January 24, 2005
ASSEMBLY AGRICULTRE COMMITTEE INVITES CALS TO HEARING
Representatives from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are scheduled to appear before the Assembly Agriculture Committee at its first hearing of the 05-06 legislative session February 3rd at 10:30 a.m. in room 417 North of the State Capitol. The Committee chair, Representative Al Ott (R-Forest Junction) invited CALS to present to the committee the results of a recent Agriculture Economic Impact Study done in conjunction with UW-Extension. Also on the agenda is a report from Dean Abe Aberle on the College’s work on a buffer strip initiative.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 27 - Tuition Gift Certificate
Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R, Port Washington) introduced legislation that would create a tuition gift certificate program for the University of Wisconsin System. Sen. Joe Leibham (R, Sheboygan) has drafted companion legislation in the Senate.
LEGISLATION CIRCULATING
Rep. Judy Krawczyk (R, Green Bay) - A redraft of last session's AB 799, to clearly state children of service members living outside of Wisconsin but whose parents maintain state residency should be entitled to a nonresident UW tuition exemption if they decide to return to Wisconsin to attend college.
Sen. Joe Leibham (R, Sheboygan) - The senate companion version of Rep. Mark Gottlieb’s bill creating tuition gift certificates for the University of Wisconsin System.
Rep. Jeff Wood (R, Chippewa Falls) - Allowing students attending any college, university, or technical college located in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, or Minnesota to utilize the income tax deduction for tuition expenses.
Sen. Alberta Darling (R, River Hills) - Allowing a limited number of four-year UW institutions to establish charter schools. This bill is a redraft of last session's SB 253 that was vetoed by the Governor.
Rep. Robin Kreibich (R, Eau Claire) - Merge the 13 two-year UW campuses with four-year institutions.
SENATE TO CONSIDER UW HOSPITAL AND CLINICS BOARD APPOINTEE
The Senate Health, Children, Families and Long Term Care committee is scheduled to take up the Governors appointment of Dian Palmer and Kenneth Viste to the UW Hospital and Clinics Board February 1st. Upon approval by the committee, the full Senate is expected to confirm their nomination.
LEGISLATIVE DEMOGRAPHICS
Legislators come to elective office with various backgrounds. Using legislators’ bios, a legislative staffer recently compiled a demographic profile of the 2005-06 Legislature.
Senate
- 23 of the 33 senators have served in the Assembly.
- The senior member of the Senate is Fred Risser, who begins his 22nd session of service in that body. Combined with his Assembly service, he has served 48 years in the Wisconsin legislature, more than anyone in state history.
- Eleven members of the Senate classify themselves as full time legislators.
- 26 of 33 senators have a bachelor's degree or associate's degree; eight have an advanced degree.
- Four senators have served on county boards, and 10 have served on municipal boards or school boards.
- Eight of the 33 senators are women.
- The average age of senators is 52 years.
Assembly
- 81 of the 99 members have previous Assembly experience. One of the "new" faces, Representative Frederick P. Kessler, is actually returning to the Legislature after an absence of 32 years.
- The senior member of the Assembly is Rep. Marlin D. Schneider, who begins his 18th session. With his inauguration, he breaks the record for Assembly service set by Representative Cletus Vanderperren, who served from 1959-1993.
- 39 members of the assembly classify themselves as full time legislators.
- 70 of 99 members have a bachelor's degree or associate's degree; 34 have advanced degrees.
- 18 have served on county boards, and 28 have served on municipal or school boards.
- 26 of the 99 representatives are women.
- The average age of representatives is 50 years.
For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Directors, State Relations
608/262-8967