Government Relations

Legislative Update

August 27, 2007

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In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

Biennial Budget

Conference Committee

The conference committee continues to meet, though no significant deals have been made.   

At each meeting, UW System has been discussed, with Democrats generally implying that timing for financial aid, etc., should speed decision-making.  Republicans argue that overall spending should be determined first, with focus on prioritizing needs in K-12.    

At the August 16th meeting, Senate Democrats offered a higher education package that contained many provisions related to UW System, but not all.  See Summary of Senate Democrat’s proposal. Included in the proposal were the operating budget, building program, as well as HEAB provisions related to WHEG and Tuition Grant programs.  Much of the discussion centered on a 4% tuition cap offered by Assembly Republicans that was included in the Senate Democrats package.  Democrats reiterated that support for a tuition cap should be conditional on state funding to replace revenue forgone under a cap. 

Conference committee will meet each week, but not on a set schedule.  As of today, the schedule for this week is not yet public.   

Recent Budget Comments

Rep. Albers Letter

Rep. Hilgenberg Column

Sen. Schultz Letter

Sen. Olsen Column

Student Representatives Meet in Madison

August 23-24 -- The UW System Student Representatives held their annual retreat at the Pyle Center in Madison.  In what was the largest meeting in recent history, some 30 students from across the state attended the two day event. President Reilly gave a biennial budget update on Thursday. On Friday morning UW System staff gave the students a detailed description of the budget process and  advocacy efforts relating to the biennial budget deliberations. 

Budget Tools/Resources

Growth Agenda for Wisconsin –   Please watch for changes here!  Letters and columns are added daily.

LFB Comparative Summary of the Budget

LFB Summary of the Assembly version of the Budget

LFB Summary of the Senate version of the Budget

LFB Summary of the JFC version of the Budget

LFB Summary of the Governor’s Budget

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

August 16 – On vote of 15-1, The Joint Finance Committee approved the new Minnesota-Wisconsin Reciprocity agreement.  Senator Grothman, sitting in for Senator Darling, was the only member to vote against the agreement. The updated agreement will not require Wisconsin students to pay additional tuition to attend a college or university in Minnesota.  See agreement.

Upcoming Legislative Activity

August 28

The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee will hold a public hearing at 12 Noon in room 417 North (GAR Room).  The agenda includes:

AB 281 (Nass) -- purposes, authority, and responsibilities of the Educational Approval Board and the regulation of schools by that board.  View additional sponsors and full text.
  
AB 439 (Legislative Council) -- technical college adult basic education programs, eligibility for Wisconsin higher education grants, and granting rule-making authority.  View additional sponsors and full text.
  
AB 469 (Seidel) -- accessible instructional materials for students with disabilities enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or the technical college system.  View additional sponsors and full text.

The Assembly State Affairs Committee has scheduled a public hearing at 10 a.m. in room 328 Northwest.  Included on the agenda is:

AB 386 (Friske) --  restrictions on the purchase price of land acquired from nonprofit organizations by certain agencies and authorities.  View additional sponsors and full text. 

September 11 – The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee has scheduled a “public hearing on the ethics concerns in higher education (i.e., student loans and financial aid administrators scandal) and the response of higher education officials in Wisconsin.”  It is expected that UW System officials will be invited to provide testimony. See President Reilly’s letter to Committee Chair Nass. Time, location, and detailed agenda for this hearing are not yet known.

Legislation Introduced or Added Since Last Update

Representative Mursau has introduced AB 440 which creates a loan program for pharmacy students who agree to practice pharmacy in pharmacy professional shortage areas in this state.  View additional sponsors and full text.  On August 15, the Assembly Public health Committee held a public hearing on the bill, but not action was taken.

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

Congress is out of session for the August recess.  Both chambers will return on Tuesday, September 4.

AAU staff has updated the side-by-side comparison of House and Senate provisions for reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). 

UPCOMING EVENTS     

September  
6-7
 UW System Board of Regents Meeting – View Agenda

Web Resources

 

Contact

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