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M. WILLIAM GERRARD MI~O To: David Remes From: M. William Gerrard Date: April 13, 1992 Re: Senate Bill 213 - Protective Orders The last floor period scheduled for this legislative session in wisconsin has ended. Legislators are back for a day in April to deal with unresolved gambling issues. A three day veto session is scheduled for mid-May. At that time they will also deal with a welfare reform package. There is nothing to indicate that SB 213 can be considered any more in 1992. I presume it to be dead for the term of this legislature. We have been told, however, that this legislation will be brought back as a new bill in 1993. The bill died by being referred to the Joint Committee on Finance where it was never dealt with. The real reason, of course, was that even as amended, the bill was too flawed to be able to receive a majority vote. This past session, the trial lawyers held enough liberal Democratic votes that they were close to passing what they wanted. While the Democrats held a 19-14 majority, three of their members were "swing" votes. We could often convince them to hold on our issue. I believe that the sponsors of SB 213 will attempt to redraft the legislation with a clearer, narrower focus for next time. Their stated purpose is related to eliminating protective orders where an unsafe product remains on the market after its problems are known to the manufacturer. Obviously, SB 213 was so much broader in scope that it alienated other interests for other reasons. I have appreciated working with you on this legislation, and I am happy to hear from you anytime. 44 EAST M~F~UN STREET. Sunm 102. MAmSON, WI 53703, 608-258-3700, FAX 608-258-3705 Ti23970832