Government Relations

Legislative Update

September 21, 2007

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STATE UPDATE

Biennial Budget

Conference Committee

On Tuesday, September 18, the state Assembly broke up the biennial state budget by passing separate legislation to fund K-12 schools and shared revenue. The Assembly passed AB 506 by a vote of 70- 27, which provides $6 billion for K-12 school funding in Fiscal Year 2007 and $6.3 billion the next year. The Assembly also passed AB 507, on a vote of 52-45, stipulating tax limits for localities.

Both bills have been sent to the Senate.  According to Majority Leader Judith Robson, those bills will not be heard in the senate. She has stated publicly that she prefers the budget to be taken in whole, and debated by the conference committee.

The Conference Committee met later that day with the Republicans’ proposal on taxes and the Democrats’ Corrections package.

On Thursday, September 20, the Conference Committee met for less than 30 minutes with the Democrats bringing an offer relating to Renewable Energy.  The committee talked briefly about the renewables package and a Republican counter offer to the Corrections package.   No further action was taken. 

At today’s Conference Committee meeting, the Democrats offered to remove their Healthy Wisconsin plan in exchange for Republicans accepting a $1.25 per pack increase on cigarettes and a tax on hospitals.  The Senate Democrats announced that they plan to take up Healthy Wisconsin as a separate bill and send it on to the Assembly for action.  Speaker Huebsch guaranteed that the proposal would get a hearing in the Assembly.

Public Comments Related to UW System by State Legislators

With more and more state leaders expressing support for the UW System’s budget – including Growth Agenda funding and cost-to-continue, a new page has been added to the UW System Growth Agenda website, outlining the support from state legislators.  This new page includes letters to the Conference Committee, published newspaper articles and columns, and interviews.  Items will be added to this page as they become available.

Wispolitics.com is also listing letters to conference committee specifically.  See those letters here: Wispolitics Legislative Letters to Conference Committee.

Last week’s Legislative Update listed several new legislative endorsements. Please see this new column, posted in the La Crosse Tribune and The Capital Times:

NEW  Rep. Shilling Column

Do you know of other comments or correspondence from legislators, business leaders, or others, not listed on these Web pages? If so, please e-mail them to Kathy Dickerson at Kdickerson@uwsa.edu.   

Public Comments Related to UW System by Third Party Advocates

A representative from Harley Davidson sent this letter, supporting funding for UW-Extension’s School of Workers, to the Conference Committee:  Harley Davidson Letter

State Legislation Update

Legislative Activity

No UW System related legislative activity took place since our last publication.

Upcoming Legislative Activity

September 25 – The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee has scheduled a public hearing at 11:30 a.m. in 225 Northwest, State Capitol.  The committee will receive testimony “regarding the response of Wisconsin higher education institutions to the ethical concerns relating to relationships with student loan lenders and other potential conflicts of interest.”  It is expected that UW System President Kevin Reilly and other UW System officials will attend and provide testimony.  See hearing notice for additional details.

Legislation Introduced or Added Since Last Update

The Joint Legislative Council has introduced SB 265 /AB 510 relating to affirmative action practices in state and local government contracting and state and local government hiring, the consideration of race or ethnicity in the

University of Wisconsin System , and eligibility requirements for minority teacher loans and minority undergraduate grants awarded by the Higher Educational Aids Board.  The bill has been referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary and Corrections.

Senator Dave Hansen plans to introduce a bill relating to tuition remission for children of fallen ambulance drivers, correctional officers, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians, and law enforcement officers. LRB -116/2 would require the UW System Board of Regents to extend the qualifying age limit from 21 to 30 if the student is completing a bachelor’s degree, but not for more than 5 consecutive years.

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

As was reported in the previous update, the FY08 budget reconciliation bill was completed and awaits the President’s signature.

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act cuts about $22 billion over five years from student loan subsidies, primarily through a reduction in lender special allowance payments.  Most of the savings are devoted to increased student financial aid benefits, with the remaining $752 million allocated to deficit reduction as required by the FY08 budget resolution.

Please see the updated chart comparing the House and Senate versions of the package with the final bill that has been prepared by AAU.  

The American Council on Education has released a document highlighting the new lobbying rules that have been signed into law.  The document outlines key guidelines that institutions must follow in order to comply with the law.  It is important to note that public colleges and universities remain exempt from Congressional gift and travel restrictions.

UPCOMING EVENTS     

September  
27
 9:00-10:30 a.m. -- Assembly Parlor, State Capitol.
  Join UW-Whitewater alumni, friends and Wisconsin legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Judith        Robson; Sen. Neal Kedzie '78; Rep. Kim Hixon; Rep. Samantha Kerkman '96; Rep. Stephen Nass '78,         '90; Rep. Robin Vos '91
October  
4-5
 UW System Board of Regents Meeting at UW-River Falls

Budget Tools/Resources

Web Resources

 

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