April 11, 2005
"UW SPIRIT WEEK" SET FOR APRIL 11-15
UW System is organizing events statewide and at the Capitol this week in honor of "UW Spirit Week." Tomorrow, the State Senate is scheduled to take up Senate Joint Resolution 20, which declares April 11-15 as UW Spirit Week. (Companion legislation, Assembly Joint Resolution 29, was introduced in the Assembly.) On Wednesday, April 13, Governor Jim Doyle will sign a proclamation in recognition of UW Spirit Week. He will be joined by UW System President Reilly, alumni, mascots and friends of the university. The week-long celebration will culminate on "UW Spirit Day" on Friday, April 15, as alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends are encouraged to wear their campus colors or logo wear. Details about UW Spirit Week events are available at the Wisconsin Alumni Association web page at www.uwalumni.com/spiritday/index.html.
ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS BILL BANNING UW FROM PROVIDING OR ADVERTISING "MORNING AFTER PILL" IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
In an advisory opinion released last week, Attorney General Rep. Daniel LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) that would prohibit the UW System and any person on System property from advertising the availability of or prescribing or dispensing the "morning after pill" would violate several state and United States constitutional provisions. Her opinion is available at www.doj.state.wi.us/ag/opinions/ltr_robson-richards0040505.pdf. In response, Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) indicated that her opinion was not law and Rep. LeMahieu said her opinion did not change his plans to go forward with the bill, which has not been formally introduced.
GOVERNOR DOYLE APPOINTS UW-MADISON ALUM AS REG & LICENSING SECRETARY
Last week Governor Doyle announced the appointment of Ceila Jackson as secretary of the Department of Regulation and Licensing, replacing Donsia Strong Hill, who resigned in October. Jackson is a Milwaukee native who earned a law degree from UW-Madison. For more on Jackson’s appointment, please see www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?prid=1048.
WISCAPE TO HAVE FORUM ON HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING
Next Tuesday, April 19, WISCAPE (the Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education) is hosting a forum on developing coalitions for higher education in the face of declining state budgets for state universities. For more information about the forum, which is free and open to the public, please see the WISCAPE web page at www.wiscape.wisc.edu/calendar/details.asp?id=339.
ASSEMBLY PASSES UW-ROCK COUNTY ENGINEERING BILL
On a 70-26 vote, the full Assembly passed Assembly Bill 53, which allows UW-Platteville to provide engineering instruction at the UW-Rock County campus. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
VETERANS TUITION BILLS TO HAVE HEARING
The Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, in 417-North of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda are the following two bills, which have not yet been introduced, that would provide certain tuition benefits for certain veterans:
- LRB 2498 -which would provide a tuition waiver at any UW System institution or Wisconsin Technical College System school for dependent children or the spouse of a veteran with at least a 30 percent service-connected disability.
- LRB 2499 - which would provide a 50 percent tuition waiver for all veterans deemed eligible for state veterans benefits.
In other upcoming hearings:
- The Senate Job Creation, Economic Development and Consumer Affairs Committee will meet on April 19, at 1:00 p.m., in room 330-Southwest. Included on their agenda is Senate Bill 103, which provides an income/franchise tax credit for research and research facilities.
- The Assembly Budget Review Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, in room 328-Northwest. Included on their agenda is Assembly Bill 186, which requires state procurement of contractual services.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 297 - tuition tax credit for businesses
Representative Scott Jensen (R-Waukesha) introduced legislation that creates an income tax and franchise tax credit for businesses that pay tuition for an individual to attend a university, college, or technical college. The bill, which is companion legislation to Senate Bill 152, was referred to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
For the complete text of all bills and their current status, please visit:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/ab_list.htmlM (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