February 10, 2006
KREIBICH ANNOUNCES UW REFORM PACKAGE
The chairperson of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, State Representative Rob Kreibich (R-Eau Claire), announced legislation this week that addresses several areas of higher education policy. His areas of emphasis include:
- Guaranteed admissions to any UW System campus for students who are in the top 10 percent of their class and have a 25 on the ACT.
- Allocate two-thirds of UW System state funding be directed to direct classroom instruction.
- Adjust the UW System funding formula of general purpose revenue allocated to each system campus.
- Require that all student fees and tuition costs be combined into one price so that parents and students know exactly what the cost of their college education will be.
- Ban the use of taxpayer dollars, tuition, fees, differential tuition, and auxiliary funds for the following purposes:
1) Paying UW employees who are convicted of serious felonies while on the job.
2) Paying back-up jobs of non-tenured faculty.
3) Paying for golden parachutes post resignation or post termination leaves for UW administrators.
Kreibich's legislation has not been officially introduced and draft language of the bill is still unavailable. More information about this proposal is detailed in a press release and can be found at: http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/Feb06/Feb8/0208kreibichuwreform.pdf.
TAXPAYER PROTECTION AMENDMENT REVEALED
As part of the Senate and Assembly Republican spring agenda, legislation was revealed this week that creates a constitutional limit on the amount of revenue the state can collect. This Taxpayer Protection Amendment is the new version of TABOR (the Taxpayers Bill of Rights) which would have limited spending. The anticipated effects on the UW are expected to be the same.
A more detailed analysis of the TPA will be released next week via the State Relations Update. The legislation is expected to be introduced as a Senate Joint Resolution on Feb 13. A copy of the TPA draft legislation is available at: http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu/images/WITaxpayerProtectionAmendment20060209.pdf. For more information about TPA and TABOR, please visit the state relations web page at: http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu/TABOR.html.
REILLY UNVEILS UW GROWTH AGENDA TO REGENTS
In response to a charge from the UW System Board of Regents to Think Big, System President Kevin Reilly revealed his University Growth Agenda: A Vision for the Future during the Regents meeting Thursday. The agenda includes a commitment to grow the strengths of all System schools, including the biomedical and biopharmaceutical engines at UW-Madison so that we not only discover cures for disease, but also create spin-off companies and high-wage jobs, Reilly said.
President Reilly's remarks to the Regents can be found at:
http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2006/r060209.htm.
ASSEMBLY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COMMITTEE HEARING SET
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee has scheduled a hearing and possible executive session (vote) for February 21, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in room 225-Northwest of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda are the following bills:
Assembly Bill 701, which requires the appointment to the Board of Regents at least one citizen member who resides in each of Wisconsin's congressional districts.
Assembly Bill 819, which directs the UW Law School to require students to complete a clinical practicum.
The committee is also expected to take up Senate Bill 338 as well. SB 338 would streamline the process to get start-up technology to the marketplace.
LEGISLATION CIRCULATING Representative Robin Vos (R-Calendonia) will soon be circulating legislation that would cap the top pay of UW administrators at $1 below the salary of Wisconsin's Governor.
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