WI: Weekly Political and Legislative Update

Representative Robin Vos (R-Racine) referenced the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) memo from Director Bob Lang that listed 80 items in the Governor's version of the budget, which includes a statewide smoking ban, lifting the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) for teachers' compensation, and extending domestic partner benefits to state employees.

Specifically, Vos in his opening statement of the day referenced the decision to include the policy items in the budget: "When the fiscal bureau put out their nonpartisan list of 80 policy items, the Co-chairs made a political decision to ignore this respected nonpartisan institution and instead use their power to try to turn the policy list into a political document."

Vos continued: "Items that have no fiscal bearing on state government should not be buried inside a 1700 page budget document. Ideas, whether they are controversial, or strongly supported deserve an open, honest process so that citizens can be involved." (www.wispolitics.com)

To reference a copy of the LFB memo from Director Lang, click here: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/20090407130905649.pdf

Co-Chair Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison) defended the decision made by he and Co-Chair Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) to include certain contentious policy related provisions in the budget. Pocan and Miller contend there are only 45 non-fiscal policy items.

To reference a copy of the memo from Pocan and Miller regarding non-fiscal policy items in the budget, click here:

http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/JFC_CoChairs_Memo_on_Budget_Procedures__4_7_09_.pdf

Pocan said that he was sorry to upset anyone who "believes in UFOs or Bigfoot," but like those phenomena, the policy memo put out by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau is a "myth." (www.wispolitics.com)

Pocan, however, said the choice to keep in items will be up to the JFC members and leggies -- not the co-chairs and LFB director. "It's not up to Mark, Mark and Bob to make a decision," he said, referring to Mark Pocan, Mark Miller and Bob Lang. "We're opening it up to the committee." (www.wispolitics.com)

The GOP motion to pull the other policy items LFB identified failed on a party line vote 3-12.

Here is a list of the general issue areas and budget papers discussed yesterday:

April 16, 2009 Executive Session
(Sen. Darling absent)

Motion #20. (Vos) Removes 40 additional items from the AB-75. (Vos/Montgomery) Not adopted, 3-12 (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen).

Budget Management & Compensation Reserves
Paper 170. Threshold for Budget Adjustment Bill. (Miller/Lehman) Alternative #2 adopted, 15-0.
Paper 171. Limit on Interfund Cashflow Borrowing. (Vos/Olsen) Alternative #2 not adopted, 3-12 (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)
Motion #35 In lieu of alternatives (Pocan) Modifies interfund borrowing authority of 10% in this biennium, rather than 8% under current law. (Pocan/Miller) Adopted, 12-3. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)
Paper 172. Option to Provide Budget Materials on the Internet. (Miller/Olsen) Alternative #2 adopted, 15-0.
Paper 173. Eliminate Base Budget Review Report. (Montgomery/Vos) Alternative #2 not adopted, 3-12. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)
Motion #21. (Montgomery) Requires DOA, beginning with the 2011-13 biennium, 20% of executive branch agencies to submit their biennial budget requests prepare using the principals of zero-based budgeting. (Montgomery/Olsen) Not adopted, 3-12.(Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)
No other alternatives, therefore alternative #1 is approved.
Paper 174. 1% Reduction to Gifts and Grants Appropriations. (Miller/Vos) Alternative #2 adopted, 15-0.
Paper 175. Additional GPR Reductions to Several Agencies. Held Over

Budget Management & Compensation Reserves - No Paper Prepared
LFB Item 7. Exception to State GPR Spending Limit.

Budget Management & Compensation Reserves -- To be Addressed in Subsequent Papers
LFB Item 1. Compensation Reserves
LFB Item 2. DOA Secretary Authority to Lapse or Transfer Moneys to the General Fund.
LFB Item 3. Delete 2007 Act 20 Authority for DOA to Lapse or Transfer Moneys to the General Fund.
LFB Item 4. Required General Fund Statutory Balance.

Budget Management & Compensation Reserves -- To be Separate Legislation
LFB Item 8. Repeal Obsolete Provision Relating to State GPR Spending Limit.

Financial Institutions
Paper 345. Turnover Reduction. (Miller/Hansen) Alternative #2 adopted, 15-0.
Paper 346. Mutual Fund Fees. (Vos/Montgomery) Registration Fees Alternative #3 and Annual Filing Fees Alternative #7 not adopted, 3-12 (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)
(Miller/Pocan) Registration Fees Alternatives #2C and Annual Filing Fees Alternative #4 12-3. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)
Paper 347. Fee Increases on Securities Agents and Investment Advisers. (Montgomery/Vos) Alternatives #3 not adopted, 3-12. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)
(Miller/Pocan) Alternative #2C adopted, 12-3. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)

Other Motions
Motion #13. (Sherman) Expands the applications of Wisconsin Consumer Act to include transaction, motor vehicle consumer lease, and other consumer transitions in which the total transaction amount is less than $50,000. Triples the dollar amount of penalties who commits a violation of the WCA. Increases the maximum merchant's liability for recovery in a class action. (Sherman/Hansen) Withdrawn

Financial Institutions - No Paper Prepared.
LFB Item 2. State Operations Reductions
LFB Item 3 (part). Across-the-Board 1% Reductions.

Financial Institutions - To be Addressed in Separate Paper
LFB Item 3 (part) Across-the-board 1% reductions (Paper 174)

Financial Institutions - To be Addressed in Subsequent Paper
LFB Item 4. Payment for State Legal Services.

Government Accountability Board
Paper 400. Standard Budget Adjustments. Modifications adopted by unanimous consent.
Paper 401. Across-the-Board 1% Reductions. (Miller/Pocan) Alternative 2 adopted, 15-0.
Paper 402. Supplemental GPR Operations Funding and Reimbursement of Certain Local Election Administration Costs.
Motion #34. In lieu of alternatives (Miller) Delete the provision. Reduce the estimated expenditure authority provided to the GPR sum sufficient election-related cost reimbursement appropriation. Delete the municipal reimbursement program with respect to municipal claims filed in connection with elections held on or after June 30, 2011. (Miller/Pocan) Adopted, 15-0.
Paper 403. Minor Policy & Technical Changes -- Election Campaign Fund Re-estimate. Modifications adopted by unanimous consent.

Other Motions
Motion #31. (Miller) Directs local election officials and GAB staff to coordinate their activities during any election day or election recount to ensure that GAB staff are available to answer any local election official inquiry. (Miller/Pocan) Adopted, 15-0.
Motion #25. (Pocan) Provides funding to upgrade the GAB's lobbying database and website. (Pocan/Miller) Adopted, 15-0.

Government Accountability Board - No Paper Prepared
LFB Item 5. Federal Aid Appropriation.

Government Accountability Board - To be Addressed in Separate Paper
LFB Item 3. Additional 5% Reductions (Paper 175)

Revenue - Lottery Administration
Paper 690. Minor Technical Corrections -- Lottery Fund Opening Balance and Sum Sufficient Appropriation. Modifications adopted by unanimous consent.
Paper 691. Transfer Funding for Lottery Ticket Manufacturing and Delivery. (Miller/Pocan) Alternative 2 adopted, 15-0.

Revenue - Lottery Administration - No Paper Prepared
LFB Item 1. Lottery Sales Projections.

Transportation - State Patrol
Paper 790. Charges for Crash Reconstruction Services. (Miller/Pocan) Alternative #5 adopted, 15-0.
Paper 791. Fees for Vehicle Inspection Services. (Miller/Pocan) Alternatives A3 and B3 adopted, 15-0.
Paper 792. Primary Enforcement of Seat Belt Laws. (Miller/Pocan) Alternative #2 adopted, 14-1. (Sherman)
Motion #29. In addition to alternatives (Miller) Seat Belt Violation Forfeiture. (Miller/Robson) Adopted, 15-0.

Transportation - State Patrol - No Paper Prepared
LFB Item 1. State Patrol Funding Reductions. Motion #36. (Lassa) Restore positions to maintain state patrol radio shop and prohibit contracting. (Lassa/Taylor) Adopted, 13-2. (Vos, Olsen)
LFB Item 2. State Patrol Fleet.
LFB Item 3. Base station Communication Equipment Replacement.
LFB Item 6. Reallocate Traffic Operations Center Position.

Transportation - State Patrol - To be Introduced as Separate Legislation
LFB Item 8. Photo Enforcement of Traffic Light and Work Zone Speed Violations.

Transportation - Departmentwide
Paper 795. Across-the-Board 1% Reductions to All Moneys Received Appropriations. (Miller/Pocan) Alternative #2 adopted, 15-0.
Motion #9. In addition to alternatives (Miller) Restore funding for aeronautics assistances. (Miller/Pocan) Adopted, 15-0.
Paper 796. Driver Education Grant Program. (Grigsby/Taylor) Alternative A2 a,b,c not adopted, 4-11. (Colon, Mason, Grigsby, Taylor)
Alternative A3 (Vos/Miller) Directs DPI not DOT, adopted, 11-4. (Colon, Grigsby, Taylor, Olsen)
Alternative B1 - No action taken therefore bill prevails.

Transportation - Departmentwide - No Paper Prepared
LFB Item 1. Standard Budget Adjustments.
LFB Item 2 (part). Across-the-Board 1% Reductions.
LFB Item 3. Departmentwide Administrative Funding Reductions.
LFB Item 5. Centralize DOT Risk Management Functions in DOA.
LFB Item 6. Reduce Local Planning Assistance.
LFB Item 9. Facilities Rent Centralization.

Transportation - Departmentwide - To Be Addressed in Subsequent Paper
LFB Item. 7. Chief Legal Advisor.
LFB Item 8. Payments for State Legal Services.

Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.
Paper 155. Program Services Appropriation. Modifications adopted by unanimous consent.

Other Motions
Motion #23. (Miller) Authorize stipends for certain board members. (Miller/Pocan) adopted, 15-0.

Board for People with Developmental Disabilities - No Paper Prepared
LFB Item 1. Standard Budget Adjustments.
LFB Item 2. Across-the-Board 1% Reductions.

Board on Aging and Long-Term Care
Paper 165. Relocation Ombudsman Position. Modifications adopted by unanimous consent.
Paper 166. Medigap Helpline. (Olsen/Vos) Alternative #4 not adopted, 3-12. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen) (Miller/Pocan) Alternative #2 adopted, 13-2. (Vos, Montgomery)
Paper 167. Ombudsman Services to Residents of Residential Care Apartment Complexes. (Vos/Olsen) Alternative #3 not adopted, 3-12. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen). No other action, bill prevails.

Board on Aging and Long-Term Care - No Paper Prepared
LFB Item 1. Standard Budget Adjustments.
LFB Item 2. Across-the-Board 1% Reductions.
LFB Item 3. Supplies and Services.

Environmental Improvement Fund.
Paper 340. General and Revenue Obligation Bonding Authority, Present Value Subsidy Limit and Reduce Clean Water Fund Interest Rate. (Miller/Pocan) Alternatives A4, A5, B2, C1, C3, C4a adopted, 14-1. (Vos)
Paper 341. Convert Debt Service from GPR to SEG. (Vos/Olsen) Alternatives A3, B3 not adopted, 3-12. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen). (Miller/Pocan) Alternatives A2, B2 adopted, 12-3. (Vos, Montgomery, Olsen)
Paper 342. Transfer from Environmental Improvement Fund to Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Fund. (Miller/Pocan) Alternatives A2, B4 adopted, 13-2 (Vos, Montgomery)

Environmental Improvement Fund - No Paper Prepared
LFB Item 6. Land Recycling Loan Limit.

Environmental Improvement Fund - To Be Addressed in a Subsequent Paper
LFB Item. 3. Environmental Improvement Fund Debt Service.