the Legislature, both the Assembly and Senate will vote on several months of work on drunken driving reform.
Rep. Tony Staskunas, D-West Allis, a co-author of the legislation, said the Senate version of the bill will come to the floor for passage.
Staskunas added he is happy with the finalized reform bill and is confident lawmakers will vote to pass it Wednesday.
“I think it’s a real comprehensive product,” Staskunas said. “I think it’s a good mixture of punishment, prevention, treatment and oversight. I also think it’s the most significant reform we’ve ever had here in Wisconsin on our drunk driving laws.”
Kimber Liedl, spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said it is likely the Legislature will pass the Senate version of the bill.
The extraordinary session to vote on drunken driving falls on the same day as a different “special session” called by Gov. Jim Doyle to consider reform bills for Milwaukee Public Schools.
Adam Plotkin, spokesperson for Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, said the MPS reform is unlikely to pass Wednesday.
“The bills haven’t had a public hearing at all, in any committee,” Plotkin said. “To expect a bill of that magnitude to get a public hearing and to be available for legislative action within a week is not entirely realistic.”
Liedl said both Republicans and Democrats are split on the MPS reform issue.
“I think that people are divided on both sides of the aisle as to how to tackle this issue, whether to impose mayoral control or give more power to the state superintendent,” Liedl said. “I think it just varies per legislator.”
Liedl also said Fitzgerald opposes any provision allowing mayoral control of MPS.
According to Eric Peterson, spokesperson for Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee — who is an author of one of the MPS reform bills — Doyle made the right decision in calling the special session because of the Jan. 19 deadline for the federal Race to the Top funding application.
Peterson said the special session will be an ongoing process that is very unlikely to be adjourned, but can be recessed. He said there is a possibility the Legislature will not initially act on the reform Wednesday, but will be forced to confront the issue upon every floor session until the special session is adjourned at the Legislature’s discretion.
Doyle spokesperson Lee Sensenbrenner said reform is imperative to improve student performance in MPS. He also echoed Peterson’s claim that the reform is important for the Race to the Top application.
“In order for the state to be competitive in applying for Race to the Top funding, you need to have a structure in place that gives people confidence that action will be changed in Milwaukee Public Schools,” Sensenbrenner said.
