Government Relations

Legislative Update

April 4, 2003

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Election Results

The Tuesday, April 1 primary for two open Senate seats narrowed the field:

Senate District 7: Democrat Jeff Plale. Plale is a state Representative from South Milwaukee. He will face Wisconsin Green Party candidate Jim Carpenter in the April 29 general election. The district seat was vacated by Sen. Richard Grobschmidt, who took a position at the Department of Public Instruction.

Senate District 24: Democrat Julie Lassa and Republican Donna Rozar will compete in the general election on April 29. Candidates in the general election are Lassa and Rozar, Wisconsin Green ,Jo Seiser and Independent, Jesse Higgins. Lassa is a state Representative from Stevens Point. Rozar is from Marshfield. The seat was vacated by Sen. Kevin Shibilski, who was named Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism.

Assembly District 18: Democrat Lena Taylor. She faces no opposition in the general election. The seat was vacated by Rep. Antonio Riley, who is the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) director.

Joint Finance Committee Proceedings

The Joint Finance Committee held two public hearings on the biennial budget bill (SB-44) this week.

Monday, March 31: Milwaukee. Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, Nursing Dean Sally Lundeen and Regent Tommie Jones were among those speaking at the hearing. Committee members' questions included the effects of budget cuts on recruiting low income and students of color, pre-college and non-traditional programs and general access.

Thursday, April 3: River Falls. Chancellors Lydecker and Sorenson were among two dozen faculty, staff and students that addressed the committee on behalf of the UW System. Testimony focused on preventing further cut beyond the Governor's budget, the need for tuition increase to offset part of the cut, the impact of ongoing cuts on quality and the need for state funding of financial aid. Committee members did not ask questions of anyone who testified on behalf of the campuses.

There are two additional hearings scheduled:

  • Tuesday, April 8: Platteville. UW-Platteville Center for the Arts, 1 University Plaza.
  • Wednesday, April 9: Madison. Room 412-E, State Capitol.

Joint Finance Committee executive sessions are currently scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 22 and be completed in late May. According to the Wheeler Report, Majority Republicans are hoping to be able to work out consensus items and schedules for execs before the first exec is held. Members of the committee are working to determine those areas where accord can be easily achieved. Majority members have been told to get their priority items and issues to the finance committee members by the end of this week or early next week.

For the Legislative Fiscal Bureau summary of the governor's budget, click on:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/2003-05budget/Governor/tableofcontents.htm

Regents hold final listening session

The UW System Board of Regents held a final listening session this week to get feedback from invited students, faculty, parents, alumni, community leaders and others about how budget cuts could affect their campuses and communities. The session was held in Madison on March 31.

Here is a summary of press coverage from the Madison session:

Committee Hearings

Assembly Committee on Health held an informational hearing on the state budget and a number of other items, including graduate medical education. UW Medical School professor Dr. Linda Fry testified in support of graduate medical education as a representative of the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians.

Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met on April 2 to discuss AB 74, providing tuition vouchers for students who sound Taps at military honors funerals. The committee passed the bill on a 13-0-1 vote.

Upcoming Hearings

Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities will meet at 9:30 am on Tuesday, April 8 in 225-NW, State Capitol, to take up the following legislation (An executive session may be held.):
AB-66. Requires all persons admitted to UW Medical School to take the Medical College Admission Test.
AB-208. Appointment of UW Regent from each technical college system region, two student members.
AB-207. Bans smoking in and around UW System residence halls and dorms.
AB-84. Prohibits use of social security number in student ID at private institutions of higher education.
AB-209. Individual income tax deduction for great-grandparent, aunt or uncle to a college savings account or a college tuition and expenses program.

New Legislation Introduced

AB-183. (Towns) Changes the school district youth options programs, which allow pupils to attend an institution of higher education under certain circumstances. To Education.

SB-85. (Schultz) Companion bill to AB 208. Appointment of UW Regent from each technical college system region, two student members. To Higher Education and Tourism.

Legislative Directories

For information on legislative office addresses and phone numbers, click here for the Senate Directory or here for the Assembly Directory.

Pending Legislation Site

Check out the updates to the UW System Pending Legislation site:
http://www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/pending/index.htm

Information on the Web

UW System Government Relations:
http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/

UW System Budget:
http://www.uwsa.edu/budplan/

Wisconsin Legislature on the Web
 http://www.legis.state.wi.us/

Prepared by Kerry Niemcek.
For further information contact Margaret Lewis (608) 262-4464 or David Miller (608) 262-4463

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