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Florida judge rules against health care law By Adam Wollner The Daily Cardinal
A federal judge in Florida ruled President Barack Obama’s health-care reform unconstitutional Monday because of its mandate requiring citizens to purchase health insurance or face a fine. U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled that the federal government does not have the right to require Americans to purchase health insurance, according to the Associated Press. Since the insurance mandate is a crucial part of the Affordable Care Act, Vinson decided to rule the entire law unconstitutional. Another federal judge in Virginia also ruled the law unconstitutional last December because of the individual insurance requirement, but only went
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Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, spoke about the “Save Mifflin” Facebook event that has aroused city-wide attention at the Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee meeting Monday. The Facebook event, which over 4,000 people are currently “attending,” aims to create an alternative to constructing an apartment building on the 400 block of West Mifflin Street. The creators of the event fear the building will set a precedent for the transformation of Mifflin Street from a reasonably-priced area into
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so far as to strike down that specific part of the law. Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Graeme Zielinski said “health care reform is working” and people like Gov. Scott Walker are more of an immediate threat to it than the courts. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said he agrees with the judge’s decision and hopes the federal government chooses not to appeal. “I will continue our fight to defend the Constitution and protect the people of Wisconsin from this unconstitutional law,” Van Hollen said in a statement. Even though Vinson declared the law unconstitutional, he did not issue health care page 3
Verveer supports ‘Save Mifflin’ Facebook event By Anna Duffin
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one most students would not be able to afford. Verveer said he shares these fears, and thinks it could decrease student housing options by forcing students to live in apartments rather than houses. “I’d like to do everything I can to preserve the feel of the scale and character of the street,” Verveer said. The Madison Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the future of the 400 block of Mifflin at a meeting Feb. 7. Verveer said he defended students when a developer insinuated a majority of the students who are verveer page 3
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In a show of bipartisan support for the Green Bay Packers the state capitol will be lit green and gold this week, leading up to the Packers’ Feb. 6 Super Bowl matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Joint Finance Committee approves bill to overhaul Department of Commerce By Patrick Tricker The Daily Cardinal
The Joint Finance Committee approved a bill Monday to create the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, which will take over economic development activities from the Department of Commerce. The corporation, technically an authority, is a public-private partnership that develops and implements economic programs to support businesses, according to a statement by Bob Lange, director of the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The organization would be run by a board of 13 directors composed of the governor, six governor
appointments and six legislative appointments, state Rep. Robin Vos, R-Racine, said. “While one bill is not the magic answer, this will help lay the foundation for a better business climate and get Wisconsin working again,” Vos said in an e-mail. “We know that Wisconsin is a great place to work, but we can make it even better.” State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, and Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, voted against the bill. A spokesman for Taylor said she had serious concerns about the accountability of the organization and the lack of mandated funds for minority busi-
ness programs, which have been a part of the Commerce Department since 1990. “Those programs have created thousands of jobs,” the spokesman said. “They’ve created millions of dollars of investments into minority businesses. And to leave them out, we have serious concerns that they won’t be taken seriously. “Promises are fine, but we want it in writing.” Taylor plans to introduce an amendment to mandate funding for certain programs, including those that support minority businesses. The bill should be voted on in the Assembly this week, according to Vos.
Wisconsin, Pennsylvania parties make Super Bowl wager
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Alderman Mike Verveer discussed proposed Mifflin restructuring plans at ASM’s Legislative Affairs Committee meeting Monday.
In an act of bipartisanship, Wisconsin’s Republican and Democratic parties will join forces in a Super Bowl bet with the state parties of Pennsylvania. Republican National Committee and Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Reince Priebus and Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate issued a joint statement announcing the terms of the bet on the Feb. 6 game. Wisconsin is wagering 10 pounds of cheddar cheese, six pounds
of bratwurst and one case of Sprecher Root Beer, while Pennsylvania is putting up four orders of pancakes, four sandwiches and one case of Iron City beer. “Just as President
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[Barack] Obama’s Bears learned, the Pittsburgh Steelers will soon find out what Wisconsinites are made of,” Priebus said. “Mike and I look forward to enjoying some of Pennsylvania’s finest suds and subs.” Gov. Scott Walker made a similar bet with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn over the NFC Championship Game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. Quinn is expected to work at a Wisconsin soup kitchen in the upcoming weeks after the Packers won the game.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”