December 20, 2004
GOVERNMENT SPENDING CONFERENCE SET FOR JANUARY 19
UW-Madison’s LaFollette School of Public Affairs is sponsoring a government spending conference at the Monona Terrace on January 19. The conference, “Taxing and Spending Limits,” will include national and state experts discussing effective ways to control government spending. It comes at a time with state officials are debating the merits of the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) and other strategies to hold down government spending. More information about the conference, including registration information, is available at www.lafollette.wisc.edu/publicservice/spending.html.
In related news, last week the Department of Revenue released a study of tax incidence in Wisconsin, the first survey they have done on this topic since 1979. A link to the full report is available at http://www.dor.state.wi.us/ra/txinci04.html.
STATE OF STATE EXPECTED JANUARY 12
Citing his desire to get started with his legislative agenda, Governor Jim Doyle has asked legislative leaders to schedule a joint session of the Legislature at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12, for the Governor’s annual State of the State Message. This is earlier than the typical end of January delivery.
At this point only a few legislative dates have been set for next session. Monday, January 3, is inauguration for members of the 2005-07 Legislature and is mostly ceremonial. Lawmakers will recess floor sessions until the week of January 25, when current plans call for session days Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of that week. The calendar for floor sessions and committee work for the remainder of the 2005 session will be set in a few weeks.
SCHILLING TO BUILDING COMMISSION, KEDZIE NEW ASS’T LEADER
Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (D, Kenosha) last week named Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D, LaCrosse) to the State Building Commission, succeeding Rep. Spencer Black (D, Madison). Also last week Senator Neal Kedzie (R, Elkhorn) was elected assistant majority leader. He was unopposed in his bid to succeed Sen. Mary Lazich (R, New Berlin) who recently stepped down from that position.
VET LAB BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW FACILITY
Last Wednesday the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory officially broke ground on their new facility, which will be built behind the School of Veterinary Medicine building. The groundbreaking program included remarks from UW System President Kevin Reilly; UW-Madison Vice Chancellor Darrell Bazzell; Veterinary School Dean Daryl Buss; and Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Rod Nilsestuen. State Representatives David Ward (R, Fort Atkinson), Al Ott (R, Forest Junction), Jake Hines (R, Oxford) and Gabe Loeffelholz (R, Platteville) attended the ceremony.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE STATE RELATIONS TEAM
The UW-Madison State Relations team wishes you and your family and friends a safe and happy holiday season. The next update will be sent the first week of January.
For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Directors, State Relations
608/262-8967