Metro Transit bus drivers will begin next week checking identification of riders using unlimited ride passes. Without the ID that connects the user with the pass, the pass will be confiscated and deactivated.

Some pass holders have been loaning cards to children or a spouse, or selling them on eBay or Craigslist, practices that end up costing the employer or institution that sponsors the pass.

“We’ve always had a requirement to have an ID, but we started getting away from that a few years ago when ridership went up and buses got full and (checking IDs) slowed down boarding,” said Metro Transit spokesman Mick Rusch.

“The problem now is some people are using passes who shouldn’t be.”

Madison - A Dane County judge who drew fire from conservatives for a ruling last year halting implementation of Gov. Scott Walker’s collective bargaining law is considering running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court next year.

Judge Maryann Sumi told the weekly newspaper Isthmus that she is working with a nonpartisan group of people helping her explore the possibility of a run against conservative Justice Patience Roggensack.

November 5, 2012
VIA EMAIL
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND UNTIL AFTER ELECTION DAY AND ONLY UPON RECEIPT OF A FOLLOW UP EMAIL REQUESTING COMPLIANCE
TO: ALL WISCONSIN MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY CLERKS
Re: Wisconsin Public Records Law Request
Dear Sir or Madam:
Pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records Law, Wis. Stat. § 19.31-19.39, and on behalf of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, I request the following information:
 The list of all registered voters in your municipality, including voters who are inactive or voters whose registrations were changed to ineligible prior to November 6, 2012.
 The name of all individuals, all data collected by your office and identifying information associated with each such individual: (a) who has requested an absentee ballot, including those individuals on any permanent absentee voter list; (b) who has been mailed an absentee ballot by the municipal clerk and the number of absentee ballots mailed to each individual; (c) who has returned an absentee ballot to the municipal clerk, and (d) whose absentee ballot was deemed by the municipal clerk or canvasser to be eligible for counting and was counted.
 The name of all individuals, all data collected by your office and identifying information associated with each such individual who has returned an absentee ballot, the number of absentee ballots returned by individual and whose absentee ballot has been deemed by the municipal clerk or canvasser to be ineligible for counting. For each such individual, please also provide who rejected the absentee ballot, when it was rejected and the reason for rejecting the ballot.
 Copies of all absentee ballot envelopes (e.g., the envelope containing the voter’s signature received by the municipal clerk). The copy should include a visible image of the voter’s signature.
 The name of all individuals, all data collected by your office and identifying information associated with each such individual who has submitted (or on whose
behalf has been submitted) voter registration applications, and whose applications have been rejected by the municipal clerk between January 1, 2012 and the present.
 The paper poll book generated for each of the polling places in your municipality for Election Day.
 The voter registration list and any supplemental lists, which are prepared at polling places or other registration locations for Election Day in the municipality.
 The supplemental list of absentee voters, and the administrative challenge list, and any other supplemental or other lists and forms generated for each polling place for Election Day, including but not limited to Form GAB-104.
 The name of all individuals, all data collected by your office, identifying information associated with and any other documents referencing, provided to or associated with each such individual who has who voted a provisional ballot on Election Day or whose ballot was treated as provisional, along with who made the decision and the reason why the voter was not allowed to cast a regular ballot or why the ballot was otherwise treated as provisional.
 Copies of the completed and signed poll books from all polling places in your municipality.
 Copies of the records from and reflecting any vote count from your municipality.
 Copies of the return produced by the automatic tabulating equipment and the tally sheet produced by the canvassers at each vote canvass site in your municipality (where applicable).
 Any records from the re-tabulation conducted to correct a discrepancy upon completion of the count pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 5.89.
 The county canvass record produced pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 7.60(7).
If documents, information or data can be e-mailed, you may email them to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If documents, information, and data cannot be emailed, please let me know, either via e-mail or phone and we will send someone to your office to pick them up.
Please contact us immediately if: (1) you require clarification of any of foregoing requests; (2) there will be any delay in complying with the foregoing requests; or (3) established policies require any prepayment of any fees or costs in connection with those requests. If you anticipate being unable to
comply with any part of this request, please advise immediately and indicate with which requests you will promptly comply.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at (608) 255-5172.

Best,

Maggie Brickerman
Executive Director
Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Republicans are in solid control of the Assembly, 58-38, with three races too close to call, and they’re up 16-15 in the Senate, with a December special election expected to deliver another GOP senator and a Republican leading in one close race.

Vos said reviving mining legislation that stalled earlier this year “is going to be one of the first things we can get done.” He didn’t go into details on the specifics of the bill.

Vos also said he plans to conduct the first “top-to-bottom” regulatory review in 25 years to find ways to help businesses. He also wants to improve schools that aren’t meeting expectations under the state’s new rating system, though he didn’t offer specific strategies.

“I am certain we will put more money into education,” Vos said.

Senate Republicans called a leadership election for Thursday. Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, who lost the title of majority leader a few months ago after a series of recall elections, plans to reclaim his leadership role, according to an aide. Fitzgerald did not respond to an interview request.

Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, announced Wednesday he would step down as the Democrats’ Senate leader. He also did not respond to an interview request. Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said he would seek the post. Erpenbach said he is the only one actively seeking the position and added that Senate Democrats’ leadership elections would be held next Thursday at the earliest.

With a series of divisive elections behind it, the state now turns to the biennial budget process, starting with an update on the state’s fiscal situation on Nov. 20.

According to Legislative Fiscal Bureau director Bob Lang, the state is projecting a $261 million surplus by June 30 in addition to $125 million the state put in a rainy day fund last year. The projections in two weeks will give the clearest picture yet of the state’s budget situation.

If you did not vote Tuesday, you must have been deathly ill, out of the country or really, really didn’t care.

  The electorate in Washington County came close to a record turnout Tuesday, with a shade more than 91 percent of registered voters taking to the polls.