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Legislative Update

June 18, 2004

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TABOR

Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) indicated last week that the Senate will not go into extraordinary session to take up TABOR. Panzer reiterated that over the election season, legislators will be able to hear feedback from constituents about the TABOR proposals and use those comments to build a better proposal next legislative session.

Budget News

This week, State Senator Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) released a memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, which details the state budget deficit. According to the memo, there is a $224 million dollar deficit in the State Medical Assistance (MA) program for 2003-05. Also, the Fiscal Bureau is projecting a $742 million dollar deficit for 2005-06.

You can reach the LFB memo at:

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/June04/Jun17/0617ellisfbmemo.pdf

Joint Legislative Council Study Committees

The following committees have been established to conduct in-depth issue reviews for the next legislative session. The Council Co-Chairs will consider all public member nominees as they appoint these committees. If you know of university experts that should be recommended as resources to these committees, please bring them to your Chancellor's attention for forwarding as a group to President Lyall. Names are due to the Council Co-Chairs by June 21.

Adoption and Termination of Parental Rights Law (Rep. Jeskewitz, Chair)
The committee will examine whether modification could be made to encourage adoptions and to make the adoption and termination of parental right processes more efficient and cost effective.
Child Guardianship and Custody (Sen. Lasee, Chair)
The committee will examine current state laws regarding guardianship of minors, the rights and responsibilities of guardians, and develop legislation to clarify and improve current guardianships laws.
Election Law Review (Sen. Leibham, Chair)
The committee will examine the implementation of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), state oversight of elections in Wisconsin, and the recount process.
Municipal Annexation (Sen. Lasee, Chair)
The committee will review conflicts that arise under current annexation law and determine if there is a consensus on means to reduce annexation disputes.
Recodification of Chapter 45, Veterans (Rep. Townsend, Chair)
The committee will conduct a recodification of ch. 45, Stats., relating to veterans, including reorganizing the chapter in a logical manner, modernizing language, and making other necessary organizational changes.
Recodification of Chapter 938, the Juvenile Justice Code (Rep. Suder, Chair)
The committee will conduct a recodification of ch. 938, Stats., relating to the Juvenile Justice Code, including reorganizing the chapter in a logical manner, modernizing language, and making other necessary organizational changes
Septage Disposal (Rep. Ainsworth, Chair)
The committee will examine the current capacity and need for disposal of septage that is pumped from septic and holding tanks, as well as the availability of disposal options for future population and business growth.
Sexually Violent Person Commitments (Sen. Alberta Darling, Chair)
The committee will study the current law relating to commitment, periodic reexamination, supervised release, and discharge of sexually violent persons.
State-Tribal Relations (Rep. Musser, Chair)
The committee will study issue relating to American Indian tribes and bands in this state and develop specific recommendations and legislative proposals relating to these issues.
Tax Exemptions for Residential Property (Columbus Park) (Rep. Fitzgerald, Chair)
The committee will study issues surrounding the property tax exemption for property as residential housing, including the impact of Columbus Park Housing v. City of Kenosha, 267 Wis. 2d 59 (2003), the effect of the exemption on benevolent activities of tax-exempt organizations, and recommending legislation relating to these issues as necessary.
Wisconsin’s Transportation Network Infrastructure (Sen. Kanavas, Chair)
The committee will examine Wisconsin’s transportation network infrastructure, including railroads, seaports, and air, to determine ways to improve these facilities, in addition to encouraging regional cooperation among Midwestern states in improving freight and passenger transportation to increase efficiency and to alleviate highway congestion.

Other News

Kathryn Champagne, (D- Porterfield), a special education teacher, announced her campaign for the 36th Assembly District seat, formerly held by Rep. Lorraine Serrati.

Hariah Hutowski (R-Sun Prairie) announced last week his intention to enter in the race for the 46^th Assembly District. Hutowski, a pharmacy technician and former legislative assistant, attempted a run for this seat in 2002.

Former Executive Director of the League of Women Voters, LuAnn Bird (D-Oshkosh) announced her decision to challenge Rep. Carol Owens (R-Oshkosh) for the 53^rd Assembly District seat. She first faces a democratic primary against Stephen DeDow.

Steve Senski (D-Plover) announced his campaign to challenge Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) from her seat in the 24^th Senate District.

Rep. Robert Turner (D-Racine) announced his plans for seeking an 8^th term as representative to the 61^st Assembly District. Turner, a member of the Assembly Democratic Leadership team, was first elected to this seat in 1990.

Judy Schmirler (R-Westby), a licensed practical nurse, filed her candidacy forms for entry into the race for the 96^th Assembly District seat.

Rep. Steve Kestell (R- Elkhart Lake) will attempt to win a 4^th term as representative to the 27^th Assembly District. First elected in 1998, Kestell chairs the Assembly Committee on Children and Families and is vice chairman of the Family Law Committee.

Rep. Karl Van Roy (R-Green Bay) announced this week that he will seek a 2^nd term in the 90^th Assembly District. Van Roy was first elected in 2002.

Scott Nelson (R-Wauwatosa), an attorney and former prosecutor, announced his candidacy for the 13^th Assembly District seat.

Rep. David Cullen (D-Wauwatosa) announced his plans for reelection as representative to the 13^th Assembly District.

Rep. Becky Weber (R-Green Bay) announced her intention to run for a 2^nd term for the 5^th Assembly District. Weber was first elected in 2002.

John Deitrich (R-Reedsburg) announced his decision to enter into the race for the 50^th Assembly District seat. Deitrich is a former president of the Reedsburg Common Council.

Mary Kinnunen (D-Rhinelander), the former mayor of Rhinelander, announced this week, her decision to run for the 34^th Assembly District seat. The seat is currently held by Rep. Dan Meyer (R-Eagle River).

Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) announced her decision to run for reelection to the 10^th Senate District. Harsdorf, a former Assembly representative, was elected to the Senate in 2000.

Sen. Roger Breske (D-Eland) announced his intentions to seek another term as senator for the 12^th Senate District. Breske has served as senator to the district since 1990.

Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) announced his candidacy for reelection to 30^th Senate District. Hansen was first elected in 2000.

Roger Cross (R-Waupaca) and John Spillner (R-Montello) announced their respective decisions to enter into the race for the 14^th Senate District seat, vacated by former Sen. Bob Welch, who is running in the Republican primary to unseat US Senator Russ Feingold. Cross and Spillner will face Rep. Luther Olsen in the Republican primary.

Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit) announced this week that he will be a candidate for the 45^th Assembly District seat being vacated by Democrat Rep. Dan Schooff. Benedict is retiring from his medical practice of neurology in July.

State Rep. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) will run for the Senate’s 4^th District. The seat is being vacated by Sen. Gwen Moore, who is running for the 4^th Congressional District.

Other Legislators seeking reelection include 91^st Assembly District Representative Barbara Gronemus (D-Whitehall) and 3^rd Assembly District State Representative Al Ott (R-Forest Junction).

Gary Bakke (D- New Richmond) announced this week his campaign for the 10^th District State Senate seat, which is currently held by Rep. Sheila Harsdorf. Previously, Bakke served as President of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Tom Kreager (D- Mosinee) announced that he will run against incumbent Republican Rep. Jerry Petrowski for the 86th Assembly seat.

UW System Policies relating to Election Activities

Candidates and their volunteers will begin circulating nomination papers for the fall elections starting June 1. Please take time to review the election policies and procedures at the link below. If you have questions, please contact Margaret Lewis or Doug Bradley. Being actively involved in elections is encouraged, but not on state time or using state resources.

For more information, please see: http://www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/camprule.htm