Government Relations

Legislative Update

February 20, 2009

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In this issue:

STATE UPDATE

In The News

► February 6 – UW System President Kevin Reilly Announces Research to Jobs Task Force
At the February Board of Regents meeting, President Reilly announced that he is appointing a new Research to Jobs Task Force, which will be charged with studying the UW research, patent, and commercialization process.  The group, to be chaired by Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Managing Director Carl Gulbrandsen, will research and identify the existing or potential barriers to this process, and identify methods of cooperation and incentives that could be implemented.

At the same meeting, Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council (WTC), came before the Board to further discuss a recent WTC report highlighting the major role played by academic research and development in the state’s economy.  View his presentation on Economic Value of Research and Development in Wisconsin.

 

State Budget

► February 19 – Governor Signs Budget Adjustment Bill
 On Thursday, Governor Doyle signed SB62, a budget adjustment bill.  On February 18, the legislation was approved by an 18-15 party-line vote in the Senate and 51-48 in the Assembly, with two Democrats voting with Republicans in opposition.  For more information, please see coverage by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Wisconsin State Journal.

► February 17 – Governor Doyle Unveils 2009-11 Budget
Governor Doyle released his proposed executive budget for the 2009-11 biennium.  View the entire budget bill, AB-75 (1743 pages), Budget in Brief, or the provisions specific to the UW System.  For additional analysis, please see the overview drafted by the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

For UW System’s initial reaction, please see the news release following the Governor’s budget address.

 

State Legislation Update

► February 24 – Legislative Floor Session
The Wisconsin Senate and Assembly will both be in session on Tuesday, February 24.  The Senate agenda is available online.  The annual State of the Tribes address has also been schedule for that day.

► Legislative Committee Activity
The complete Schedule of Committee Activity is available online, selected hearings are listed below:

  • March 18 (tentative) – Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee:  Informational committee hearing regarding the economic impact of the UW System on the State of Wisconsin.  Guest speakers will include UW System President Kevin Reilly, Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still, UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago, and others as determined by the Chairman, Representative Kim Hixson.

► Legislation of Interest
The UW System is monitoring the following legislation of interest.

  1. AB1 (“The Wisconsin First Act”) – Relating to state procurement of products and services from businesses located in this state and setting a goal for local government to purchase a certain percentage of products and services from businesses located in this state. (Clark)
  2. AB 2 / SB 8 (“The American Jobs Act”) – Relating to the state procurement of contractual services. (Pocan/Wirch)
  3. SB18 – Relating to fee remissions for certain University of Wisconsin System and technical college students. (Hansen)
  4. SB52 – Relating to an education tax credit for businesses (Darling).
  5. SB63 – Relating to a postsecondary education tax credit for businesses (Lassa).

► Legislative Pocket Directory Available
A pocket-sized State Legislature and Congressional Directory for the 2009-2010 Session is available from the Office of Communications & External Relations.  The guide lists office and contact information for all state legislators, legislative leadership, and committees.  Information on Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation is included as well.  Please contact Kate Wodyn at kwodyn@uwsa.edu or 608-263-5512 for the document in either hard copy or electronic format or look for the PDF version on our web site soon.

 

FEDERAL UPDATE

► February 17 – President Obama Signs Stimulus Legislation
On Tuesday, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Denver.  The bill was approved by both the House and Senate on February 13.  See analysis by the American Council on Education and a statement issued by UW System President Kevin P. Reilly.

From NASULGC Congressional and Governmental Affairs:  The U.S. Department of Education recently announced the creation of a website to help individuals and institutions better understand the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The website includes some information that will be of interest to NASULGC institutions, including preliminary estimates of state allocations of the stabilization funds.  The web page will be updated as further details are determined.

From AAU Council on Federal Relations:  Dr. Raynard Kington, Acting National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director, said that officials are still working out details of how the agency will spend the $10.4 billion it will receive under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but that NIH plans to obligate the money within two years and does not assume the funding will be added to the NIH base budget.  He added that there will be no across-the-board percentage increases in grants or programs.

Dr. Kington emphasized that use of the economic recovery money would not be business as usual: there will be substantially greater reporting requirements, such as information on economic impact and the number of jobs created and retained as a result of a research grant.  He described the funding streams in the bill as follows:

  • $8.2 billion for research activities, of which $7.4 billon is to be allocated across the NIH Institutes, Centers, Divisions, and the Common Fund (which includes cross-cutting activities such as the NIH Roadmap); $800 million will remain in the Office of the Director;
  • $1 billion for extramural construction, repairs, and alterations through the National Center for Research Resources; the review process for construction and renovation projects has not been determined;
  • $300 million for shared instrumentation;
  • $500 million for construction and improvements on the NIH campus; and
  • $400 million transferred from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for comparative effectiveness research. 

Research funding will be allocated in three general ways: (1) funding of grant applications from FY08 and FY09 that were judged to be “highly scientifically meritorious” but not funded: (2) supplements to existing grants to accelerate and/or expand their work; and (3) NIH Challenge Grants. 

► February 18 – Obey:  Economic Recovery Act Intended to Save Jobs & Help Those Hurt by Recession
House Appropriations Chairman Dave Obey (D-WI) spent this week traveling around his district educating his constituents on the recently-passed stimulus legislation.  Read more in a press release issued by Obey’s office.

► National Science Foundation Day Workshop Registration
The registration for the NSF Day Workshop at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee closes on February 27.  At the workshop, NSF representatives will present information on the National Science Foundation, the review process, and cross-disciplinary and international programs.  There will also be breakout sessions with program officers from the NSF directorates and a session on proposal writing.  Please share this message with anyone at your institution who might wish to attend.  A letter of invitation, agenda and registration form are available online.

► UW System Task Force on Recovery and Reinvestment Formed
The purpose of the task force, chaired by UW System Senior Vice President for Administration & Fiscal Affairs Tom Anderes, is to maximize the capture and utilization of federal economic stimulus funds coming to Wisconsin and the University.  Membership of the task force will be fluid, taking advantage of the right expertise at the right time.  The core membership has been selected around the following areas:  financial aid, building programs, research, energy, broadband access, and federal relations and communications.  More information is available online at the UW System Task Force on Recovery and Reinvestment website.

The state’s Office of Recovery and Reinvestment (ORR) has been established to help the people of Wisconsin take full advantage of the funding opportunities the stimulus bill provides.  The office is being led by Gary Wolter, CEO of Madison Gas & Electric, and Alan Fish, UW-Madison Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Management.  Andy Richards, Senior Special Assistant in the UW System President’s office, is the UW liaison to the ORR.  A website has been established with information on specific state agencies and programs that will be administering the contracts and grants to bring the stimulus dollars to Wisconsin, and will provide specific contacts within those state agencies and departments.

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-Oshkosh:  Received four Fox Valley ADDY awards
  • UW-Parkside:  Campus named to the 2008 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
  • UW-Stout:  George Acker, campus planner, named Greater Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Volunteer of the Year

UPCOMING EVENTS

Feb  
25 Leg. Liaison/PIO Face-to-Face meeting in Madison (Rescheduled from 2/18)
Mar  
5 Board of Regents meeting in Madison
6

National Science Foundation (NSF) Day Workshop  in Milwaukee, hosted by UW-Milwaukee and the UW System Office of Federal Relations.  NSF representatives will present information on the National Science Foundation, the review process, and cross-disciplinary and international programs.  There will also be breakout sessions with program officers from the NSF directorates and a session on proposal writing.  For more information please see the letter of invitation from Jeff Nesbit, Director of the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs at the National Science Foundation.
18 Meeting of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee regarding the impact of the UW System on the State of Wisconsin.
April  
1-2 UW Law Days, a symposium on legal issues and new legal developments in areas of interest to university administrators.
22 UW System Administration hosts Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
May  
7-8 Board of Regents hosted by UW-Milwaukee.

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