Government Relations

Legislative Update

May 1, 2006

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In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

Additional Pay Increases Approved by the Legislature

On April 26, The Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) voted to approve a 1.25 percent wage adjustment for UW System faculty, staff, and executives. This action brings pay raises for staff to 6.25 over the 2005-2007 biennium. In addition to the 2 percent pay raise employees received in July 2005, the plan calls for a 2 percent increase on July 1, 2006 and an additional 2.25 percent on April 1. 2007. Please see President Reilly’s statement on this action at: http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2006/r060427.htm

Assembly Action on Taxpayers Protection Amendment

Early Friday morning, April 28, the Assembly adopted a substitute amendment to AJR 77 by a vote of 50-48. The substitute amendment would limit growth of state spending to 90% of the average growth in personal income over the previous three years, as determined by the federal government. The resolution does not address spending or revenue for local governments. The resolution requires the Legislature to define in statutes what "general fund revenue" is and determine what sources of state revenue might be exempt, such as tuition and fees, federal funds, private gifts and grants, and program revenue. An allowance for a state-wide referendum to exceed the constitutionally imposed limit is also included in this version. Nine republicans (Ballweg, Kreibich, Lasee, McCormick, Nass, Nerison, Ott, Petrowski, Vukmir) joined all 39 democrats in voting against the amendment. See text of ASA 5 to AJR 77 at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AJR77-ASA5.pdf
Also see Legislative Fiscal Bureau Summary of Revenue Limits under ASA 5 to AJR 77 at: http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/April06/April28/0428lfbsub5.pdf The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday, May 3 on the Assembly version, or its own amendment.

Senate Select Committee on Taxpayer Protection Amendment to Hold Hearing

The Senate Select Committee on The Taxpayer Protection Amendment, chaired by Senator Glenn Grothman, will hold a public hearing Monday, May 1 at 3 p.m. in 411 South on SJR-63. See text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AJR-63.pdf The committee also invites testimony for informational purposes on AJR-77, as adopted by the Assembly. Executive action may be taken on SJR 63.

Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz issued a statement on Friday indicating that after Sen. Grothman holds his public hearing on Monday, he expects floor debate to begin on Wednesday.

May 2 Informational Session on Status of APBS System, UW-Waukesha/UW-Milwaukee Merger, Disciplinary Procedures for Convicted Felons; Hearing on Instructional Materials for Students with Disabilities, Employment of Felons; Internal Audit on Student Fees

The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee will hold an informational session and public hearing on Tuesday, May 2 at 9:30 a.m. in room 225 Northwest.

The committee will invite university officials to provide information on the following three issues:

  • Status of the Appointment, Payroll, Benefits System (APBS) software contract

  • Progress of the proposed UW-Waukesha and UW-Milwaukee merger

  • Disciplinary procedures for convicted felons

  • Status of Board of Regents internal audit on student fees

UW System Executive Senior Vice President Don Mash, General Counsel Pat Brady, and UW System Audit Director Ron Yates are scheduled to brief the committee on these items.

Following the information session, the committee will hold a public hearing on the following bills:

AB 1142. Instructional materials for students with disabilities enrolled in higher education institutions
AB 1147. Permitting the UW System Board of Regents, the Technical College System board, or a technical college district board to refuse to employ or to terminate unpardoned felons.
AB 578. Faculty/student governance policies.

Legislative Action: Public Employee Interests in Public Contracts; State Building Projects; College Savings Programs; Contracts Posted to the Web; Lab of Hygiene Board Membership; Board of Regents Membership

The following bills were passed by both houses of the Legislature and are available for the Governor’s Action:

SB 338. Exception to prohibition against a public officer or employee having a private interest in a public contract for employees of the UW System involved in certain research. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB338-ASA1.pdf

SB 478. Approval of state building projects and contracts. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-478.pdf

SB 661. College savings program deposit trust fund. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-661.pdf

AB 788. Requires every state contract bid over $10,000 be posted on the Internet within 24 hours after the initial solicitation and remain online for 90 days. (Note: Despite our best efforts, we were not successful in amending the bill to apply to contracts over $25,000 to match other RFP dollar amounts). See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-788.pdf

Other action on legislation included:

On April 25 the Senate, by a voice vote passed SB 554, which is remedial legislation relating to the State Laboratory of Hygiene Board. The bill now goes to the Assembly for Action. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-554.pdf

On a vote of 61-37, the Assembly passed AB 701 which requires the appointment to the Board of Regents of at least one citizen member who resides in each of the Wisconsin’s congressional district. The bill now goes to the Senate for action. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-701.pdf

Legislators Not Seeking Re-election

Last week, another veteran republican announced that he will not seek re-election. Rep. John Ainsworth will not seek a ninth term in the Assembly. Ainsworth will be the seventh Assembly Republication to announce plans to leave after this session. Republicans currently hold a ten seat advantage in the Assembly. Those not running include:

Speaker John Gard (running for Congress)
Jean Hundertmark (running for Lieutenant Governor)
Terri McCormick (running for Congress)
Gregg Underheim (returning to private sector)
Andy Lamb (returning to private sector)
Curt Gielow (returning to private sector)
John Ainsworth (returning to farming)

Also, Democrat John Lehman will not seek re-election to the Assembly because he is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Cathy Stepp who chose not to seek a second term in the Senate.

FEDERAL UPDATE

No Federal Update this week.

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