April 21, 2006
WISCONSIN INSTITUTES FOR DISCOVERY GETS FINAL APPROVAL FROM STATE BUILDING COMMISSION
On a strong bi-partisan 7-1 vote, the State Building Commission gave its final approval for the $150 million public/private Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. The commission action comes after the recent announcement of the $100 million gift from John and Tashia Morgridge and WARF for the public and private components of the Institutes. The project now moves into the planning and design phase with an expected ground breaking in December 2007, with completion in 2009.
POSSIBLE “TPA” VOTE BY ASSEMBLY NEXT WEEK
The Legislature is set to return to session next week with floor periods scheduled for Tuesday, April 25 and Thursday, April 27. Last week the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means approved, on a 7-6 vote, a new version of the “Taxpayer Protection Act,” Assembly Joint Resolution 77. While it looks as if the amended version may not actually get a vote in the Assembly, it is expected that yet another changed version will be brought forward. Representative Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) is pushing a simpler version of the proposal to be revealed next week.
More information about the Taxpayer Protection Amendment is available at: http://staterelations.wisc.edu/TABOR.html.
NATIONAL CHAMPION HOCKEY AND CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS TO BE HONORED BY LEGISLATURE
When the Senate and Assembly reconvene Tuesday, April 25, they will take up three resolutions honoring the recently crowned national champion men and women’s ice hockey teams and the cross country team. The resolutions are being brought forward by legislators who represent the UW-Madison campus, Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison) and Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison). Members from each team are scheduled to be on hand when the legislature passes these resolutions. The draft of the cross country team resolution will be available on Monday. The hockey resolutions are available at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AJR-100.pdf
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AJR-101.pdf
GOVERNOR SIGNS WHEG BILL TO INCREASE FINANCIAL AID
This week, Governor Doyle signed Senate Bill 481 which increased the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant maximum award from $2,500 to $3,000. The program gives need-based aid to students at University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College and tribal institutions. The higher limit will go into effect for the school year that begins next fall. The bill does not provide more funding for the program, though the most recent state budget did.
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