(WisBusiness) TUES News Summary — 11 Nov. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— The Public Service Commission is set to issue an oral decision today regarding Wisconsin Power & Light’s proposed coal-fired power plant in Cassville, estimated to cost $1.3 billion.

The open meeting is set for 10:30 a.m. at PSC headquarters, 610 North Whitney Way in Madison.

See the agenda: http://psc.wi.gov/apps/eventcalendar/content/agenda.aspx?date=11/11/2008&id=1405

The PSC is also set to address a pair of requests for water rate hikes, one in Mercer and one in Madison.

The Madison Water Utility hearing is this afternoon at PSC headquarters. The proposed rates would increase annual revenues from water public utility service by an estimated $2.68 million, of which $2.44 million would be from general service customers and $238,000 would be from the public fire protection charge. The public fire protection provides an increase of approximately 12 percent compared to a 13 percent increase in general service rates. Go to http://psc.wi.gov and search for docket # 3280-WR-110 for more information.

— Des Moines-based Ruan Transport has filed notice with the state that it will close its Single Source Transport Co. facility in Green Bay, resulting in the permanent layoff of 39 employees on Jan. 6.

— The Transportation Development Association issued a report Monday on Wisconsin’s transportation system warning of a transportation funding shortfall and recommending a new funding mix.

The report was released in advance of a two-day conference in Madison this week on transportation funding.

The “Our Future Rides On It” report says rising construction inflation, a drop in gas consumption and declining American infrastructure has caused a national decline in transportation funding capabilities. The report further warns that Wisconsin, because of its reliance on revenues from the gas tax, is particularly susceptible to a funding shortfall.

See more: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=141206

— The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority recommended to Gov. Jim Doyle and the Legislature Monday that the RTA become permanent, have oversight authority over local transit and be authorized to levy up to a 0.5 percent sales tax to fund local transit and commuter rail.

Under the recommendations, the proceeds from the tax would stay within the county it was collected to fund the county’s transit system, and transit would be removed from property tax levies. The RTA would also receive all federal and state transit aids and be granted bonding authority for capital projects. Additionally, the recommendation calls for municipalities to be able to levy a 0.15 percent public safety sales tax.

See the RTA statement: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=141172

— A report released Monday by the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce shows a deepening shortage of doctors in Milwaukee and the state’s rural areas, with statewide demand for primary care physicians expected to double within 20 years.

In order to avoid a “bottleneck” in the state’s health care system, the report recommends initiating a program to keep graduating doctors in the state, attracting practicing doctors to Wisconsin, creating a better data and funding infrastructure for the state’s medical schools, and modernizing health care delivery methods.

Read the report: http://www.wha.org/pubArchive/special_reports/2008PhysicianReport.pdf

See the WHA statement: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=141163

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Nov. 18 in Milwaukee: STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RECESSIONARY TIMES

**Register now for the Tues. Nov. 18 event at Discovery World in Milwaukee featuring past and present state Commerce secretaries.

“State Economic Development in Recessionary Times: A post-election look at where the state economy is heading.”

Sponsored by Quarles & Brady, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and We Energies.

See more: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=138124

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NEXT CHECKPOINT SURVEY QUESTIONS DUE FRIDAY

Take advantage of an exclusive discount program for WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com Subscribers.

If you are a WisPolitics or WisBusiness subscriber, you’ll receive a 10 percent discount if you purchase two or more questions in the next monthly Checkpoint survey, a production of Wood Communications Group of Madison. That means the first question costs $900, and subsequent questions are $810 each.

The monthly “Checkpoint” survey of public opinion is a 500-person statewide random digit dial poll. The next survey is set to go into the field on Nov. 18.

Individual questions are due by Friday. Contact Kennan Wood at Wood Communications Group. Call 608-259-0757 or e-mail kwood@wcgpr.com

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THANKS TO OUR WISBUSINESS SPONSORS

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Madison Gas & Electric
• University Research Park
• Wisconsin Technology Council

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