See press conference and Prosser reaction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsLbvpGf2rY&feature=youtu.be

See the link for a succinct summary of Governor Walker’s Tort Reform Package by attorney Ralph Weber in Milwaukee Journal opinion piece…http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/113237849.html

Former Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Sean Dilweg has joined CUNA as VP overseeing mortgage business.   See Release

 Rep. Joel Kleefish (R-Oconomowoc) will replace Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) on the Joint Finance Committee.  Rep.  Gottlieb was appointed Secretary of the Department of Transportation last week by Governor Scott Walker.  Kleefish is the husband of Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefish.

The following is a summary and a link to the Special Session Civil Justice Reform Package released by Governor Walker: 

Limiting noneconomic damages awarded in actions against long-term care providers; actions against manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and promoters of certain products; confidentiality of health care services reviews; use as evidence of information regarding health care providers; reporting of quality indicators identifying individual hospitals; homicide or injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire; criminal abuse of individuals at risk; criminal abuse and neglect of patients and residents; evidence of lay and expert witnesses; damages for frivolous claims; and punitive damage awards. (LRB0388/1) Plaintiff’s Bar disagrees with Governor: Release

Department of Administration Secretary  – Mike Huebsch, former Assembly speaker and La Crosse-area State Representative.

Department Commerce Secretary – Paul Jadin, former Green Bay mayor and head of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

Department of Transportation Secretary – Mark Gottlieb, a former mayor, and Port Washington State Representative. 

Department of Workforce Development Secretary  – Manuel “Manny” Perez, president of JNA Staffing and a former North America product manager for managed services staffing for Milwaukee-based Manpower Inc.

Department of Natural Resources Secretary – Cathy Stepp, former senator adn former DNR board member.

Department of Revenue Secretary – Rick Chandler, a former revenue secretary and budget director and part of Walker’s transition team.

Department of Children and Families Secretary -  Eloise Anderson, served under former GOP Govs. Thompson in Wisconsin and Wilson in California.

Department of Health Secretary – Dennis Smith, former Bush administration Director of the Federal Center for Medicaid and State Operations at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Department of Tourism Secretary -  Stephanie Klett, host of the “Discover Wisconsin” Television and Radio Series, and Managing Director of the Discover Wisconsin Media Network. 

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary – Ben Brancel, a farmer and former Assembly Speaker who also headed DATCP under Gov. Thompson. In 2001, the Bush administration named Brancel Director of the Farm Service Agency in Wisconsin.

WHEDA Director – Wyman Winston, a former WHEDA official who went on to do economic development work in Portland and Atlanta.

Department of Corrections – Gary Hamblin, former Dane County Sheriff and Administrator of the DOJ Division of Law Enforcement Services.

Department of Financial Institutions – Peter Bildsten of Baraboo, currently serving as chairman and CEO of First National Bank and Trust Co. of Baraboo.

Department of Regulation and Licensing – Dave Ross, mayor of Superior.

In what is expected to be a busy two days for incoming administration announcements, the first wave of  staff assignments for the East Wing are:

• Chief of Staff, Keith Gilkes
• Press Secretary, Cullen Werwie
• Deputy Chief of Staff, Eric Schutt
• Chief Legal Counsel , Brian Hagedorn
• Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Ryan Murray
• Communications Director, Chris Schrimpf

Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg has announced her candidacy for Wisconsin Supreme Court.  She has been at the Wisconsin Department of Justice since 1989.  Kloppenburg graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School (1988). She has an undergraduate degree from Yale (1974), also with honors, and a Masters in Public Affairs from Princeton University (1976). During Law School, she was an intern for Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and later was a law clerk for Chief Judge Barbara Crabb of the United States District Court.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald Names Committee Chairs

•  Insurance and Housing. Sen. Lasee.
• Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce and Government Operations. Sen. Zipperer.
• Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs. Sen. Wanggaard.
• Workforce Development, Small Business and Tourism. Sen. Moulton.

 Speaker Fitzgerald Fills GOP Committee Assignments

• Consumer Protection and Personal Privacy. Reps. Ripp, August, Huebsch, Spanbauer, Kooyenga.
• Insurance. Reps. Petersen, Weininger, Kestell, Nygren, August, Kapenga, Tranel, Ziegelbauer.
• Judiciary and Ethics. Reps. J. Ott, Larson, Kerkman, Kleefisch, Jacque.
• Labor and Workforce Development. Reps. Ballweg, Kapenga, Nass, Honadel, Kuglitsch, Litjens.

 Assembly Minority Leader -Elect Peter Barca appointed Rep. Tamara Grigsby of Milwaukee and  Rep. Jen Shilling of La Crosse to the Joint Finance Committee.