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Assembly amends, passes concealed weapons bill - Republicans think tweaks to measure will make it veto-proof, By Stacy Forster and Steven Walters - sforster@journalsentinel.com
Article courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online - Original Article posted 12.14.05
Madison, WI - Republican leaders in the state Assembly
worked into early this morning to amend a measure that would allow Wisconsin
residents to carry concealed weapons and rounded up enough Democratic support
to fuel an override of the expected veto from Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle.
The bill, SB 403, passed the Assembly at 3:10 a.m. on a 64 to 32 vote.
In the marathon session that dragged on because of long breaks lawmakers took to strategize, the Assembly also voted 74 to 23 to end the automatic annual increase in the gas tax beginning in April 2007. Wisconsin’s gas tax is one of the highest in the nation, and current law would raise it to 30.7 cents per gallon next April and to 31.3 cents per gallon in spring 2007.
The Assembly adjourned just before 4 a.m.
The amendment to the concealed weapons bill wasn’t introduced until late Tuesday and included provisions that would:
Lower the allowable blood-alcohol concentration for those carrying a concealed weapon to 0.02, from 0.08.
Create a 100-foot safety zone around school property into which guns couldn’t be carried.
Require a refresher training course for permit holders every five years.
Make the filing of a false application a felony, not a misdemeanor as it was written. Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford) said he thought the amendment, which passed 71 to 25, was enough to sway some Democrats into sticking with the majority in a veto override.
Gunderson and other supporters say the bill will reduce crime and make Wisconsin safer.
"It’s important for people to be able to protect themselves," Gunderson said.
Supporters could have the two-thirds majority necessary to uphold the veto. Add to the 64 votes those expected from Rep. Mary Williams (R-Medford), who wasn’t present for the vote, and from the person filling the now-vacant 33rd Assembly District seat, and the number would be at the required 66. A replacement for former Republican Rep. Dan Vrakas, now Waukesha County Executive, will be elected Jan. 10.
Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha) said today’s changes made the bill better, but said it still had flaws and predicted that Republicans ultimately wouldn’t have the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto.
The Senate must take another vote on the amended bill before it can go to Doyle.
The concealed carry bill passed the Senate last week on a 23-10 vote, and Sen. David Zien (R-Eau Claire), the bill’s Senate author, said he’s confident the two-thirds majority would hold up in his house.
Doyle has indicated he will veto the bill as he did a similar one in 2003; at that time, the Senate voted to override it, but the Assembly came up one vote short after having enough on the first vote.
The late changes weren’t likely to sway his position. Doyle spokeswoman Melanie Fonder said the governor remains opposed to the bill.