Government Relations

Legislative Update

April 3, 2009

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In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

In The News

► April 2 – UW System Entrepreneurship Summit at UW-Stevens Point
The UW System hosted its first Entrepreneurship Summit at the UWSP campus on Thursday, April 2, 2009.  Topics of discussion included best practices in entrepreneurship educational programs, student and alumni perspectives on entrepreneurship programs, and challenges facing campuses as they develop their individual programs.  The keynote address was given by Dr. Douglas Arion, the Donald Hedberg Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Carthage College.  For more information see the UW System press release or visit www.wiscontrepreneur.org.

State Budget

► April 16 – Potential Date for First JFC Executive Session
Joint Finance Committee (JFC) members have been asked to hold Thursday, April 16, 2009, as a potential date for the first executive session on the 2009-11 biennial budget.

► April 3 – JFC Public Budget Hearings Update
The Joint Finance Committee spent the last two weeks holding six public hearings around the state on the biennial budget proposal.  One hearing was held on the UW-Eau Claire campus.  As the committee begin the executive sessions on the bill, committee members will consider the input shared by the hundreds of Wisconsin residents who attended the public hearings.  Online video coverage of the hearings is available from Wisconsin Eye.

► April 1 – Building Commission Meeting
The full State Building Commission (SBC) adopted the recommendations of the Higher Education Subcommittee without change.  For additional information please see the statement issued by UW Regent President Mark J. Bradley and UW System President Kevin P. Reilly.  The following projects are enumerated for the 2009 biennium: 

General Fund Supported Borrowing Projects
Academic Facilities - LAC/OSH/PKS/SUP
Waste Management Center Increase – UW-Stevens Point
WI Energy Initiative – UW-Madison
Classroom Renovation/ Instructional Technology-System
Utility Improvements – UW-MSN/MIL/STP
Master Plan Initiative – UW-Milwaukee
WIMR – Middle Tower – UW-Madison

Program Revenue/Gift Funded Projects
Charter Street Renovation – UW-Madison
Ramer Field Renovation – UW River Falls
Agricultural Research Stations - Phase I – UW-Madison
Gordon Commons Phases I & II – UW-Madison
Kohl Center Hockey Facility Addition – UW-Madison
West Campus Athletic Facilities – UW-Madison
Lakeshore Residence Hall & Food Service – UW-Madison
New Residence Hall - UW-La Crosse
Science Museum Bldg – UW-Madison
Tandem Press Relocation – UW-Madison
North Park Street Office Bldg – UW-Madison
Stadium Locker Room Expansion – UW-Platteville
Residence Hall Upgrades – UW-Platteville
Storage Facility – UW-Platteville
Field House Addition - UW-Platteville
Fisher and Wellers Hall Renovation – UW-Whitewater
Memorial Student Center Renovation – UW-Stout
Hagestad Hall Renovation – UW-River Falls
South Forks Suites Addition - River Falls
Memorial Union Theatre Wing (Bonding Only) – UW-Madison

► March 17 – President Reilly’s Remarks at the JFC Agency Briefing
UW System President Kevin P. Reilly’s full testimony at the Joint Finance Committee agency briefing is now available on the UW System website.  Regent President Mark J. Bradley, Regent Colleene P. Thomas, UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos Santiago, and UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells also testified at the agency briefing.

State Legislation Update

► Legislative Committee Activity
The complete Schedule of Committee Activity is available online.

► New Legislation of Interest
The UW System is monitoring the following newly-introduced legislation of interest:

  • AB-168 – relating to: preparation and legislative consideration of a biennial budget bill; making executive sessions of the Joint Committee on Finance relating to the biennial budget bill available in real time for viewing by the public on the legislature's Internet Web site; and reporting of certain information by lobbying principals. (Introduced by Rep. Zipperer/Sen. Leibham; referred to the Joint Committee on Finance)

FEDERAL UPDATE

► Federal Budget Update
Excerpted from CQ:  The House and Senate on Thursday both approved their fiscal 2010 budget resolutions, setting up conference negotiations Democrats hope to complete later in April.  Both budgets move forward on President Obama’s priorities of a health care overhaul, boosting education, cutting the deficit in half and making the nation energy independent. But Senate votes showed there will be some tough negotiations ahead — particularly for cap-and-trade legislation.

The Senate adopted its budget late Thursday shortly before midnight, by a 55-43 vote after considering about 100 amendments over the course of 14 hours of debate.  Two Democrats voted against the budget: Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Sen, Ben Nelson (D-NE).

After rejecting four alternatives, the House adopted the resolution offered by House Budget Chairman John M. Spratt, Jr. (D-SC) by a 233-196 vote, with 20 Democrats opposing it and no Republicans supporting it.  The House budget resolution would provide $3.5 trillion for fiscal 2010 spending, and sticks fairly closely to the $3.6 trillion that President Obama proposed.

The House and Senate are expected to formally go to conference on the budget resolution after the two-week spring recess that starts today. In addition to the question of whether to include reconciliation instructions in the final budget, negotiators must determine the level of discretionary spending to include. The House plan would provide $1.089 trillion in discretionary spending, when adjustments are factored in. That is about $8 billion more than proposed by the Senate budget and $7 billion less than the president requested.

Earlier this week, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) sent a letter to the Senate Budget Committee urging them to allow for “the highest possible fiscally responsible increase” in the maximum Pell Grant in the FY10 budget resolution.

► Obama Issues Executive Memorandum to Agency Heads on Stimulus Funds
From NASULGC:  President Obama issued an executive memorandum to the heads of Cabinet departments and other federal agencies responsible for disbursing and administering the funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  The memo issues guidance on four sets of issues:  1) merit-based grant making; 2) avoiding “imprudent” projects; 3) interactions between registered lobbyists and agencies with respect to the stimulus funds; and, 4) general provisions. 

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:  Dr. Pamela Forman, Assistant Professor of Sociology, receives Jane Addams Award for her work empowering preadolescent girls.
  • UW-Madison:  UW Law School and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson to hosted a health care summit.
  • UW-Whitewater:  University receives grant from the American Association for the Advancement of Science to study effects of personal care products on water quality.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April  
3-4 UW System Women’s Consortium hosts the 33rd Wisconsin Women’s Studies and 4th LGBTQ Conferences at the Pyle Center in Madison.
18 UW-Madison Division of Recreational Sports hosts the Wisconsin Wellness Campaign.
22 UW System Administration hosts Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
22 UW-Green Bay hosts the Green Innovations Symposium
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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