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| Wisconsin: Legislative & Political Weekly Update
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TO: Clients & Friends of Capitol Consultants, Inc. and Wimmer & Company
FROM: Capitol Consultants, Inc.
and Wimmer & Company
DATE: February 6, 2009
SUBJECT: Weekly Update |
Budget Update
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State Capitol followers are following closely as Governor Doyle gets closer to rolling out the 2009-11 Biennial Budget, which will be the Governor's fourth budget since being elected in 2002.
Governor Doyle announced this week that the date of his annual budget address would be pushed back a week from Tuesday, February 10, to Tuesday, February 17, 2009. According to the Governor's office, the reason for the week delay is because the Governor is awaiting the details on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act currently
before Congress on how it impacts Wisconsin (www.wispolitics.com).
In preparation for his upcoming budget address, the Governor continues to discuss how the current stimulus package being debated by Congress will provide Wisconsin with the necessary financial tools to get the state's economy moving again. This week, the Wisconsin Democratic Party released a U.S. Senate Democratic Policy Committee Report that outlines how Wisconsin is poised to garner $3.1 billion in federal stimulus money once Congress passes, and the President signs, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. To see the report, click here:
http://dpc.senate.gov/docs/states-fs-111-1-11/wi.pdf
In other budget news this week, Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) said that he would like the state to consider a separate stimulus package prior to the Governor's scheduled budget address on Tuesday, February 17, that would be focused on fixing the existing budget deficit of nearly $600 billion deficit for the current 2007-09 biennium, which ends on June 30, 2009. The Governor's office, as of this writing, has not commented on Senator Decker's request of considering a separate stimulus package prior to February 17.
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Governor Announces an Autism Coverage Mandate
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Governor Doyle was joined by several legislative leaders, including Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) in announcing on Tuesday of this week proposed changes to legislation requiring insurance
companies to provide coverage for autism treatments. The leaders said that the the legislation had been strengthened by adding minimum coverage levels for treatment of the disease.
The Governor's office predicted that the passage of the bill will cut the state's
waiting list for autism treatment by a third (www.wispolitics.com)
Doyle's proposal would
require insurers to cover at least $60,000 for intensive level services and
$30,000 for post-intensive treatment programs. The Governor added how nineteen other states have passed
autism coverage requirements, and none have seen "any big explosion" in
insurance rates. He also said that the state will save money in the long run
by reducing the need for state services offering treatment.
During his press conference the Governor discussed how Democrats now control both branches of the legislature after last fall's election and that his bill has a much better chance of passing than it did last session when the Republicans controlled one house of the legislature.
In response to the Governor's announcement, Representative Scott Newcomer (R-Hartland) who led an effort to amend the autism
legislation during last year's legislative session, is introducing a bill to rival the one proposed by
Democrats.
Under Newcomer's
proposal, children on the state's waiting list for the autism waiver program
will be able to enroll in the program, and parents of autistic children will
receive an informational brochure from the Department of Health and Family
Services about activities that complement services (www.wispolitics.com).
To view Newcomer's
release, click here:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/090203Newcomer.pdf
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Assembly Bans Fundraising During Upcoming Budget Debate
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The Assembly Committee on Organization unanimously approved a ban
on fundraising during budget negotiations. This idea has been discussed for weeks by Assembly Speaker Sheridan and Majority Leader Thomas Nelson (D-Kaukauna).
In passing the ban, Speaker Sheridan was quoted as saying, "This change is a victory for voters, who expect us to deliver a new way
of doing business. Given the economic challenges our
state is facing, we must put partisan and personal gain aside and focus
on the task at hand: balancing our state budget, creating jobs, and
growing Wisconsin's economy," (www.wispolitics.com).
The ban applies to all Members of the Assembly. The ban does not include the Governor or State Senators. Members will not be able to raise money for their individual campaign accounts starting on Tuesday, February 17 - the day the Governor will deliver his budget address. However, the ban does allow the respective campaign committees (e.g. Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee and the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee) to raise money during the budget.
Republican Assembly lawmakers, led by Representative Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) questioned whether
the bill allows the speaker to exceed his authority by regulating the conduct of
members outside the chamber.
Assembly
Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) said that Speaker Sheridan should immediately take up Representative Gottlieb's bill that
extends the fundraising ban to the entire Legislature and the governor. He
suggested that the Assembly pass that bill "so everyone is in the same
boat." Sheridan said it is his intention to take up Gottlieb's bill (www.wispolitics.com).
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