Government Relations

Legislative Update

March 6, 2009

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In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

In The News

► March 5 – Board of Regents Meeting
The Board of Regents met on Thursday in Madison.  The meeting agenda, webcast archive, and news summaries are available on the UW System website.

► March 5 – Chapter 17/18 Public Hearing
A public hearing was held in Milwaukee regarding proposed changes to Chapters UWS 17 and UWS 18 of Wisconsin Administrative Code: Rules of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.  The proposed changes would alter current student nonacademic disciplinary procedures. Read news coverage in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

► March 4 – Student-Chancellor Forum
On Wednesday, students and chancellors from across the UW System participated in a leadership forum at the Pyle Center in Madison joined by UW System President Kevin Reilly and his senior UW System staff.  Topics of discussion included the current fiscal climate and its impact on the university, and effective ways in which student leaders and chancellors can work together.

► Tech Council Report on Academic Research and Development in Wisconsin
In January, the Wisconsin Technology Council released a report on the “The Economic Value of Academic Research and Development in Wisconsin.”  The full report is available on the Tech Council’s website.

State Budget

► March 4 – Statewide JFC Public Budget Hearings Announced
The Joint Finance Committee announced that public budget hearings will take place from March 23 – April 3.  Hearings will be held in Sparta, West Allis, Eau Claire, Racine, Appleton, and Cambridge.  A listening session has also been scheduled in Ashland. For more information see the JFC press release.  The schedule should place the committee on track to begin executive sessions on the bill in mid- to late-April and to complete committee action by the end of May.

► Agency Briefings Expected the Week of March 16
UW System will join other major state agencies in providing testimony to the Joint Finance committee, with the Legislative Fiscal Bureau and the Department of Administration present to address JFC members’ questions.  

►February 26 - Legislative Fiscal Bureau Briefing
On Thursday, February 26, UW System President Kevin P. Reilly hosted a Legislative Fiscal Bureau budget briefing for leaders across the UW System.  LFB Director Bob Lang presented an overview of state budgeting trends, examined the current state budget as introduced by the governor, and discussed its potential impact on the UW System.

State Legislation Update

► Legislative Committee Activity
The complete Schedule of Committee Activity is available online, selected hearings are listed below:

  • March 10 – Senate Committee on Economic Development:  Informational hearing with demonstrations on the Economic Development Portal, WISCareers interactive website, and a discussion of initiatives on helping adult learners complete unfinished degrees.  UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson is one of the invited speakers.
  • March 18 (tentative) – Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee:  Informational committee hearing regarding the economic impact of the UW System on the State of Wisconsin.  Guest speakers will include UW System President Kevin Reilly, Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still, UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin, UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago, UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson, and others as determined by the chair, Representative Kim Hixson.

► Legislation of Interest
The UW System is monitoring the following legislation of interest:

  • AB1 (“The Wisconsin First Act”) – Relating to state procurement of products and services from businesses located in this state and setting a goal for local government to purchase a certain percentage of products and services from businesses located in this state. (Clark)
  • AB 2 / SB 8 (“The American Jobs Act”) – Relating to the state procurement of contractual services. (Pocan/Wirch)
  • AB 9 / SB 11 – Relating to a requirement that all employers in this state grant a paid leave of absence on Veterans Day to employees who are veterans. (Turner/Hansen)
  • AB 14 – Relating to the regulation of traveling sales crews, requiring the exercise of rule-making authority, and providing penalties.  (Pope-Roberts/Erpenbach)
  • SB18 – Relating to fee remissions for certain University of Wisconsin System and technical college students. (Hansen)
  • SB52 – Relating to an education tax credit for businesses (Darling).
  • SB63 (“Education Tax Credit”) – Relating to a postsecondary education tax credit for businesses (Lassa).

 

FEDERAL UPDATE

► March 6 – National Science Foundation (NSF) Day Workshop  
Today UW-Milwaukee and the UW System Office of Federal Relations hosted a sold-out NSF Day Workshop in Milwaukee.  The workshop was primarily designed for researchers and educators with less experience with the NSF proposal and merit review process and provided an overview of the Foundation, its mission, priorities, and budget.  Representatives from the seven NSF directorates and the Office of International Science and Engineering made presentations during afternoon breakout sessions.

► March 3 – UW System Overview of the Obama Federal Budget Proposal
UW System Federal Relations released an overview of the President's Obama $3.6 trillion FY 2010 budget proposal.  The president’s full, detailed budget will be submitted in April.  In the meantime, House and Senate Budget Committees will begin to draw up Fiscal 2010 budget resolutions.

► February 26 – Sec. Duncan Outlines the Impact of the FY2010 Budget on Higher Education
From the Department of Education:  Secretary Duncan recently spotlighted a number of higher education provisions in the Department's proposed Fiscal Year 2010 budget request that would dramatically expand student financial aid while making it simpler, more reliable, and more efficient.  "We need to invest in our economic future and enable our kids to compete in today's global environment," he said.  "The new funding announced today represents a significant expansion of our federal student aid programs, providing more dollars to allow more students to attend more schools."  The provisions would:

  • Guarantee funding for the federal Pell Grant program and ensure that grant amounts would keep pace with inflation.  By making funding mandatory, the Pell Grant program would no longer be subject to the discretionary budget process, would eliminate uncertainty in funding from year to year, and would ensure that the grants reflect cost of living increases.  Beginning in 2010-11, the Pell Grant maximum would be indexed to the consumer price index, plus 1%, ensuring that Pell Grant awards would meet their original objective to cover a substantial percentage of college costs.
  • Make college loans reliable, stable, and efficient, eliminating the uncertainty families have experienced due to the turmoil of the financial markets.  New student and parent loans would be furnished directly from the federal government through the same electronic system colleges use for Pell Grants. Taxpayers would save more than $4 billion a year in reduced entitlement subsidies, and the funds could be reinvested in more aid to students seeking a higher education.
  • Restructure and expand the federal Perkins Loan program to ensure that all institutions can take part in the program.  The revised program would offer $6 billion in loans every year, a significant increase from the current $1 billion in funding.  Funds would reward schools that provide more need-based aid to students and that maintain reasonable student costs relative to other schools in their sector.

Other sections of the FY 2010 budget request focus on early childhood programs, stronger standards and assessments, more effective teaching and school leadership, scaling up success, and helping students finish college.  For more information please visit the Department of Education website.

► FY2010 Federal Priorities Binder 
The UW System Federal Priorities for Fiscal Year 2010 have been distributed to the Wisconsin Congressional delegation and are also posted online.  The reference guide includes information on the UW System FY2010 overview and outlook, key federal funds, key legislative initiatives, and UW System and campus priorities.

AROUND WISCONSIN

► “Around Wisconsin” features items relating to exciting progress on campus or examples of strong relations with the community and policy makers. Please send items of interest to externalrelations@uwsa.edu.

  • UW-Eau Claire:  UWEC Golden Key International Honour Society receives prestigious chapter service award.
  • UW-River Falls:  Assistant Professor Genella M. Stubrud recognized  for initiative to strengthen the number of graduates with diverse backgrounds who pursue teaching science technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  • UW-Stout:  Campus helps young students get their “ACT Together.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mar  
10 Informational hearing by Senate Committee on Economic Development; 10:30 AM, 411 South, State Capitol
10 UW-Parkside will co-host a Veterans’ Benefits Open House with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.
12 WisPolitics is sponsoring a luncheon presentation by Gary Wolter on how the federal stimulus affects Wisconsin.  Gary Wolter is serving as head of the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.  He is also chairman, president and CEO of Madison Gas and Electric.  The event is open to the public. Call the Madison Club to register at (608) 255-4861. The luncheon will be held from 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM at the Madison Club in Madison.
18 Meeting of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee regarding the impact of the UW System on the State of Wisconsin.
19 State Building Commission's Higher Ed subcommittee
April  
1-2 UW Law Days, a symposium on legal issues and new legal developments in areas of interest to university administrators.
22 UW System Administration hosts Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
May  
7-8 Board of Regents meeting hosted by UW-Milwaukee.
June  
4-5 Board of Regents meeting in Madison
July  
9 Board of Regents meeting in Madison

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