Do people know this is inWalkers bill also?

[ugonow]

"The bill includes a provision that would allow the state to sell or contract out the operation of heating, cooling, and power plants without a bidding process and without consulting the state’s independent utility regulator." www.nationaljournal.com/is-scott-walker-s-budget-plan-a-bait-and-switch--20110223

[ugonow]

Is Koch Industries the new Halliburtion? Aren't they in energy also?

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

From the link:

The legislation would also borrow money from a federal welfare program to cover further state shortfalls, and it includes a provision that would allow the sale of the state’s public utilities without a bidding process or public oversight.

I am curious, are these utilities owned by the State of Wisconsin, or are they privately owned/run companies, with separate capital structures(ie: private equity or stock holders).

[handyman2]

The question arises what kind of power plants are we talking about? Contracting out state building heating, air and steam power generating systems within state facilities is not uncommon in many areas of the country.
I would be surprised if these even come under the electric utility regulator in the first place. Electric distribution yes.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Okay, I see now, they are referring to the state owned building's power plants.
This has nothing to do with no-bid contracts. The real issue is union jobs. This is all about union power, and union control of the state political structure.
The devil is in the details.

[ugonow]

It's all about unions? I thought it was about the budget. Arent bid contracts good for the budget?

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

It's all about unions? I thought it was about the budget. Arent bid contracts good for the budget?

Unions vs. no-bid contracts are separate issues. If it was a bid contract holy hades would still be raised.
There is not enough info in the article to come to a conclusion concerning bid or no-bid. There are many reasons why a no-bid contract would be put out.

[ugonow]

If I was a senior on wisconsin's medicaid this would scare me a bit-----The legislation, the lawyer wrote in a “drafter’s note” about the bill, would allow the state Department of Health Services to “change any Medical Assistance law, for any reason, at any time, and potentially without notice or public hearing... in addition to eliminating notice and publication requirements, [the changes] would leave the emergency rules in effect without any requirement to make permanent rules and without any time limit.”

The bill also employs “emergency” powers that would allow the governor’s appointed health secretary to redefine the foundations of the state’s Medicaid program, Badgercare, ranging from eligibility to premiums, with only passive legislative review. The attorney in the legislature’s nonpartisan reference bureau who prepared the bill warned that a court could invalidate the statute for violating separation of powers doctrine.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

If I was a senior on wisconsin's medicaid this would scare me a bit

Would not a senior citizen be on medicaid?
Look, many of these states, just do not have the money, and it is becoming harder and harder to float bond issues. In fact, the muni market will likely implode.

[ugonow]

<<<A provision to sell state-owned heating plants is getting another look this week as opponents of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill raise concerns about a “no-bid” clause in the legislation.

As I reported last week, the budget repair bill includes a provision that empowers the state Department of Administration to sell the plants – and the sale would not have to be reviewed by the state Public Service Commission.

The sale could take place with or without the solicitation of bids, according to an analysis of the bill by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee last week amended the provision to require that a cost-benefit analysis be done prior to a sale, and that any plant sale be submitted to the Joint Finance Committee for its review. But the panel left the "no-bid" language unchanged.

But what company would want to buy the plants?

Some opponents of the Walker bill are positing that Koch Industries, a contributor to Walker’s campaign, is a potential buyer of the plants.

But Koch denies any interest in buying the facilities. Koch operates paper mills, pipelines and fuel terminals in Wisconsin and employs 3,000 state residents.

“We have no interest in purchasing any of the state-owned power plants in Wisconsin and any allegations to the contrary are completely false,” Philip Ellender of Koch said in a statement Tuesday. “This is a dispute between public-sector unions and democratically elected officials over how best to serve the public interest. Unfortunately, there are those who would prefer to portray it as something else entirely.

In an interview, a Wisconsin utility leader and the head of a utility watchdog group questioned what value a private company might see in buying the plants.

“We would like the Joint Finance Committee to take a good look at the cost benefit analysis,” said David Benforado, who runs Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin. “At first blush, these plants are probably all fully depreciated plants, and that’s not the time to sell. We would be very interested to make sure that it makes economic sense for the state.”

Charlie Higley, executive director of the Wisconsin Citizens’ Utility Board, agreed.

“They’d be lucky to get one bid,” Higley said.

Higley and the Madison-based Customers First coalition have written to Walker asking that the sale of heating plants be stripped out of the budget repair bill and be debated as a standalone bill.>>>>www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/116684534.html

[b2r]

EPA investigates 15 state power plants for possible clean-air violations

The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating 15 state-owned power plants, including several on University of Wisconsin System campuses, to determine if they are in violation of the federal Clean Air Act.

The federal agency sent the state Department of Administration a letter Thursday requesting information about the plants. They include power plants on UW campuses at Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Menonomie, Superior and Whitewater.


host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_aa2a3092-fe83-11df-8970-001cc4c03286.html

[bean29]

Regarding Public Assistance for Medicaid.

WI has one of the most generous low-income Medical Programs in the US. The Federal Gov't is paying a good portion of it, but not all of it.

I think our Low Income Medical Programs should be no better or worse than anyplace else in the US. The risk if it is substantially better + our Welfare is more generous, is that you then have people moving here just b/c they can live better off the Gov't than they can somewhere else.

Most of our utilities are not owned by the State. WE Energies provides my Local Gas/Electric Service.

I saw the post that it is regards to power plants at the Universities. My Brother's friend has that job at One of the larger WI colleges. His prior experience was at an Auto Plant. I don't know if he would be overpaid or not, but I am sure not just anyone is qualified to do the job. I also am sure he has other job opportunities if he wants to leave the state.

www.wisconsinenergy.com/invest/factsheet.htm

[floridayankee]

Feb 23, 2011 15:42:02 GMT -5 bean29 said:

I think our Low Income Medical Programs should be no better or worse than anyplace else in the US. The risk if it is substantially better + our Welfare is more generous, is that you then have people moving here just b/c they can live better off the Gov't than they can somewhere else.

Considering the number of "gray heads" here in FL, there must not be all than many of 'em.

[Deleted]

No bid contracts... and the ability to bypass congress and kill medicaid... i'm telling you... this is just the set up bill for his new budget... have they released that yet?