April 28, 2006
TAXPAYER’S PROTECTION AMENDMENT CLEARS ASSEMBLY
On a party-line vote, with nine Republicans voting no, early this morning the State Assembly approved Assembly Joint Resolution 77 on a 50-48 vote. The vote on the sixth different plan to be considered in less than a week, came after another plan offered by Representative Frank Lasee (R-Bellevue) was defeated soundly, 66-32.
The proposed constitutional amendment would limit new state government spending to 90 percent of the 3-year rolling average of the growth in personal income, as determined by the federal government. The resolution does not address spending or revenue for local governments. While, tuition and fees are clearly exempted from the spending limit formula, it is unclear how other sections of the UW System budget would be affected. The resolution requires the Legislature define in statues what “general fund revenue” is and determine what other sources of state revenue (federal funds, private gifts and grants, and program revenue) would be subject to the limit, however, taxes, licenses and fees may not be excluded. An allowance for a state-wide referendum to exceed the constitutionally imposed limit is also included in this version. A copy of AJR 77 is available at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AJR-77.pdf
AJR 77 now moves on to the state Senate where the sledding could be much tougher. The Senate is expected to take up the measure next week.
More information about the Taxpayer Protection Amendment is available at: http://staterelations.wisc.edu/TABOR.html.
LEGISLATURE APPROVES ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASES
In addition to the previously approved pay increases of two percent in 2005-06 and two percent in July 2006 and one percent in April 2007, the Joint Committee on Employment Relations, and both bodies of the Legislature, approved an additional 1.25 percent. The increase comes as a general wage adjustment that is typically done after the other state contracts are finalized. The 1.25 percent is part of a 2.25 percent increase that other bargaining units will receive in April 2007. Non-represented employees throughout the UW System are scheduled to receive this increase on top of the already approved one percent.
ASSEMBLY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COMMITTEE TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing and a possible vote Tuesday, May 2 at 9:30 am in room 225 NW of the capitol. The bill set for a hearing include:
- Assembly Bill 1142 (Rep. Seidel) relating to instructional materials for students with disabilities.
- Assembly Bill 1147 (Rep. Petrowski) allowing the UW System to refuse to employ or to terminate from employment an unpardoned felon.
- Assembly Bill 578 (Rep. Schneider) relating to adopting maximum weight standards for pupil textbooks, and contracts that grant naming rights.
The committee is scheduled to begin with an informational hearing on the following topics:
1. Status of the UW's Payroll Software System (APBS)
2. Progress of the proposed UW-Waukesha and UW-Milwaukee merger.
3. Discipline procedures for convicted felons.
4. Status of Board of Regents internal audit on student fees.
UW System Senior Executive Vice-President Don Mash and General Council Pat Brady and System auditor director Ron Yates are scheduled to brief the committee on these items.
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
staterelations@bascom.wisc.edu