June 6, 2005
FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES BUILDING PROGRAM, HOLDS OFF ON STEM CELL DECISION
Last Friday the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) approved, with some modifications, the 2005-07 capital budget approved by the Building Commission earlier this spring. (See www.staterelations.wisc.edu/issues/032105.html for a summary of the building commission’s actions.) Of interest to UW-Madison, the Finance Committee held off on including a measure to restrict embryonic stem-cell research when they voted on funding for the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery on the UW-Madison campus. The Committee instead voted 12-4 to provide $50 million in pre-existing state funding (designated for the 4th BioStar building, which will be included in the Institute) and $50 million in gifts and grants in 2005-07 for the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, but did not approve funding for the Institute beyond the 2005-07 capital budget. The Building Commission had approved an additional $137.5 million in state-supported borrowing to be enumerated over the next ten years. The University will need to seek approval for this additional state funding.
Although members of the Committee did not offer a measure that would have prohibited the use of taxpayer funds or state buildings for embryonic stem cell research as well as prevented state employees from participating in this research, the committee indicated that these issues should be decided by the full legislature. This measure is expected to be introduced as legislation in June.
In other action on the state’s building program, the Committee reduced the amount available for all UW GPR (state tax dollar) major projects by $10 million. The UW and Building Commission are to allocate the reduction. The Committee also reduced the total All Agency funding by $20 million. The UW share of this total is generally 50 to 60 percent. It is not anticipated that any of UW-Madison’s approved projects will be prevented from proceeding because of these reductions. The Committee also unanimously passed a motion that requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct a study of building projects at the UW System, comparing the costs with the costs of similar projects at other public universities. The study is due by January 1, 2007.
The Joint Finance Committee is aiming to complete action on the budget this week, with action scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Once the Committee completes their work, the bill goes to the full legislature for consideration. The legislature intends to complete their work on the bill and send it to the Governor for his signature and vetoes by July 1.
For more information on the 2005-07 biennial budget, please visit the state relations web site at www.staterelations.wisc.edu/0507budget.html.
NEW REGENTS APPOINTED
Governor Jim Doyle announced the appointments of Michael J. Spector and Judith VanderMeulen Crain to the UW System Board of Regents for seven year terms expiring May 1, 2012. Both appointments must be approved by the State Senate.
Spector, of Shorewood, is the retired Chair and Managing Partner of Quarles & Brady. He served as chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Educational Excellence in 2003-04 and is currently a member of both the University of Wisconsin Pathways to Excellence Board of Visitors and the UW-Milwaukee School of Education Board of Visitors. He received his undergraduate degree from the UW-Madison, his law degree from Harvard University and studied for a year at the London School of Economics.
VanderMeulen Crain, of Green Bay, is the current chair of the Brown County United Way Children and Families Impact Council. She is currently involved with the UW-Green Bay Chancellor’s Council of Trustees. She received her BA in History from UW-Madison and a MA of Theological Studies from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION BILL GETS HEARING
The Assembly Committee on Family Law met on May 25 and heard testimony on Assembly Bill 343, legislation that would prohibit UW System campuses from advertising, prescribing or dispensing emergency contraception (the “morning after pill”) or allowing those activities to take place on campus property. Kathy Poi, director of University Health Services, testified on behalf of UW-Madison against the legislation. The Regent’s position in opposition to the bill is available at www.uwsa.edu/univ_rel/govrel/pending/position/p_ab343.htm.
The Committee is expected to vote on the bill when they meet this Thursday, June 9, at 9:00 a.m. in room 400-Northeast of the State Capitol.
ASSEMBLY COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee met last Tuesday and heard testimony on Assembly Bills 297 and 439. Assembly Bill 297 creates an income/franchise tax credit for businesses that pay tuition for an individual to attend a college, university of technical college. UW-Madison submitted testimony in support of this bill, which is companion legislation to Senate Bill 152. Assembly Bill 439 requires the Board of Regents to hold a public hearing when determining the salary and other compensation paid to UW System senior executives, including chancellors. UW System Associate Vice President Margaret Lewis’ testimony on the bill is available at www.uwsa.edu/univ_rel/govrel/pending/testimon/t_ab439.htm. The Committee did not vote on either of these bills.
The Committee did vote on an amended Assembly Bill 87, which creates a non-resident tuition exemption for dependents of certain active members of the armed forces. The bill passed 10-0-2 and now goes to the full Assembly for action.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 438/Senate Bill 216 - funding for UW energy expenses and other state agencies
Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) and Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) introduced legislation that will increase funding for the UW System for energy-related and utility-related expenses by about $20 million and for additional items in other state agencies. The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Finance.
Assembly Bill 439 - determining UW System executive compensation
Representative Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) introduced legislation that would require the UW Board of Regents to hold one public hearing when determining the salary and other compensation paid to UW System senior executives, including chancellors. The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, where it had a public hearing last week. (See above.)
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