Assembly Bill 176 was introduced last summer by Representatives Bies, Jacque, Kaufert, and Van Roy; and cosponsored by Senator Lasee. The bill passed the Assembly on January 26 and is now scheduled for a vote in the Senate today, March 6.

Under current law, the DNR may promulgate rules establishing qualifications for persons applying for commercial fishing licenses for fishing in the Great Lakes. These rules include a requirement that, in order to qualify for a license, an applicant must have harvested in the previous license year at least a certain amount of fish. This bill prohibits minimum harvesting requirements.

Minimum business size requirements are corporatist, protectionist schemes that establish price gouging cartels. These laws only come about through blatant corruption. Since this law eliminates one of these schemes, it earns the score of MORE LIBERTY.

High Priority

Yesterday, Senators Lasee, Olsen, and Schultz introduced SB-520 relating to vehicles registered as historic military vehicles (HMV's).

Currently, vehicles that meet certain qualifications can be registered as an HMV for a one-time fee of $30--the special HMV plates never expire. However, use of HMV's is restricted to parades and show events. SB-520 loosens the use restrictions to include occasional personal use, club activities, exhibitions, and tours. Since this bill loosens restrictions, and a person could in all practicality get away with using an HMV as his primary vehicle (for a one time registration fee of $30!), this bill earns a score of MORE LIBERTY.

SB-520 is also cosponsored by Representatives Jacque, Bies, Brooks, Kerkman, Kestell, Nygren, Rivard and Wynn. It has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and Elections.

Low Priority

To change tune a bit, I have decided to report on some recent bills introduced by my state senator, Frank Lasee.

Current law requires all property tax appeals in the entire state to be heard by the Dane County Circuit Court. This bill allows certain businesses (retailers, manufacturers, air carriers, railroads, pipeline companies, phone companies, conservation and regulatory companies) to file their appeals with the circuit court in the county their business is located in instead. Although this bill picks favorites and is partly a ploy at appearing to be pro-business (not pro-liberty), it is not taking away anyone's liberty. The bill makes the tax appeals process easier and more decentralized, therefore it earns the score of MORE LIBERTY.

SB-516 was introduced on February 27 by Senators Lasee, Grothman and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Strachota, Kooyenga, Spanbauer, Marklein, Bies, Rivard, Stroebel, Endsley and Thiesfeldt.

Medium Priority