May 25, 2007
JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ACTS ON CAPITAL BUDGET
As the Legislature's budget writing Joint Committee on Finance gets closer to considering the UW System operating budget, the committee acted on the System capital budget. The capital budget includes all of the new building, renovation and maintenance projects for UW System facilities and featured several UW-Madison projects that are in the planning or construction stage. The committee's action was a mixed bag for the campus as not all of the projects were given the green light by the committee. However, the projects that did not gain approval of the committee will still be considered by the full Assembly and Senate as they begin work on their versions of the budget in the coming weeks.
The ongoing projects that received initial approval in the 2005-07 budget and were included in the 2007-09 budget are Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, University Square and the renovation of Sterling Hall. Projects that received their initial approval in the 2007-09 budget are expansion of parking lots 36 & 46, renovation of Chadbourne and Barnard residence halls, renovation and expansion of the Human Ecology building, and the construction of the Music Performance building.
The projects that failed to get enough votes to be added to the budget include the Lakeshore Residence Hall Development and the Union South/Memorial Union Theater Wing Renovation. While these projects are not included in the budget at this point, they are expected to be added by the Senate when they act on the budget. It is hopeful that the Assembly will consider adding these projects as well. Negotiations with legislative leadership will continue leading up to the legislative conference committee where this issue is expected to be decided.
DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS BUDGET PUSH CONTINUES
The Joint Committee on Finance could act on a budget amendment that would authorize the offering of domestic partner benefits to all state employees in the next couple weeks. The provision was not included by the committee as part of the Governor's budget and must be added back in. It is possible that an amendment to add the provision back into the budget could be offered by State Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) and State Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison).
Conversations with members of the committee continue in preparation for a possible vote. Recently, a one page document outlining the importance of the benefit to UW-Madison was delivered to each office. A copy of the memo can be found at: http://www.news.wisc.edu/domesticPartnerBenefits/
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 280/Senate Bill 154 - (Rep. Nygren/Sen. Roessler) - Health insurance for full-time students
Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) and Senator Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh) have introduced legislation which would require health insurance carriers to provide dependent coverage to full-time college students if they cease to be a full−time student because of a medically necessary leave of absence. The medical leave of absence can last up to a year and the coverage would remain in place until the student ceases to return as a full-time student or reaches the age at which dependent coverage under the health insurance plan would normally end.
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 Director, State Relations
608/262-8967