Sunday, those who waste their time reading The C(r)apital Times editorial within the Wisconsin State Journal opinion section were told that Gov. Scott Walker’s presidential campaign is floundering in Iowa.

Leaving aside whether that’s actually meaningful, a good question to be asked is what should Wisconsin Republicans do now that Act 10, right-to-work legislation and limited reform of the state’s prevailing-wage law are now law, whether Walker remains as governor or not.

Collin Roth has a list:

1. Eliminate Minimum Markup – If you thought prevailing wage was bad, wait until you hear about minimum markup, also known as the Unfair Sales Act. Minimum markup sets a basement price with the intent of keeping ‘mom and pop’ gas stations in business by keeping big companies from undercutting their prices. In effect, it’s a law that prevents drivers from getting a discount on gas. It’s a bad law, and must be done away with before any consideration of a gas tax increase.
2. Civil Service Reform – Act 10 was one of the most consequential and important reforms to state and local government in decades. But unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Legislators need to explore serious and significant civil service reform that empowers government agencies to reform, streamline, and hire and fire without so many barriers. We’re living in an age of limited public resources, and taxpayers deserve the most efficient government possible.
3. Tax Reform – Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans have done a wonderful job of tackling tax reform in Wisconsin – but there is still a long way to go before this state sheds its reputation as a tax hell. Outside of major reforms to flatten the tax bracket, legislators should explore eliminating the Personal Property Tax and the Alternative Minimum Tax. Wisconsin is one of just six states with an AMT that is catching more and more taxpayers. Rep. Dale Kooyenga and Sen. Howard Marklein reformed the AMT to federalize the formula. It’s time to get rid of it.
4. GAB Reform – This is one of the few reforms on this list that is almost guaranteed to happen this session. Rep. Dean Knudson is putting the final touches on a reform package that will likely come up this Fall. What remains a question is exactly what the reform will look like. Initially, it looked like a “hybrid” model of judges and partisan appointees may be the leading option. But comments from the GAB Chair in the wake of the John Doe investigation ought to make legislators think twice about retaining the judges.
5. John Doe Reform – Like GAB reform, it looks like Rep. Dave Craig’s John Doe reform bill is almost a certainty. This bill will add transparency and constitutional safeguards to a process that was so obviously abused for political purposes over the last four years.
6. Updating Campaign Finance Laws – After decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Wisconsin State Supreme Court, Wisconsin must update and rewrite portions of its campaign finance laws. In their written form, they are unconstitutional and their interpretation have led to the confusion and abuses in the John Doe investigations. This will be a delicate process fraught with danger, so it has to be done right.
7. WEDC – Get rid of it. Admit mistakes and move on. Break up the essential functions and send them to various existing government agencies. Get government and legislators out of the business of picking winners and losers and avoid the headache of more scandals and bad headlines. This will take some courage given that WEDC has become a Democratic talking point, but principled conservatives need to take a stand on this unfortunate debacle.
8. DPI Reform – The state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is a bureaucracy ripe for reform. Rep. Joe Sanfelippo is expected to introduce a bill this Fall that could streamline and eliminate bloat at DPI by removing certain programs from Madison and shifting funding and responsibility to local school districts. This would be a good start.
9. UW System Reforms – Taking on the University of Wisconsin System will take courage and endurance similar to the Act 10 fight. The nibbling around the edges this session left a lot of scars and little reward. It’s time for a real conversation about campus consolidation, real reform to tenure, tackling administrative bloat, ensuring that tech colleges are meeting workforce demands, and addressing the affordability of education. Tackling these issues will require vision and leadership, and legislators could get buy-in by wrapping these reforms in a vision of something like a $10,000 four-year degree like Gov. Rick Perry in Texas.
10. Regulatory Reform – Like taxes, Wisconsin has come along way in regulatory reform – but still has a long way to go. One great idea proposed by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) is a requirement that regulations with a total cost of $25 million to business or local government must earn legislative approval. Legislators ought to make this reform a priority.
11. Juvenile Sentencing Reform – Rep. Rob Hutton showed some courage and ingenuity last session when he introduced a criminal justice reform aimed at keeping first-time, 17-year old offenders who commit minor crimes in juvenile court. Its a reform that deserves consideration given its success in conservative states like Texas where it has saved money and reduced the prison population. But a recent crime wave in Milwaukee will make this a difficult sell in the short term.
12. Mandatory Minimum for Felons Caught With Guns – Bipartisan and commonsense, this bill from Rep. Joel Kleefisch earned support from some Milwaukee Democrats as well as conservative Republicans who are hoping to address a violent crime wave in Milwaukee. The bill provides a mandatory minimum sentence for felons caught illegally possessing a firearm. It won’t solve the crisis in Milwaukee, but it is a step in the right direction and shouldn’t be too controversial.