June 16, 2006
REGENTS DISCUSS OUTLINE OF 2007-09 BUDGET PROPOSAL
Last week, the UW System Board of Regents were briefed by System staff and discussed several potential elements of the upcoming biennial budget submission to the Governor. The elements of the proposed budget that was presented include:
- Support for the Wisconsin Covenant, a proposed program that is emerging as an essential way to increase student access to the UW System, and to grow Wisconsin’s economy.
- Requesting $6.7 million to further university efforts to recruit and retain faculty.
- A “hold harmless” initiative, under which the university would cover the cost of tuition and fee increases for students from Wisconsin’s lowest-two income levels.
- A proposed increase of $15 for undergraduate and graduate application fees adding nearly $1.8 million to the university’s funds.
- A request to include cost-to-continue measures, including an employee pay plan, an increase in funding for utilities and fringe benefits, funding for undergraduate retention measures, and the Wisconsin GI Bill.
The Regents will consider the budget in committees prior to approval of the final version to be sent to the Governor during their August board meeting.
GOVERNOR SIGNS SEVERAL BILLS
Final action was taken by the Governor on several bills that affect the UW System. The final day to sign these bills into law was May 31. These include:
- SB 554- Technical statutory changes with regard to who sits on the Board of the State Lab of Hygiene Board.
- SB 526- Defines alcohol as an intoxicant for purposes of prosecuting some sexual assaults.
- SB 613- Expands Veterans tuition remissions to 100% after Fall of 2007.
- SB 436- Gives college re-enrollment and registration priority to persons called into active military service.
- SB 338- Streamline the start-up technology process (self-dealing).
REPRESENTATIVES WARD, NISCHKE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION Choosing not to run for reelection in the fall are Representatives David Ward (R-Fort Atkinson) and Ann Nischke (R-Waukesha). Rep. Ward, a member since 1992 and vice-chair of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, has been a good advocate for the university in the Assembly. He will be resigning his seat as of July 1st. Rep. Nischke was first elected in 2002 and will serve until the end of her term.
INCUMBENTS, CHALLENGERS OFFICIALLY BEGIN CAMPAIGNS
Legislators and hopeful candidates began circulating nomination papers June 1st for the 99 Assembly seats and 17 Senate seats on the September 12th primary ballot and the November 7th general election.
With the announcement of Ward and Nischke, this brings the total open seats in the Assembly to 11. Ten Republicans (Ainsworth, Gard, Gielow, Hundertmark, Jensen, Lamb, McCormick, Nischke, Underheim, Ward) and one Democrat (Lehman) have announced they will not seek reelection or have already resigned their seats. The Senate will only have one open seat in the fall elections with one Republican (Stepp) not seeking reelection. The deadline for incumbents and challengers to file nomination papers is July 11th. After the filing deadline, look for a state relations update listing all candidates vying for each office in the Legislature.
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