April 17, 2007
STATE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS WRAP UP, CAPITAL BUDGET IS NEXT
The Legislature's budget writing Joint Committee on Finance completed their public hearings last week. The committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing only on the capital budget as approved by the State Building Commission last month. The hearing is set for April 18 at 1 p.m. in room 412 East of the State Capitol.
This is a unique opportunity to educate the Finance Committee about the capital budget and present the needs of the university. Alan Fish, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities, Planning and Management, is organizing a panel of university officials to brief the committee on the importance of the building and maintenance projects within the capital budget. Others who wish to testify at the public hearing should contact the state relations office to help take advantage of this chance to brief legislators. UW System President Kevin Reilly, UW System Assistant Vice President David Miller, and several UW System chancellors will also brief the committee.
There will be no votes taken on the capital budget on Wednesday. The committee is expected to begin voting on sections of the state budget in about two to three weeks.
SENATE AGRICULTURE AND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO MEET
Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma), chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education, has scheduled the second hearing of the committee on April 19th at 11 a.m. in room 201 Southeast of the State Capitol. The committee will hold an informational briefing on the UW System "Growth Agenda for Wisconsin". Presenting will be UW System President Kevin Reilly.
LEGISLATURE HONORS UW-MADISON STUDENT ATHLETES, UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Today, both the Senate and Assembly will meet for floor session, one of only two days when they will meet in April. Both houses will consider joint resolutions honoring UW-Madison student-athletes and undergraduate research.
Sen. Kathleen Vinehout and Rep. John Murtha (R-Baldwin) will be offering a joint resolution, supporting UW System, its students, and Undergraduate Research Day (aka Posters in the Rotunda). Senate Joint Resolution 36 is available at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SJR-36.pdf.
Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison) and Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison) are offering three resolutions to honor the student-athletes, assistant coaches and the athletic department staff of the Badger men's and women's basketball, women's hockey, and men's indoor track teams. Coaches and student-athletes from each team will be present at the capitol today when the resolutions will be passed. Senate Joint Resolutions 33, 34, 35 are available at:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SJR-33.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SJR-34.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SJR-35.pdf.
POSTERS IN THE ROTUNDA, UW SPIRIT DAY ON TAP The state capitol will be filled with undergraduate researchers, alumni and other representative from campuses across UW System on Wednesday to mark the annual Posters in the Rotunda and UW Spirit Day event.
The Posters in the Rotunda event will be held Wednesday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the first floor Capitol Rotunda. The event will feature 112 poster presentations of undergraduate research findings in the State Capitol Rotunda. UW-Madison undergrads will present 10 different posters detailing their research findings on various topics. A detailed description of the undergraduate research displays is available at: http://www.wisconsin.edu/posters/archive/2007/2007-Posters-in-the-Rotunda.pdf.
The second annual UW Sprit Day at the State Capitol will feature representatives from campuses across the state meeting with legislators and staff. The Wisconsin Alumni Association and UW System organized this event to provide an opportunity for students, faculty and staff, administrators and alumni to talk directly to legislators about issues important to their campus and UW System. The day will be capped off with a reception at the Inn on the Park from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception will feature Badger Head Football Coach Bret Bielema, the UW-Eau Claire Jazz Band and UW System President Kevin Reilly.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 252 - (Rep. Molepske) - Wisconsin Higher Education Aids Board (WHEG) education grants.
Representative Louis Molepske (D-Stevens Point) has introduced legislation which would increase Wisconsin Higher Education Aids Board (WHEG) education grants to undergraduates enrolled at least half-time at public higher educational institutions from a maximum of $3,000 per academic year, to a maximum grant amount at 50 percent of the highest resident undergraduate academic fees charged to attend an institution within the University of Wisconsin System. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee.
Senate Bill 139 - (Sen. Kanavas)- Nanotechnology tax credit
Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) has introduced legislation which creates an income and franchise tax credit for expenses related to nanotechnology and providing an exemption from emergency rule-making procedures. The bill has been referred to the Senate Economic Development, Job Creation, Family Prosperity and Housing.
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,
Don Nelson or Kristi Thorson
Assistant Directors, State Relations
608/262-8967