Government Relations

Legislative Update

August 3, 2007

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STATE UPDATE

Biennial Budget

The conference committee met for the first time on Wednesday, July 25. Members made opening speeches, but took no executive action on the budget. 

The committee met again on both August 1 and 2 with most activity taking place on the second day.  On August 2nd, the committee took action on 571 items already approved by both houses. Legislative Fiscal Bureau. [Budget recommendations of Joint Finance adopted by Senate and Assembly (8/01/07) 357 page document].

Additionally, they agreed to 13 of 15 items that were identical changes made by both houses to the Joint Finance version of the budget. Legislative Fiscal Bureau.  [Budget change items under Senate and Assembly (7/24/07) 38 page document].  

Among the two provisions not adopted were changes made to the veteran’s tuition remission program.   While Senate Democrats asked for those changes to be adopted, Assembly Republicans suggested they wanted further discussion about veteran’s tuition, and therefore would not adopt changes that day.

Also on August 2, the Democrats on the Committee offered a package of 80 items consisting of budget provisions previously adopted by the Joint Finance Committee on 16-0 votes. A vote was not taken at that time.  See List  Among those items are a number related to UW System including:

-Restore GPR-Supported Bonding for Academic Buildings at 5 campuses
-Restore $65 million to the All Agency GPR-Bonding
-Provide $11.5 million for Veterans Tuition Remission & other eligibility changes to the program
-Provide $200,000 annually to Islet Transplantation Program at UW-Madison
-Application Fee Increase: $9 new freshman & out-of-system transfers/$11 Law, graduate & Med school
-Discovery Farm-Provide $150,000 SEG each year of biennium to UW-Extension for research & outreach

Additionally, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released this memo (memo dated 7/26/07) which identifies changes made by either house to 16-0 votes recommended by the Joint finance committee.  No action was taken on these provisions.  Legislative Fiscal Bureau.  [Modifications to the budget recommendations of the Joint Finance Committee (7/26/07) 42 page document].

The Conference Committee is expected to meet again on August 8. No specific agenda is set.

 

Governor's Roundtable

Governor Doyle hosted a roundtable discussion on Monday, July 30 with chancellors, students, faculty, and business leaders representing UW Colleges/UW-Extension, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Plattevile, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior, and UW-Whitewater. 

Wisconsin Public Radio

On Monday, July 26 UW System President Kevin Reilly and Regent President Mark Bradley appeared on Joy Cardin’s program on Wisconsin Public Radio.  Listen to archived program.

Legislators Budget Comments

Rep. Nass. Column on budget.
Rep. Albers Letter
Rep. Hilgenberg Column
Sen. Schultz Letter

Budget Tools/Resources

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

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

LFB Summary of Governor’s Budget

LFB Summary of the JFC version of the Budget

LFB Summary of the Senate version of the Budget

LFB Summary of the Assembly version of the 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 Committee Activity

July 19 – the Assembly Insurance Committee recommended passage of AB 280 (health insurance coverage for students on medical leave) by a vote of 12-0.  The bill is now available for Assembly floor action.

July 31-- The Senate Transportation, Tourism, and Insurance Committee held a public hearing on SB 154 which provided health insurance coverage for students on medical leave.

Legislation Introduced or Added Since Last Update

Senator Roessler and Representative Seidel have introduced SB 238/AB469, which requires that, subject to the availability of funds, the UW System and the WTCS jointly establish a state repository for the purpose of collecting instructional materials for students with disabilities enrolled in the UW System or the technical college system.  In addition, publishers shall, within 15 working days after receipt of a request from this repository, provide, at no additional cost, instructional material in an electronic format.  The Senate bill has been referred to the Committee Agriculture and Higher Education and the Assembly bill to the Colleges and Universities Committee.  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

CongressionalConferees Reach Deal on ‘Competitiveness’ Legislation

House and Senate conferees agreed on a final version of “competitiveness” legislation that would significantly bolster federal funding for math and science research and education.  The measure, H.R. 2272, is expected to be signed later this week by President Bush.  

The conference agreement would reauthorize the National Science Foundation at $22 billion from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2010. The National Institute of Standards and Technology would be reauthorized at $2.7 billion from fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2010.

The agreement also would establish the Technology Innovation Program, and the Energy Department would receive money to establish a new cutting-edge energy research agency, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy.

See summary of the conference agreement and related materials   Also see a press release from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

UPCOMING EVENTS     

Aug  
7
 Special Meeting of the UW System Board of Regents Meeting – View Agenda
9

Lake Superior Region Technology Conference, Ashland, President Reilly to deliver keynote speech
Sept  
6-7
 UW System Board of Regents Meeting

UW System News

Attorney General’s Opinion on Admissions

At the request of more than 30 legislators, requesting an opinion on whether race could be used in admissions decisions, Attorney J. B. Van Hollen wrote a letter to lawmakers that said Regent policy is consistent with 1974 law forbidding "tests based upon race" in admissions requirements, said lawmakers intended that race not be used to disqualify applicants.  See Van Vollen’s letter to legislators.  See related AP story and La Crosse Tribune editorial.

The President’s 2007 Commission on University Security, created in May month following the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech presented a report to the board of Regents at its July meeting.

Web Resources

 

Contact

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