January 27, 2006
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL AID, STEM CELL INITIATIVES IN STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
At his annual “State of the State” address on January 17, Governor Doyle announced a plan to provide affordable access to the UW System campuses. The "Wisconsin Covenant" will identify eligible 8th graders and if they meet a certain set of requirements, including income and academic standards, the state will ensure they have the financial resources to attend a UW campus when they graduate from high school. Details of the plan are yet to be worked out; the Board of Regents will be working on this initiative.
The Governor also announced a stem cell initiative with the goal of Wisconsin capturing 10 percent of the stem cell industry by 2015. As part of this effort, the Governor is directing the Department of Commerce to use $5 million to support new stem cell companies and is asking Forward Wisconsin to market Wisconsin as a stem cell leader.
The full text of the Governor’s State of the State address is available at http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=1648.
FINANCIAL AID, CONCEALED WEAPON BILLS ADVANCE Yesterday both the Assembly and the Senate passed legislation to increase the maximum amount of a Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG) from $2500 to $3000 (Assembly Bill 895/Senate Bill 481). During the floor debate in the Assembly earlier this week, Assembly democrats moved to take up a bill that provides funding for the WHEG grants. (Assembly Bill 743, authored by Madison democrats Representatives Joe Parisi and Spencer Black.) However, that effort failed 38-60. During Thursday’s vote Rep. Black offered an amendment to provide $3 million in funding in the second year of the biennium. That effort failed 39-60, but the bill (SB 481) unanimously passed the Assembly after passing the Senate earlier on a voice vote. The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature, which is expected.
Also yesterday the full Senate voted 23-10 to override the Governor’s veto of Senate Bill 403, which allows the concealed carry of weapons. The bill now goes to the Assembly for a vote, which has been scheduled for next Tuesday. The original bill passed that House 64-32, two votes shy of the needed two-thirds majority to override. However, one republican who is supportive of the bill was absent during that vote and a legislative seat that was then vacant is now filled by a republican who also supports the bill.
The full legislature also recently took up the following bills of interest to the University:
Assembly Bill 297 - education tax credit for businesses. Passed the Assembly 62-34. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Senate Bill 436 - college enrollment and registration priority of persons called into active military service. The bill passed the Senate on a voice vote. It now goes to the Assembly for consideration.
Assembly Bill 730 - independent charter schools established by University of Wisconsin institutions. The bill passed the 20-13. It now goes to the Governor for his signature or veto.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL RECEIVES HEARING
On Wednesday, January 18, the Senate Higher Education and Tourism Committee held a public hearing on several bills that affect the UW System, including legislation that would allow collective bargaining for UW System faculty and academic staff (Senate Bill 452). Both UW-Madison interim provost Gina Sapiro and UW System associate vice president Al Crist testified for information only. A copy of Sapiro’s testimony is available at http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu/images/SB452talkingPoints.pdf. Crist’s testimony is available at http://www.uwsa/edu/univ_rel/govrel/pending/testimon/t_sb452.htm. The Committee did not take a vote on this bill.
At the hearing the Committee took up other legislation of interest to UW-Madison, including the following which received a vote the following day: Senate Bill 481- increases the maximum amount of a Wisconsin higher education grant. This bill unanimously passed the Committee 5-0 and passed the full Senate and Assembly this week (see above.) Assembly Bill 387- expands the Nursing Loan Program to nurse educators. UW-Madison School of Nursing Dean Katharyn May testified in support of this bill, which passed the committee 5-0. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COMMITTEE ACTION
This Tuesday the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee met in executive session to vote on several bills of interest to the university. They unanimously passed Assembly Bill 895, which increases the maximum amount of a Wisconsin higher education grant. Companion legislation to this bill, Senate Bill 481, passed both houses of the legislature yesterday (see above). The committee also unanimously passed Assembly Bill 882, which makes changes to the appointment requirements of student members to the Board of Regents, and Assembly Bill 835, which provides a fee remission for children and surviving spouses of ambulance drivers, correctional officers, EMTs, fire fighters and law enforcement officers. Both of these bills now go to the Assembly for consideration.
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE ACTION
On Wednesday the Joint Finance Committee delayed action on Senate Bill 351, which extends to a divorced or legally separated parent of a child, without regard to whether the child is his or her dependent, a nonrefundable income tax credit for contributions to a college savings account or tuition and expenses program. The bill's author, Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), is working on changes suggested to the bill.
UPCOMING HEARING
The Assembly Military Affairs Committee will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 1, in room 417-North of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda is Assembly Bill 879, which makes changes to the eligibility for tuition fee remission for spouses and children of certain veterans.
UNDERHEIM WON’T SEEK RE-ELECTION
Representative Gregg Underheim (R-Oshkosh) has announced that he will not seek re-election to the 54th Assembly District. Underheim, currently chair of the Assembly Health Committee, was first elected to his seat in a special election in 1987.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 916 - tuition remission
Representative Marlin Schneider (D, Wisconsin Rapids) has introduced legislation that adds certain fee remission eligibility to spouses, surviving spouses, or children of veterans if the veteran is a resident of this state and was a resident of this state for at least 15 continuous years before the student registers. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Assembly Bill 921 - state building projects
The legislative members of the State Building Commission have introduced legislation that makes changes to the laws governing state building projects. The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs.
Assembly Bill 940 - state contracts
Representative Terese Berceau (D-Madison) introduced legislation that requires a review of certain proposed state contractual service engagements and creation of a contract review board. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs.
For the complete text of all bills and their current status, please visit
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/ab_list.html (Assembly bills) or http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/sb_list.html (Senate bills).
For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Directors, State Relations
608/262-8967