May 17, 2002
BUDGET UPDATE: MANY PROPOSALS, NO AGREEMENT
Several different proposals were made by budget conferees this week as the conference committee continued its work on the budget adjustment bill. Campaign finance reform was the focus of most of the discussions, but the democrats also offered a health package and the republicans offered a comprehensive package that addressed all remaining differences. No agreements were reached on any issue.
Of interest to the UW, the Senate democrat's health and family services package included the Senate position to maintain current law related to public funding of abortion-related activities, the Assembly position on funding for the statewide trauma care system and a compromise position on uniform fees for medical records (similar to what the Governor vetoed in the 2001 budget bill). The Senate proposal put aside the hospital construction ban.
The Assembly republican's comprehensive proposal included reducing the total cut to the UW System to $83.8 million, down slightly from the $86 million cut they offered a few weeks ago. Of particular interest, their latest proposal eliminated the 10 percent surcharge on non-resident tuition, eliminated the $8.5 million travel cut and eliminated the $811,000 printing cut. However, their proposal took the Joint Finance Committee's position on across-the-board cuts, which is substantially higher than the Assembly's original proposal.
The committee is scheduled to continue meeting Monday at 3pm. A list of conference committee items of interest to UW-Madison is available on the state relations web page at www.staterelations.wisc.edu/02budgetconf.html.
LA FOLLETTE REPORT: STRUCTURAL DEFICIT UNTIL 2010
In related budget news, this week the La Follette School of Public Affairs released a report by Professor Andrew Reschovsky showing that, even under very conservative assumptions about spending growth and reasonably optimistic assumptions about revenue growth, the state will have a huge structural deficit next biennium. Further, unless the state raises taxes or cuts public services, these structural deficits will continue over the next eight years -- through 2010. The report is available at www.lafollette.wisc.edu/research/publications/.
STATE BUILDING COMMISSION APPROVES UW PROJECTS
On Thursday the State Building Commission unanimously approved construction of the UW co-generation facility project and increased funding for a UW residential halls project. Approval of the UW co-generation plant provides authority to construct the facility under the operating agreements between MG&E, the state and the university; authorizes the Department of Administration, on behalf of the Board of Regents, to enter into a lease agreement with MG&E; and allows MG&E to construct two small buildings at the west Madison agricultural research station to replace two university structures that will be demolished as a result of this project. The UW will own these new agriculture structures. The residential halls project provides an additional $110,000 in program revenue (PR) funds for the Barnard, Bradley and Chadbourne Residence Halls maintenance project.
LEGISLATURE PASSES CWD BILL
On Wednesday the full Legislature passed a bill to address chronic wasting disease (CWD). Of interest to the UW, the Legislature reduced the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab's (WVDL) $933,900 program revenue lapse to the state's general fund to $800,700. This was a compromise with the Senate; the full Assembly had voted 93-2 to reduce the lapse to $667,500. The bill also provides $901,600 (and 6 positions) in one-time funding for CWD testing. Governor McCallum is scheduled to sign the bill into law on Saturday, May 18.
KEN DAVIS HEADING GOVT. REFORM TASK FORCE
Governor McCallum has appointed Ken Davis, UW-Madison law school dean, as co-leader of the Governor's Task Force on Ethics Reform in Government. The task force is charged with identifying unethical and potentially illegal political activities and making recommendations for reform. Howard Eisenberg, dean of the Marquette University law school, is the other co-leader. The Governor's press release announcing the new Task Force can be viewed on line at www.wisgov.state.wi.us/news_detail.asp?prid=925.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ANNOUNCES STUDY COMMITTEES
The Joint Legislative Council has released a list of eleven special legislative committees that will study major issues identified by the Legislature over the next several months.
The study committees appointed by the Council are made up of legislators and citizens who are interested in or knowledgeable about the study topic. Study committees, upon completion of their work, submit recommended legislation to the Council. The Council reviews the legislation and, if a majority of Council members votes for introduction, the legislation is introduced into the Legislature under the Joint Legislative Council's name.
The following study committees have been announced:
- Review of Fireworks Law
- Public and Private Broadband
- Improving Wisconsin's Fiscal Management
- Review of the Open Records Law
- Recodification of Eminent Domain Procedures
- Relative Caregivers
- Ch. 55 - Placement and Services for Persons with Disabilities
- Pubic Health System's Response to Terrorism and Public Health Emergencies
- Mental Health Parity
- Recodification of Ch. 767, Actions Affecting the Family
- Recodification of Town Highway Statutes
If you know of anyone interested in serving on these committees, please contact the Office of State Relations (staterelations@bascom.wisc.edu) for further information. For more information about the Joint Legislative Council, visit their website at www.legis.state.wi.us/lc.
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