Below is an excerpt from the most recent edition of WisBusiness Tuesday Trends.
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RISING
Water: The first lady wants Americans to drink more of it, a new center in Milwaukee wants to attract businesses working with it, and there are fights brewing over access to it and funding for it. Michelle Obama’s stop in Watertown makes the biggest media splash, calling water the original “energy drink” as she kicks off the newest part of her “Let’s Move!” campaign. Meanwhile, the Global Water Center holds its grand opening in Milwaukee as the city strives to become a water technology leader on everything from heaters and meters to filtration. Despite the optimism surrounding that event, the Great Lakes also prompt concerns as a collection of Democrats vows to fight a proposal to cut funding for the lakes by between 30 percent and 75 percent. And nearby Waukesha’s effort to obtain drinking water from the lake has drawn concerns from other states in the Great Lakes Basin. If the state Department of Natural Resources approves the plan, it would need permission from the seven other Great Lakes states to happen — and at least two have questions about allowing a community outside the basin to get lake water.
MIXED
Raw milk: The crowd pushing to allow the sale of unpasteurized dairy products on the farm is passionate. But even supporters say the bill’s prospects in the Legislature are uncertain as the governor talks up his own concerns. Three years ago, backers pushed a bill through both the Capitol only to see then-Gov. Jim Doyle veto it, citing health concerns. Just like then, backers pack a public hearing on the legislation, downplaying fears that just one health scare could damage the state’s entire dairy industry. But unlike three years ago, observers say, opponents are more organized. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he expects it to eventually get a vote in that chamber, while Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says it has a tough hill to climb in his house. Walker, who said he would sign a bill two years ago, has questioned whether there are adequate safeguards in the legislation — leading many to wonder whether the bill will languish in the Legislature. Some note that although some lawmakers may agree philosophically with the bill, there’s no real political upside to it and they’re likely to meet with resistance from agricultural groups back home.
FALLING
Wisconsin Auto Title Loans: The state announces a settlement that will cost the auto-title lender millions amid allegations it violated the Wisconsin Consumer Act. The Department of Justice and the Department of Financial Institutions joined a class action lawsuit originally filed by the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, and the state’s complaint charges that Wisconsin Auto Title Loans deceptively sold motor vehicle service contracts to consumers. The settlement requires a cash restitution payment of $2.75 million, eliminating liens on some 36,000 vehicles and any outstanding fees — estimated at another $2 million — and banning the sale of the Continental Car Club contracts for two years at an estimated revenue loss of $3 million more. The attorney general says he’s “particularly pleased” since the company’s scheme targeted those already suffering from financial difficulties.
