Government Relations

Legislative Update

April 24, 2007

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STATE UPDATE

Biennial Budget

April 26 -- The Joint Finance Committee will begin executive sessions on the state budget at 10 a.m. on Thursday. JFC agenda

A critically important memo was released April 20 by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau and the JFC Co-Chairs called "2007-09 Budget Procedures."  It contains the list of non-fiscal policy items that will be removed from the budget for separate consideration, as well as the procedure by which the committee will vote, or, the "beginning point."

Non-fiscal Policy Items – The co-chairs removed 48 items.  Of these, collective bargaining for faculty and staff is the only issue specifically related to UW System removed (see Employment Relations Commission, p. 6).  That means it will not be debated as part of the biennial budget, and must be passed by separate legislation in order to become law.

Beginning point:  Base vs. Bill? --  Agencies have been split into two categories: "adjusted base,"  generally referred to as "base," and SB40, the governor's budget, generally referred to as "bill" or "budget.” 

Base -- Agencies that are determined to be "base" are considered unfunded in the Governor's budget unless there are majority of JFC votes (at least 9 of 16 total votes) to add funding for it.  The entire UW System Capital Budget is considered base, meaning it takes 9 votes to add funding.

Bill -- Agencies that are determined to be "bill" are funded in the Governor's budget unless there is a majority of JFC votes to remove funding for it.  The UW System cost-to-continue and Growth Agenda initiatives are considered "bill," meaning it takes 9 votes to remove funding.

*Please note: it is critical that all UW stakeholders understand how UW System's overall funding is split in the state budget between "base" vs. "bill".  2007-09 Budget Procedures.

 

Budget Tools/Resources

Growth Agenda for Wisconsin –   This site has been updated with new printable fact sheets, and a list of Growth Agenda endorsements.

The Biennial Budget Bulletin – UW System Summary of the 2007-09 Governor’s Budget

For on-the spot coverage of Joint Finance Committee action on the budget, please visit this public blog hosted by Wispolitics.com.   (no password required)

LFB Summary of Governor’s Budget

LFB Informational Paper on the UW System

History of Biennial Budgets 1997-2007 shows the timeline of the passage of budgets since 1997. 

 

State Legislation Update

Legislative Activity

April 17 – Legislative Joint Resolutions passed both houses of the Legislature and included: 

  • SJR-33 (Risser)  Honors UW Madison men’s track and field team
  • SJR-34 (Risser)  Congratulates 2006-07 UW women’s hockey team
  • SJR-35 (Risser)  Commends UW men’s and women’s basketball team
  • SJR-36 (Vinehout)  Commends UW System for Undergraduate Research Day
  • SJR-38 (Hansen)   Honors UW Green Bay women’s basketball team

April 18 – A very busy day in the Capitol.  More than 400 students, alumni, and other representatives of from UW System institutions participated in Posters in the Rotunda, Legislative Briefings, a Spirit Day reception, and two legislative hearings.

The Joint Finance Committee
The Joint Finance Committee held an informational briefing and public hearing on the state building program.  UW System President Kevin Reilly testified in a panel with UW-River Falls Chancellor Don Betz and UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells for nearly two hours. UW-Eau Claire Student Senate President Raymond French joined the panel briefly to answer questions related to the Davies Center project.  In addition, UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Linda Bunnell testified along with a host of students, staff and alumni.  Thanks to all those who took the time to participate.  Read President Reilly’s testimony.

The Legislative Joint Audit Committee
UW-Extension Vice Chancellor and Provost Marv Van Kekerix and Outreach Program Manager John Fischer testified on behalf of the University of Wisconsin System before the Joint Committee on Audit related to Economic Development Program Audit 06-9. 

Posters in the Rotunda
The fourth annual Posters in the Rotunda event was a huge success -- with 112 poster presentations and more than 165 student participants.  This event could not have been accomplished without the students, the faculty, and the staff working together to make this a reality!  The formal program with UW System President Kevin Reilly, Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, Rep. Jeff Smith, Rep. John Murtha, and student researcher Lori Scardino provided a good balance of views and "words of wisdom" as we educated the 300+ people in the Rotunda learned about the value of Wisconsin's public higher education system and the research on UW campuses. A number of legislators viewed the posters, and were impressed by the efforts by students, advisors, and campus representatives.  Many of those same legislators attended the UW Spirit Day reception.  Thanks to Laurie Dies for coordinating and orchestrating this effort to make our fourth annual event one to remember!  Watch for the pictures to appear on the Posters website soon.

Legislative Briefing for University Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Students
Grant Huber and Jessica Tormey provided a briefing to approximately 75 people who traveled to Madison to meet with legislators in their Capitol offices.  The visits were aimed at building support for the Growth Agenda.  Grant & Jess provided tips on how to effectively lobby legislators and provided written talking points.

Spirit Day Reception
A well-attended legislative reception at the Inn on the Park followed the day's events providing participants a chance to socialize.   Special guests included UW-Madison Football Coach Bret Bielema, who was the featured speaker, along with Bucky Badger and the UW-Eau Claire Jazz Band.  Legislators attending included Senators Dave Hansen, Sheila Harsdorf, Dan Kapanke, Mark Miller, Fred Risser, and Representatives Phil Garthwaite, Mark Honadel, Jeff Smith, Karl Van Roy and Robin Vos.  President Reilly welcomed the many guests, alumni, faculty and staff in attendance. Regent President David Walsh introduced Coach Bielema. Thanks to Mike Fahey of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and campus Alumni Directors for organizing the event. Special thanks to Larry Dickerson for volunteering his time taking photos for the Posters & reception events.

April 19 – The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education invited UW System to brief the committee on the “Growth Agenda for Wisconsin.”  A panel comprised of UW System President Kevin Reilly, Board of Regents President David Walsh, and UW-River Falls Chancellor Don Betz participated in the briefing. President Reilly spoke of the importance of the Growth Agenda for Wisconsin families and our state’s economic future.  Regent President Walsh spoke of UW System’s efforts to be responsive and accountable to legislators and the taxpayers they represent.  Chancellor Betz talked about the importance of a UW-River Falls initiative intended to boost retention and graduation rates of freshmen and transfer students.  Read President Reilly’s testimony. Read Regent President Walsh’s testimony.

 

Upcoming Legislative Committee Hearings

May 4 -- The Special Committee on Affirmative Action will meet on May 4 at 10 a.m. at the Milwaukee Public Schools Central Administration Building, Rooms 206-208, 5225 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee.  Presentations by invited speakers will be heard on the following topics:  Veteran’s issues related to affirmative action; employment and contracting policies of the Milwaukee Public Schools; employment policies of the City of Milwaukee; affirmative action workforce data published by the Department of Workforce Development; and affirmative action and equal employment regulatory compliance by businesses.  Following the presentations, committee members will discuss recommendations for legislative action.  A second meeting is scheduled for June 1 at 10:00 in the state Capitol.  Agendas for these meetings have not yet been finalized, except for the appearance of Prof. Frank. H. Wu, Dean of Wayne State University Law School.  Dean Wu is the author of Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White and also co-author of Race, Rights and Reparation:  Law and the Japanese American Internment.

 

Legislation Introduced or Added Since Last Update

Senator Lassa/Hines has introduced SB 155, which creates a loan forgiveness program, administered by the Higher Education Aids Board (HEAB), for veterinary students attending the UW School of Veterinary Medicine.  The program would serve students who agree to stay in this state for not less than six years in a veterinary medicine practice in which not less than 75 percent of the revenue produced by the loan recipient is derived from providing veterinary medical services to animals that are raised to produce food for human consumption.  View additional sponsors and full text.

Please note that UW System legislative bill positions that have been approved by the UW System Board of Regents are posted on the web.  View bill positions.

 

FEDERAL UPDATE

Legislative Activity

Budget and Appropriations
Conference on the FY07 emergency war supplemental funding bill (H.R. 1591) was expected to begin on April 23.  President Bush has said he will veto the measure if it includes language regarding a timeline for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.  The measure also contains $21 billion in domestic spending for Hurricane Katrina relief and other needs. 

Work continues on the FY08 budget resolution conference.  To date, the two sides have not settled on an overall discretionary spending level or on whether to assume extension of several tax breaks that expire in 2010.  The House version of the budget resolution provides $6 billion more in discretionary spending than the Senate’s version.  Also under discussion is whether to include the House reconciliation instructions to reduce lender subsidies in the student loan program, intended in part to increase funding for other student aid programs, such as Pell Grants. 

Hearings
In response to the killings at Virginia Tech last week, House and Senate committees have scheduled hearings this week on campus safety.  The Education and Labor Committee in the House will also hold a hearing on university relationships with student lenders.  New York Attorney General Cuomo is expected to testify.

Competitiveness Bills Moving
Both the House and Senate have begun moving authorization bills aimed at implementing economic competitiveness recommendations from the National Academies’ 2005 report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.”  These include not only bills containing multi-agency funding levels and policy proposals, but also reauthorizations of the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

In the Senate, consideration began on the “America COMPETES Act,” which contains new funding authorization levels for several research agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy Office of Science, and to expand and create new programs aimed at improving K-12 math and science education.  The legislation would also establish a President’s Council on Innovation and Competitiveness.

The House is expected to consider two bills:  One would strengthen math and science education byincreasing scholarships for students majoring in science and engineering fields who are committed to teaching, and creating a teacher education program at NSF that would include an in-service training program for math and science teachers.  The second bill would authorize NSF and the Department of Energy to make early-career awards to young scientists and engineers, create a presidential innovation award, create an office in the President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy to set priorities among research infrastructure needs and recognize NASA’s contribution to national innovation.

Also, last week, the House Science & Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education approved a three-year reauthorization bill for the National Science Foundation.  The measure would authorize funding levels over three years that would place the agency’s research budget on track to double within 10 years, seeks to encourage young investigators, improve K-16 math and science education, and encourage university-industry research partnerships.

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s FY 07 Budget and Priorities

Please see memo from NASULGC regarding NOAA's FY07 budget and priorities for project funding. NOAA memo

 

UPCOMING EVENTS     

May  
8 Door County Legislative Day” with evening reception and authentic Door County fish boil
10-11 UW System Board of Regents Meeting, Madison
June  
7-8 UW System Board of Regents Meeting – at UW-Milwaukee

 

AROUND THE STATE

The 2007 WI Health Care Workforce Report was released on April 11. Two issues that are high on the Committee's agenda that have had a direct impact on the UW System:  the SWIFT nursing grant ($1.3 million federal grant to increase the number of nurse educators in Wisconsin) and the Governor's biennial budget request to increase the number of nursing graduates.  The Committee has also been active on behalf of a safe lifting initiative. View the full report and the DWD press release. 

 

Web Resources

 

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