Government Relations

Legislative Update

October 12, 2007

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STATE UPDATE

Biennial Budget

Special Session is Called

Governor Jim Doyle announced he is calling a special session of the legislature on Monday, October 15.  Preliminary details of the new bill have been released by Governor Doyle in a Budget Overview document.    

Procedurally, rules about a special session are very open-ended.

Special sessions require the governor to proclaim a “call” to the legislature. In this case, the language of the “call” will be the relating clause to his new version of the budget bill.  The bill will then either be referred to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) or sent directly to the houses simultaneously for debate.

The Special Session call requires that the houses must convene, and have all members there to start the day -- but it does not require that legislators act.  They can leave without voting on the budget bill.

And, unlike a conference committee bill, a special session bill is amendable. 

The special session call does not preclude the conference committee from continuing its negotiations.  However, given Wisconsin’s status as the last state in the nation to pass a budget, pressure to pass a budget soon is increasing.

UW System is working aggressively with interested parties to advocate for the best final budget for UW System.  See Presidents Reilly and Bradley Statement Regarding Special Session Compromise.

President Reilly, Students, and Regents Speak Out

UW System leaders are united in their support of a good budget.  In the last two weeks, these have been covered by news media across the state:

NEW President Reilly Letter to Conference Committee
NEW UW System Student Leaders Letter of Support
NEW Regents Falbo, Loftus, and Walsh Editorial
NEW Student Regent Thomas Editorial
NEW Regent Salas Editorial

Public Comments Related to UW System by Third Party Advocates

32 business leaders from across the entire state of Wisconsin sent this letter to conference committee members in support of UW System’s budget. 

That was in addition to over a dozen letters sent by other respected community and business letters who are part of the Wisconsin Higher Education Business Roundtable (WHEBR).  Those letters can be seen here:  WHEBR Budget Support

Public Comments Related to UW System by State Legislators

Please review the new page on the UW System Growth Agenda website, outlining the support from state legislators.  This new page includes letters to the Conference Committee, published newspaper articles and columns, and interviews.  Items will be added to this page as they become available.  Two recent releases from this week appears below:

"Rep. Schneider: Blasts Cuts to Education Communications Board"

“Rep. Smith:  Lack of State budget Hurts UW System and Students”

Wispolitics.com is also listing letters to conference committee specifically.  See those letters here: Wispolitics Legislative Letters to Conference Committee.

Do you know of other comments or correspondence from legislators, business leaders, or others, not listed on these Web pages? If so, please e-mail them to Kathy Dickerson at Kdickerson@uwsa.edu.

State Legislation Update

Legislative Activity

September 25 – The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee held a public hearing “regarding the response of Wisconsin higher education institutions to relationships with student loan lenders and other potential conflicts of interest.”  President Kevin Reilly testified, along with Associate Vice President for the Office of Policy and Research (OPAR) Sharon Wilhelm and Chief Legal Counsel Pat Brady. 

October 9 -- The Assembly Committee on Education held a public hearing on AB 327 relating to school district youth options programs.  The Regents have posted a position against this legislation.

Upcoming Legislative Activity

October 17 – The Senate Agriculture and Higher Education Committee will hold a public hearing at 11:00 a.m. in room 201 Southeast.  On the agenda will be the appointment of Colleene Thomas to the UW board of Regents.  The committee will also hear testimony on SB 168 regarding the eligibility for academic excellence higher education scholarships; SB 238 which deals with accessible instructional materials for students with disabilities enrolled in the UW system or technical college system; and SB 254 which would allow an individual income tax deduction  for contributions made by a divorced or legally separated parent to his or her child’s college savings account or college tuition and expenses program.

Legislation Introduced or Added Since Last Update

September 13 –   SB 265 was introduced by Legislative Council by recommendation of the Special Committee on Affirmative Action.  The bill relates to affirmative action practices in state and local government contracting and hiring, the consideration of race or ethnicity in the University of Wisconsin System, and eligibility requirements for minority teacher loans and minority undergraduate grants awarded by the Higher Educational Aids Board.  SB 265 awaits further action in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Corrections.

October 10 -- SB 286 was introduced by Senator Hansen regarding fee remissions for certain University of Wisconsin System and technical college students.  The bill has been referred to the Senate Agriculture and Higher Education Committee.

Please note that UW System legislative bill positions that have been approved by the UW System Board of Regents are posted on the web.  View bill positions.

FEDERAL UPDATE

October 22 – WisPolitics.com is hosting a breakfast at 7:45 a.m. at the Madison Club with Congressman Dave Obey for a discussion of the political landscape and book signing of his memoir “Raising Hell for Justice.''  Rep. Obey (D-Wausau) is the longest-serving member of Wisconsin congressional delegation and chair of the House Appropriations Committee.  Space is limited; call the Madison Club to register at (608) 255-4861. The event is open to the public, costs $19 and includes breakfast.

UPCOMING EVENTS     

November  
8-9
 UW System Board of Regents Meeting at UW-River Falls

Budget Tools/Resources

Web Resources

 

Contact

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Federal Relations:

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