Government Relations
Legislative Update
February 14, 2003
Budget Reduction Bill heard in Joint Finance
The Joint Finance Committee held a public hearing and a vote this week on Gov. Jim Doyle's bill to reduce state spending in the current fiscal year (FY 2002-03, ending June 30) by $81 million. The committee added a 1 percent reduction to the existing cuts and applied the cuts to more agencies. The effect for the UW is an additional $1.378 million on top of the Governor's $6.89 million cut. Also, the committee added language instructing that the reductions had to be taken from the "institutional support" appropriation from which the 6 percent was derived. This appropriation has a base of about $134 million and supports most administrative and IT functions. Cuts could be taken from outside this appropriation if a plan is submitted and approved by the JFC under a 14-day passive review process.
Floor Session
Neither the Senate nor the Assembly will have a floor session on Tuesday or Wednesday, Feb. 18 and 19. The Senate is expected to consider the deficit reduction bill (Special Session SB-1) on Thursday, Feb. 20. The Assembly is expected to be in session on Thursday, Feb. 20 as well.
Committee Hearings
The Joint Committee on Employment Relations voted yesterday to reject 15 contracts ratified by various state employee unions. The vote to disapprove the contracts was 5-2. Voting to disapprove were Sens. Al Lasee (R-De Pere), Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Reps. John Gard (R-Peshtigo), Steve Foti (R-Oconomowoc) and Dean Kaufert (R-Menasha). Voting against disapproving were Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Rep. Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha).
Sen. Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) left the meeting early because of a family emergency and did not vote.
Budget Address Scheduled
Gov. Doyle will deliver his budget address to a joint session of the Legislature on Feb.18, at 7:00 p.m.
Legislation Introduced
AB-57. POWER PLANT (Black) Eliminates the statutory requirement for the UW System Board of Regents and Department of Administration to negotiate the construction of a co-generation facility at UW-Madison.
Information on the Web
UW System Government Relations:
http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/
UW System Budget:
http://www.uwsa.edu/budplan/
Wisconsin Legislature on the Web
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/
Prepared by Kerry
Niemcek.
For further information contact Margaret
Lewis (608) 262-4464 or David
Miller (608) 262-4463