February 7, 2005
GOVERNOR TO UNVEIL BUDGET REQUEST
Governor Jim Doyle will unveil his 2005-07 budget request to a joint session of the legislature tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. In addition to being broadcast on public television, the Governors speech will also be available at the Governors web site (www.wisgov.state.wi.us). According to his office, the Governors budget will focus on education, health care, and the economy. A summary of budget items of interest to UW-Madison will be sent out in a special state relations update on Wednesday.
For background materials on UW-Madison's budget, please visit the state relations web page. New to the web page is a pdf file that includes a chart showing the make-up of UW-Madison's 2004-05 annual operating budget, a chart showing the campus annual operating budgets from the last 10 years, and a brochure that highlights points of pride and causes for concern related to UW-Madison. This file is available at http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu/images/pride-concern.pdf. A summary of final action on the 2003-05 budget is available at http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu/0305budgetsmry.html.
KREIBICH PROPOSES TUITION CAP BILL
Last week the chair of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, Representative Rob Kreibich (R, Eau Claire), proposed a bill that will cap UW System tuition over the next two years. According to Kreibich, "a tuition cap will force the state to debate the value of higher education on the same playing field with other state agencies that rely almost exclusively on state support for their existence." No bill language is available, but Kreibich said that there will be a public hearing on the tuition cap this spring.
NEW COMMERCE SECRETARY NAMED
Governor Doyle announced the appointment of Mary Burke as Commerce Secretary, succeeding Cory Nettles, who resigned at the end of December. Burke is a member of the UW-Madison School of Business Deans Advisory Board. Most recently she was president of the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and Director of Forecasting and Planning for Trek Bicycle.
UPCOMING HEARING
The Senate Agriculture and Insurance Committee will meet Wednesday, February 9, at 1:00 p.m. in room 201-Southeast of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda is a discussion of the economic impact of agriculture in Wisconsin, with a presentation by Richard Klemme, UW-Madison Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Peter Nowak, UW-Madison CALS professor of rural sociology, will be providing an update on the Wisconsin Buffer Strip Initiative.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 27/Senate Bill 38 - Tuition gift certificate
Representative Mark Gottlieb (R, Port Washington) and Senator Joe Leibham (R, Sheboygan) introduced legislation that would authorize a program for tuition gift certificates at UW System institutions. AB 27 was referred to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities; SB 38 was referred to the Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism.
Assembly Bill 53 - UW Rock County engineering initiative
Representative Debi Towns (R, Janesville) introduced legislation that provides funding and positions for UW-Platteville to provide engineering instruction at the UW Rock County campus. The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Finance.
Assembly Bill 83 - State employee health care
Rep. Towns also introduced legislation which would allow state employees who secure health care coverage from another source to opt out of the states health plan. Employees who choose this option would receive a stipend equal to 25 percent of the lowest premium amount that the state would otherwise have been required to pay on his or her behalf. This stipend would be subject to payroll and withholding taxes. The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Government Operations and Spending Limitations.
Assembly Bill 87 - UW tuition exemption
Representative Judy Krawzcyk (R, Green Bay) introduced legislation that creates a non-resident tuition exemption for dependents of certain active members of the armed forces. The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
For the complete text of these 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).
LEGISLATION CIRCULATING
Please note that the following bills have not yet been introduced.
Income tax deduction
Representative Jeffrey Wood (R, Chippewa Falls) is circulating legislation that would allow 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.
UW charter schools
Senator Alberta Darling (R, River Hills) is circulating legislation that would allow any UW System four or two-year campus to operate or contract for the operation of a charter school with the approval of the UW Board of Regents.
Transfer of nursing program credits
Legislation is circulating (author unknown) that would require the Board of Regents to ensure that, by January 1, 2008, all nursing program credits are fully transferable between UW System institutions.
Income tax deduction for college savings program
Senators Ted Kanavas (R, Brookfield) and Mark Miller (D, Monona) and Representatives Rob Kreibich (R, Eau Claire) and Dan Pridemore (R, Hartford) are circulating legislation that would allow an individual income tax deduction for contributions by a divorced or legally separated parent to his or her childs college savings account or college tuition and expenses program and limiting the deduction that may be claimed by a married person who files separately.
Student parking restrictions
Senator Darling and Representative Jon Richards (D, Milwaukee) are proposing legislation that would permit municipalities to enact an ordinance permitting only persons who live on a highway to obtain a parking permit from the city and pay a fee to park near their homes.
Reporting salary and fringe benefit costs for public employees
Legislation is circulating (author unknown) that would require the Board of Regents, along with school and technical college districts and municipalities, to prepare annual salary and fringe benefit reports in a format to be prescribed by the Department of Revenue.
EdVest Trust Fund Grant Program
Reps. Towns, Kreibich and Senators Sheila Harsdorf (R, River Falls) and Luther Olsen (R, Berlin) are proposing legislation that would establish an EdVest Trust Fund Grant program for families earning less than $50,000 annually.
Additional Student Regent
Reps. Rob Kreibich and Andy Lamb (R, Menomonie) and Senator Harsdorf are circulating legislation that would add a non-traditional student to the Board of Regents.
For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Directors, State Relations
608/262-8967