Government Relations

Legislative Update

May 8, 2007

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In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

Biennial Budget

The Joint Finance Committee has begun deliberations on the 2007-09 state Budget.  As predicted, most votes are falling along party lines, with Republicans rejecting additions to “base” agencies and Democrats rejecting cuts to “bill” agencies (the Governor’s budget).  

Despite the partisan split, timelines for deliberations are consistent with the past, with voting starting in late April and early May. If the committee continues that trend, voting could be over as early as the beginning of June.  Then the bill moves to the Senate. 

For coverage, please follow the Wispolitics.com budget public blog, or utilize the live audio from the legislature’s home page: JFC Audio Coverage

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

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

May 2 – The Joint Audit Committee held a hearing on state Information Technology project oversight.  Executive Senior Vice President Don Mash testified before the committee.  View Mash testimony

May 8 – The Assembly Public Health Committee held a public hearing on AB 291 (Hines/Lass) which crates a loan forgiveness program, administered by the Higher Education Aids Board (HEAB), for veterinary students attending the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and who choose to enter into food animal practice.

Legislation Introduced or Added Since Last Update

Senator Wirch/Pocan have introduced SB 163/AB 307 which requires all contractual services purchased by state executive branch agencies to be performed within the United States.  This requirement does not apply if the contractual services cannot be obtained within the United States.  The bill has been referred to the Committee on Ethics Reform and Government Operations.   View additional sponsors and text for SB 163/AB 307

Senator Kanavas/Vos has introduced SB 164 which would cap the total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions authorized in state government to not exceed the number authorized on January 1, 2007.  The bill has been referred to the Committee on Ethics Reform and Government Operations. View additional sponsors and text for SB164

Senator Miller/Gronemus has introduced SB 168 which would expand eligibility to receive a Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship to a senior with the next highest grade point, but not less than 3.8000 or the equivalent to be certified as an alternate to receive a scholarship if the designated scholar and alternate who has the same grade point average does note enroll in a participating institution of higher education.  View additional sponsors and text for SB 168

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

FY07 Supplemental Funding Bill
The conference report on the FY07 emergency supplemental funding bill has passed both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate and, but the president vetoed the measure.  The bill funds the costs of ongoing military operations and sets a timetable for military withdrawal from Iraq.  Post-veto negotiations are underway.  The bill also includes domestic spending for Hurricane Katrina relief, agriculture disaster aid, and a variety of other programs and activities.

Senate Passes “America Competes” Legislation
The Senate approved the “America COMPETES Act,” a comprehensive competitiveness bill that draws on recommendations form the National Academies’ 2005 report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.”  The measure authorized significant budget increases for several research agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy Office of science, and creates or expands programs aimed at improving K-12 math and science education. 

The House approved two measures:  H.R. 362, a measure to increase the number of highly qualified math and science teachers in K-12, and H.R. 363, a measure to support young researchers to foster the most innovative scientific research.  Congressman Ron Kind and UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, along with the chairs of the Physics and Chemistry Departments at UW-La Crosse, held a press conference on Monday, April 30, to discuss how these measures will prepare students in Wisconsin and around the nation to work in a 21st century economy, as well as promote new scientific and technological discoveries.

NSF Reauthorization Approved by U.S. House                                                                                                    This week, the House overwhelmingly approved legislation to reauthorize the National Science Foundation (NSF), while voting down several amendments that the research and higher education communities had mobilized to oppose.  The final vote on the bill (H.R. 1867) was 399 to 17.  Overall, H.R. 1867 provides a three-year authorization that keeps the agency on track to double its budget over 10 years, as recommended in the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative; encourages greater funding success for young investigators and high-risk research projects; and expands NSF programs to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. 

Student Loans
AAU is reporting that its membership approved a “Statement of Guiding Principles Regarding Institutional Relationships with the Student Loan Providers.”  Full statement

2007 Wisconsin Leadership Seminar
UW-Extension colleagues and county board representatives were in Washington, D.C. to attend the Public Issues Leadership Development Conference and to lobby Congress on a range of research, teaching and outreach programs funded through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Delegates urged Congress to support Hatch, Smith-Lever, and McIntire-Stennis research programs, as well as support the FY08 budget for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program.

UPCOMING EVENTS     

May  
10-11 UW System Board of Regents Meeting, Madison
   
June  
7-8 UW System Board of Regents Meeting – at UW-Milwaukee

UW System News

UW System convened two listening sessions, April 30th at UW-Stevens Point and May 7 at UW- Milwaukee, to seek public input on a review of Chapters 17 and 18 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.  UW’s website Administrative Code includes an opportunity for interested parties to e-mail written comments to the committee through May 21.   Any recommendations from the committee, when complete, will be forwarded to the Board of Regents, and then the state Legislature for approval, as required by state law.

The President’s 2007 Commission on University Security, created last month following the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech, President Reilly has asked the commission to conduct a longer-term analysis of campus security within the UW System. Commission members represent a variety of safety, administrative and student services units. The Commission is separate from a Task Force that Governor Doyle appointed this week to examine safety at all of Wisconsin’s public and private universities, but the two working groups are expected to coordinate some efforts.

Web Resources

 

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