April 5, 2002
SENATE COMPLETES BUDGET WORK
The full Senate passed its version of the budget adjustment bill today on a vote of 17-16 (all 15 Republicans and Democratic Senator Gary George voting against). In addition to the items included in their higher education package (details of which were reported on Tuesday and are available at http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu//issues/040202.html), the final budget passed by the Senate included the following items of interest to the university:
- Increases the compensation reserves by $21 million GPR (state tax dollars) that was deleted by the Joint Finance Committee and deletes language that would prohibit state agencies from requesting salary supplements for those employees making more than $100,000.
- Includes an early retirement package and voluntary furlough program for state employees. Details about the early retirement plan are available at www.thewheelerreport.com.
- Includes provisions related to the construction of a cogeneration plant on the UW-Madison campus.
- Includes provisions of Senate bill 170, relating to the notice of claim requirements for state employed physicians in medical malpractice cases.
- Requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct performance and management audits of all large programs within agencies having more than 100 FTE's at least once every five years.
- Restores $110,000 GPR to the Wisconsin Patient Safety Institute, Inc.
- Restores state funding for the state's 14 community health centers.
- Provides $10 million GPR in additional funding for the Tobacco Control Board
- Requires hospitals to provide emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault
- Establishes a building and licensing moratorium on hospital construction and expansion projects, with certain exemptions
A summary document comparing the budget recommendations of the Governor, Joint Finance Committee, Assembly and Senate Democratic Caucus is available on line at www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/2001-03BudgetAdjustment/sdc.pdf.
Jensen has indicated that he would like to give Assembly members a week to review the changes made by the State Senate and then convene an informal conference committee made up of legislators from both houses to negotiate a final version of the budget beginning the week of April 15. Senator Chvala has not yet responded to that proposal. Once the conference committee reaches agreement it will be approved by both houses of the Legislature and forwarded to the Governor for his review and action.
GOVERNOR NAMES NEW CHIEF OF STAFF
Governor McCallum has named Gene Kussart, current secretary of the Department of Transportation, as his new chief of staff. He replaces Mike Rogowski, who will remain with the administration in another capacity.
ELECTION UPDATE
Earlier this week republican Hariah Hutkowski announced that he intends to challenge democrat incumbent Tom Hebl for the 46th assembly district seat this fall. Both are from Sun Prairie.
Yesterday democrat John Ryba of Green Bay announced that he will not seek re-election to the Assembly. Democrat Roger Dier of Howard has announced that he will seek Ryba's seat. Ryba is the second member of the Assembly to announce his retirement. Republican Tim Hoven of Port Washington had previously announced that he will not be running for his Assembly seat this fall.
For more information on state related issues contact:
Charles Hoslet
Senior Special Assistant to the Chancellor
Director, State Relations
hoslet@mail.bascom.wisc.edu
608-263-5510