Government Relations

Legislative Update

October 3, 2008

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In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

In The News

► October Regents Meeting
The Board of Regents meeting was hosted by UW-Stevens Point on Thursday, October 2nd and Friday, October 3rd.  The meeting agenda, news summary, and webcast archive are available on the UW System website.

► Richard Longworth Presentation
A link to the archived webcast of author Richard Longworth's presentation, Caught in the Middle:  America's Heartland in the Age of Globalism, is now available on the UW System website.

State Legislation Update

► WISTAX Report on Higher Education Funding in Wisconsin
A new report from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) examines state tax funding for the UW System over the past 25 years. The analysis from the nonpartisan, Madison-based research organization finds that growth in tax dollars going to the UW has trailed overall state spending, state school aid, and inflation.  Read the press release on the WISTAX website.

► Higher Education Day
Higher Education Day 2008 will be held Tuesday, October 7, 2008.  Created in collaboration with Wisconsin’s constitutional officers and Wisconsin’s educational institutions, Higher Education Day is set aside to raise awareness among all citizens that higher education in Wisconsin is accessible and to inspire students of all ages to reach for post-secondary education as a goal.  More information is available on the Higher Education Day website.

► State Legislative Election Update
The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.  There are 9 contested Senate races and 72 contested Assembly races.  A final list of candidates on the ballot is available on the Government Accountability Board website.


FEDERAL UPDATE

► House Approves Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
This afternoon by a vote of 263-171, the House passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which was passed by the Senate on Wednesday.  President Bush has indicated that he will sign the bill.

Members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation split across party lines on the bailout package legislation.  Reps. Baldwin, Kind, Moore, Obey and Ryan voted for the bill, while Reps. Kagen, Petri, and Sensenbrenner voted against (links to member reaction, where available).  Earlier in the week, Sen. Feingold voted opposed, while Sen. Kohl supported the legislation.

► Higher Education Associations Support Passage of Financial Rescue Bill
On October 3rd, three higher education associations, including the Association of American Universities (AAU), sent a letter to all Senators urging them to vote in favor of the financial rescue legislation.  The next day, a similar letter was sent by six higher education associations, including AAU, to all House members.

The association letters focus on the potential impact on colleges and universities of the crisis in the nation’s financial and credit markets.  They also express appreciation that the measure includes the tuition tax deduction and the IRA charitable rollover.

► Additional Funding Provided for Pell Grants
On September 24th, Congress overwhelmingly approved H.R. 2638, a continuing resolution (CR) to provide funding at FY 2008 levels for continued government operations into March 2009.  The bill was signed by the President on September 30th.

The measure includes a few provisions of interest to colleges and universities.  Notably, the CR includes an additional $2.5 billion in funding for Pell Grants, in response to an accumulated shortfall in the program.  The bill also includes $15 million in grants to assist institutions of higher education damaged by natural disasters in 2008, as well as waivers of provisions concerning matching funds for these institutions.  More information about the CR is available in the American Council on Education news update.

► AP: Presidential candidate visits down in Wisconsin
A news article in the Wausau Daily Herald is reporting that Wisconsin campaign stops by Presidential candidates is down from 2004.  In the last month alone of the 2004 election, there were 23 visits to the state by presidential and vice presidential candidates. 

Since the February 2008 presidential primary, Sen. McCain has made seven stops in Wisconsin including two with Gov. Palin.  Whereas Sen. Obama has visited five times and Sen. Biden has been here twice.  Most recently, both campaigns have used campaign visits to the state to highlight their economic platforms – Obama this week in LaCrosse and Mcain/Palin two weeks ago in Green Bay.

► Reilly & Bradley Meet with Wisconsin Congressional Delegation
Last month, UW System President Reilly and UW Regent President Mark Bradley made a trip to Washington, DC, to meet with the Wisconsin delegation in Congress.  One particular topic of discussion was the UW System’s efforts to contribute to Wisconsin’s economic prosperity through the Growth Agenda for Wisconsin.

They also delivered a letter, signed by leaders across the UW System, seeking full funding of the provisions authorized in the America COMPETES Act.  This act calls for a doubling of the federal investment in research in the physical sciences and engineering at the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Standards and Technology laboratories in Commerce.

President Reilly and Regent President Bradley also discussed other issues of interest to the UW System.  This includes workforce development, particularly in southeastern Wisconsin where communities are being impacted by the closing of the GM plant in Janesville; a partnership with the federal government to educate more nurses and nurse educators to address our ongoing health care challenges; and economic literacy training.

They spoke with Senator Feingold about his interest in several different topics, including water issues and China.  They specifically discussed the role that Wisconsin universities, particularly UW-Milwaukee, might play in addressing some of these challenges.  When meeting with Congressman Obey, current Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, they extended an invitation for him to address the Board of Regents at a future meeting.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct  
14 UW-La Crosse will host a debate/forum of 94th Assembly district candidates
21 UW-La Crosse will host a debate/forum of 32nd Senate district candidates
24 UW-Marinette hosts candidate forum for 36th & 89th Assembly districts
28 UW-La Crosse hosts a candidate forum for the 3rd Congressional districts
31

UW-Marinette hosts candidate forum for the 8th Congressional district & 30th Senate district
Nov  
6 Board of Regents meeting in Madison
12-13 Synergy Conference 08 hosted by UW-River Falls
Dec  
4-5 Board of Regents meeting hosted by UW-La Crosse
Feb 2009  
5-6 Board of Regents meeting in Madison
Mar 2009  
5 Board of Regents meeting in Madison
6 NSF Regional Grants Conference in Milwaukee, hosted by UW-Milwaukee and the UW System Office of Federal Relations.  NSF representatives will present information on Foundation, the review process, and cross-disciplinary and international programs.  There will also be breakout sessions with program officers from the NSF directorates and a session on proposal writing.
April 2009  
TBD UW System Administration hosts Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

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