Government Relations

Legislative Update

March 14 , 2008

Legislative Update Archive | Search Legislative Update

In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

In The News

►Budget Repair Bills Introduced – Governor Jim Doyle called the Legislature into a Special Session on a Budget Repair Bill on Wednesday, March 12 to work on addressing state budget deficits.

The $527 million budget repair bill includes, among other measures, a transfer from the state transportation fund, 3 percent cut to cabinet agencies, and $30-40 million dollars in cuts to FY09 programs. The bill contains an assessment on hospitals to generate an additional $125 million in revenue. This provision would sunset at the end of the biennium. See Legislative Fiscal Bureau analysis of the bill.  Also read coverage on legislative reactions to the repair bill.

It has been suggested that Senate Democrats will require the governor’s special session bill be sent through the Joint Committee on Finance. 

Also on Wednesday, March 12th the Assembly voted on its own version of an emergency budget repair bill.  The Assembly Budget Repair Bill passed along party lines (51-46), with one Republican (Nass) and one Democrat (Ziegelbauer) switching parties.  See the roll call here. 

►LegislatureAdjourns – Thursday, March 13th, both houses adjourned for the regular legislative session.  While there is a limited business floor period scheduled for May, both parties have indicated they will not be calling the legislature in. 

►Board of Regents Meeting - The Board of Regents met for a one-day meeting in Madison on March 6. See a brief summary of the day’s discussion here.  Among other issues, the Board heard a report from the UW System’s Advisory Group on Tuition and Financial Aid Policy. President Reilly issued a statement on the nature of the discussion.

 

Posters 2008 a Success

Hundreds of UW System students, faculty, staff, Regents, Chancellors and alumni from across Wisconsin gathered in the State Capitol for the UW System’s 5th Annual Posters in the Rotunda event.  Record numbers of meetings and visits with legislators occurred in conjunction with an educational symposium, lunch, and a legislative reception.  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Eau Claire Leader-Telegram were some of the statewide media that reported on students’ experiences in the Capitol. The event’s legislative sponsors, Rep. Rhoades and Sen. Vinehout, deserve special thanks. Read their Joint Resolutions in support of the day, as well as the Governor’s proclamation:  AJR 100, SJR 90, Governor’s proclamation

A special part of the day was a Legislative Symposium focused on the value of undergraduate research at the national, state and local level.  Nancy Hensel, the Executive Director of the Council of Undergraduate Research, based in D.C. was the keynote speaker.  Highlights from Nancy's remarks:

  • Studies indicate that students who engage in undergraduate research develop higher levels of curiosity and critical thinking skills, both characteristics that can lead to a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Undergraduate research enhances the educational experience as well as develops useful job skills for students.
  • Studies show that undergraduate research leads to higher faculty retention rates both to the institution and to the discipline.
  • Many new faculty recruited from research universities where they completed their doctoral degrees want to continue their research agenda at their undergraduate institution. 

The discussion also focused on what role undergraduate research can play in helping Wisconsin maintain a vibrant foundation in academic research and development?  Some of roles include:

  • Undergraduate research can bring more federal and private-sector research dollars into the state.
  • Those research and development dollars can support job creation.
  • A vibrant research culture can also attract new businesses and high-tech industry to the state; and increase the possibility of spin-off businesses.

 

State Legislation Update

Recent Legislative Activity

March 4 – The Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, by a vote of 10-0, recommended passage of AB 854, providing financial aid at UW- La Crosse. See the UW System support position.

March 5 – The Assembly chamber passed, on a vote of 95-0, AB 771, prohibits the use of social security numbers as personal identifiers in the administration of government programs.

The Assembly did not take up SB 353, allowing UW System faculty and academic staff to collectively bargain. (see the UW System neutral position), or AB 787, relating to psychological evaluations of law enforcement officers.  By a vote of 45-50 on each bill, the Assembly failed to refer the bills to the Rules Committee for scheduling.

March 6 – The Senate Agriculture and Higher Education Committee, by a vote of 5-0, recommended passage of AB 83, creating an agricultural education and workforce development council. See the UW System support position.

The Senate Committee on Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Privacy, by a vote of 5-0, recommended passage of SB 552, prohibiting the use of social security numbers as personal identifiers in the administration of government programs. This legislation has been referred to Joint Committee on Finance.

March 7 – The Senate, by a vote of 33-0, passed AB 741, relating to cleanup and consolidation of Department of Commerce economic development programs.  The legislation will go before the Governor for approval during the veto period. This legislation designates UW System as one of eight state agencies subject to specific rulemaking and reporting requirements. 

March 11 – The Assembly, by voice vote, passed AB 854, reallocating existing GPR funding for financial aid at UW-La Crosse. Companion legislation in the Senate SB 516 was referred to the Joint Committee on Finance.

The Senate, by a voice vote, passed as amended SB 462, relating to psychological evaluations for law enforcement officers.

March 12 – The Assembly passed AJR 117, commending Chancellor John Wiley for his service to UW-Madison.

The Senate Committee on Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Privacy held a public hearing on AB 771, relating to the use of social security numbers.

March 12 - Senator Dan Kapanke attempted to suspend regular senate rules in order to vote on AB 854, a bill he and Senator Vinehout are cosponsoring on behalf of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse relating to financial aid.  The procedural move failed.

 

Upcoming Legislative Activity

March 19 – The Joint Committee on Audit will hold a public hearing on the Proposed Audit: Accountability, Consolidation, and Efficiency (ACE) Initiative. The committee may take executive action on this audit as well.

March 27 – The Joint Information Policy and Technology Committee will hold a public hearing on Information Technology Oversight

 

Legislation Circulating, Introduced or Added Since Last Update

March 10 – Rep. Kreuser introduced AJR 115 in the Assembly and Senator Coggs introduced SJR 101 in the Senate, commending UW-Parkside Chancellor Jack Keating for his service and commitment to higher education.

March 11 – Rep. Smith introduced AB 931 in the Assembly relating to the purchases of cheese products used the UW System. The legislation has been referred to the Committee on State Affairs.

 

Remaining Legislative Schedule

The remaining schedule is as follows:

  • April 3, 2008 (Th) Bills sent to Governor
  • May 6 to 8, 2008 (Tu − Th) Limited-business floor period
  • May 15, 2008 (Th) Bills sent to Governor
  • May 27 and 28, 2008 (Tu − W) Veto review floor period

 

FEDERAL UPDATE

FY2009 Federal Priorities 

The UW System Office of Federal Relations has provided Wisconsin's Congressional Delegation with its priorities for the fiscal year.  Those priorities include funding for the campus-based aid programs and, in particular, the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants and Perkins Loans, which President Bush has threatened to eliminate; funding for TRIO programs, that are critical to UW's mission to prepare and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed in higher education; and support for basic and applied research through the National Science Foundation and, in particular, support for the American Competitiveness Agenda to double federal investment in research in the physical sciences and engineering and STEM fields.  Please see details of the key legislative initiatives, and UW System and campus priority funding requests. 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS     

March  
17-28 Congressional District Work Period
26 UW System Legislative Liaison/PIO Teleconference
April  
10-11 Board of Regents Meeting – Hosted by UW-Extension, Pyle Center, Madison

 

Web Resources

Contact

State Relations: 

Federal Relations:

UW System Institutional:

Legislative Update Archive | Search Legislative Update