• The Assembly voted 50-47 to pass 2009 Senate Bill 437, which would reorganize the Milwaukee Public School System and creates a commission headed by the state superintendent to redistrict and implement new districts in the system.
• Both the Senate and the Assembly passed 2009 Senate Bill 651, popularly known as the "Green to Gold" bill, on April 20. The bill would authorize loans through the Department of Commerce that would be granted to manufacturing businesses for implementing energy efficient measures, retooling to manufacture products that support a green economy, expanding or establishing clean energy processes, and hiring or retraining workers to take part in the above activities. The bill was adopted by a vote of 28-5 in the Senate and 78-20 in the Assembly.
• The Legislature has declined to take a vote on a resolution to authorize the Attorney General to file a lawsuit against the federal government over health care reform.  The Assembly rejected a procedural move to pull 2009 Assembly Resolution 21 from committee early on Friday morning.  On April 20, the Senate rejected an attempt to schedule a vote on 2009 Senate Resolution 11.
• With the adjournment of the Senate on Thursday afternoon, 2009 Senate Bill 450, the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), will most likely expire with the legislative session. The bill was never scheduled for a vote in the senate chamber.

Bills that failed:

• Bill that addresses global warming
• Bill that would allow the Milwaukee mayor to appoint the school superintendent
• Bill allowing people to register to vote online

• Will Ties Between Government and Foundations Last?
  Foundation leaders and philanthropy experts debated the consequences of the growing number of partnerships between philanthropy and the federal government.
• Fighting Foreclosures: What you can do in your neighborhood
  Grassroots Grantmakers and The Cleveland Foundation's Neighborhood Connections have just completed this 8-page "sharing the learning" publication - designed as a resource for both funders and the block level organizations that they support via grassroots grantmaking.
  Using block-level foreclosure response in Cleveland's as a backdrop, the report includes includes definitions, practical ideas, and links to resources that can be used to jump-start a conversation in other communities about the important role that grassroots groups (and funders) can play in a strategic, big-picture approach to foreclosure.
  • City of Milwaukee Foreclosures Map
• Donors Show More Willingness to Give
  Donors are growing more confident in their ability to give to charity as the economy shows signs of stablizing, according to a new poll of more than 500 donors.
• IRS Continues Its Focus on Governance Matters
  The Internal Revenue Service is not backing away from its controversial efforts to promote good governance by charities, according to its top nonprofit regulator.
• Obamas Donated 6% of Income to Charity
  President Obama and his wife, Michelle, last year donated 6 percent of their income of $5.5-million to charity, according to figures released by the White House. 
• One-Fourth of Nonprofits are to Lose Tax Breaks New York Times reports on non-profit doomsday due to provision in the 2006 Pension Protection Act 
• Foundation Growth & Giving Estimates
  • $42.9 billion estimated giving by foundations in 2009
  • -8.4 percent estimated giving decrease between 2008 and 2009
  • Findings from the Foundation Center's annual "Foundation Giving Forecast Survey" suggest that 2010 foundation giving will remain flat. Should poor housing sales, increasing oil prices, persistent unemployment, or other unforeseen factors not derail the economic rebound that began late last year, it appears likely that foundation giving will show positive, albeit very modest growth in 2011.