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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: May 22, 2009
SUBJECT: Weekly Political and Legislative Update
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Governor, Legislative Leaders Announce Budget Outline
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On Thursday, Governor Jim Doyle joined Joint Committee on Finance Co-Chairs Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison) in announcing a budget outline for the 2009-11 biennial budget. The outline addresses the wide-ranging steps the Governor and legislators will be taking to address the state's nearly $7.6 billion budget deficit.
According to the Wheeler Report, the budget outline calls for:
- Additional 5% cuts across the board to all state agencies. Combined with 2.5% cuts in school aids and shared revenue, the total cuts will be $669.7 million.
- Furloughs and rollbacks of the 2% state worker pay raises will total $224 million.
- Reestimates of the Medicaid/hospital assessment will reduce the deficit another $165 million.
- The 911 fee approved previously for equipment will be redirected to support police and fire protection ($100 million).
- Maintain current levels of tax credits/improved tax collections/IRC update modifications. The plan will reduce the deficit by $185.2 million.
- State debt will be restructured and will save $285 million in interest charges.
- The total amount of budget savings will be $1.629 billion over the biennium.
(www.wheelerreport.com) The Governor stressed that the five percent cuts to state government will be across-the-board. However, he emphasized that the across the board cuts will not cut necessary services, the UW or maintenance of effort in order to continue to attract federal stimulus money. The rollback of 2% salary increases will affect all non-represented employees. Doyle said there will be 1000 layoffs and an additional 400 if represented employees do not take the 2% cut. Doyle said he was not aware of any union refusing to take the cutback (www.thewheelerreport.com). To view the Governor's press release from yesterday's budget plan, click below: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=4265
To view Senator Decker's press release regarding the budget plan, click below:
To view Senator Miller's press release regarding the budget plan, click below:
To view Rep. Fitzgerald's press release regarding the budget plan, click below:
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Joint Committee to work Memorial Day Weekend
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As a result of the joint budget outline plan announcement yesterday, the legislature's powerful, bipartisan and bicameral, Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) will meet in an unprecedented manner by meeting Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
From the beginning of the budget process, Democrats have expressed their priority of getting the budget process done before the next fiscal year. They claim they are meeting over the weekend to do what is needed to get the job done within their timeframe.
Assembly Republican Leader Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (R) responded to the scheduling of JFC over the Memorial Day weekend by accusing the Democrats of hiding information about the budget from the public.
To view Rep. Fitzgerald's statement, click below:
To view Rep. Pocan's response, click below: http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/May09/may21/0521pocanjfc.pdf In its meetings this weekend, JFC will address a wide-range of issues ranging from prevailing wage, domestic partner benefits, the University of Wisconsin system, Medical Assistance and Insurance (excluding motor vehicle liability insurance). According to Capitol sources, JFC is expected to meet a couple of days next week to wrap up the budget bill. The bill then will be sent to the Assembly where it could be debated in early June before moving on to the Senate. The current fiscal year ends on June 30, 2009. Below is schedule of the Joint Committee on Finance work over the Memorial Day weekend. Friday, May 22 Agenda
Veterans Affairs -- Health Facilities
District Attorneys
Public Defender
Employee Trust Funds -- Domestic Partners
General Provisions -- Domestic Partners
University of Wisconsin System
Saturday, May 23 Agenda @ 10 a.m. (Note new time)
Workforce Development -- Prevailing Wage
Justice
Natural Resources -- Air, Waste, and Contaminated Land
Health Services -- Departmentwide
Health Services -- Medical Assistance -- General
Health Services -- Medical Assistance and FoodShare -- Administration
Health Services -- Quality Assurance, Disabilities, and Substance Abuse
Insurance (excluding motor vehicle liability insurance)
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Joint Finance Agenda Week of May 26
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| Below are the issue areas on the Joint Finance Committee agenda for the Week of May 26th:
Administration -- Office of Justice Assistance
120 Assess, Inform, and Measure Grant to Milwaukee County
121 Treatment Alternatives and Division Grant to Milwaukee County
122 Justice Information System Surcharge -- Civil Legal Services for the Indigent
123 Justice Information System Surcharge -- Criminal Justice-Related Data Collection and Analysis
124 Justice Information System Surcharge -- District Attorney Information Technology
Administration -- Division of Gaming
135 Overview of Tribal Gaming Appropriations and General Fund Revenue Budget Management and Compensation Reserves
176 Compensation Reserves Overview
177 Authority to Lapse or Transfer Moneys to the General Fund
178 Required General Fund Statutory Reserve
Corrections -- Departmentwide
270 Standard Budget Adjustments -- Overtime
271 Reintegration of Correctional Employees Returning from Active Duty in the Armed Services
272 2008-09 GPR Appropriation Changes
Corrections -- Sentencing Modifications
275 Sentence Adjustment for Class C Through I Felonies
276 Earned Release and Challenge Incarceration Program Modifications
277 Bifurcated Sentence Modification
278 Revocation of Extended Supervision
279 Elimination of Probation for Certain Misdemeanants
Corrections -- Adult Institutions
285 Adult Correctional Facility Populations, Prison Contract Bed Funding, and Inmate Variable Costs
286 Drug Abuse Correctional Center Staffing
287 Funding and Positions for Treatment Staff at the Robert E. Ellsworth and Drug Abuse Correctional Centers
288 Female Mental Health Initiative at Taycheedah Correctional Institution
289 GPR Funding and Positions for MICA Program at Oshkosh Correctional Institution
Corrections -- Adult Community Corrections
295 Sex Offender Management
296 Community Reentry Funding
297 Administrative Law Judge and SAFE Funding
Corrections -- Juvenile Corrections
300 Juvenile Population Estimates, Daily Rates, and Population-Related Cost Adjustments
301 Serious Juvenile Offender Program
302 Youth Aid Allocations
303 Juvenile Correctional Services Appropriation Deficit
Employment Relations Commission
330 Repeal Qualified Economic Offer Provisions and Increased Commission Attorney Staffing
331 QEO-Related Provisions
Fox River Navigational System Authority
Smoking Ban
392 Restrictions on Smoking
Health Services -- Medical Assistance -- Overview and Base Funding Adjustments
415 Medical Assistance Base Re-estimate and Related Items
416 SeniorCare Base Reestimate
417 Unspecified Reductions for MA and MA-Related Programs
418 UW Payment to General Fund
Health Services -- Medical Assistance -- Long-Term Care
430 Nursing Home Bed Assessment and Rate Increase
431 Family Care
432 Children's Long-Term Support Service Program
433 ICF-MR Bed Assessment
434 Nursing Home Certified Public Expenditure Program
Justice -- Penalty Surcharge, Handgun Fee, and Crime Laboratories and Drug Law Enforcement Surcharge
515 Increase Crime Laboratories and Drug Enforcement Surcharge
516 Penalty Surcharge and Drug Offender Division Surcharge
517 Increase Handgun Purchaser Records Check Fee
Natural Resources -- Water Quality
580 Dam Safety Program
581 Dam Inspection Requirements
582 Water Resources Account Lapses
583 Citizen Lake Monitoring Network
584 Ballast Water Discharge Permits and Fees
585 Great Lakes Compact Implementation and Fees
586 Contaminated Sediment Removal Bonding |
State Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly in April
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According to the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman, the state's unemployment rate dropped 0.6 percentage points in April to 8.8 percent, state officials said today.
The unemployment rate hit 9.4 percent in March, the highest it had been in more than 20 years.
Still, the unemployment rate of 8.8 percent was 4.6 percentage points higher than it was in April 2008 (www.wispolitics.com).
To view the DWD the release, click here:
http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/ui_state_default.pdf
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Governor Signs Smoking Ban Into Law
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Governor Doyle held statewide smoking ban signing ceremonies in Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay Monday, May 18th.
The statewide smoking ban "compromise" announced last week includes the following provisions:
Effective Date : July 5, 2010.
Exemptions: tribal casinos, cigar bars and certain retail establishments.
Outside Smoking Areas: allows businesses to establish a smoking area outside of their businesses.
Penalties: sets penalties at $100 to $250 for individuals violating the ban. Provides for exemption from fines if bar owners attempt to enforce the ban.
Local Smoking bans: Allows current local smoking bans to remain in place until July 5, 2010, when they would all be set aside in favor of the statewide ban.
Hotel motels rooms: No provisions for smoking rooms in hotels and motels.
Wisconsin is now the 26th state to ban smoking in all indoors workplaces.
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| Next Week's Legislative Committee Calendar |
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May 26 Tue
Jobs, the Economy and Small Business (Assembly) (Executive Session)
10:00 AM
328 Northwest Items: Assembly Bill 202; Assembly Bill 205
Executive Session
May 26 Tue
Veterans and Military Affairs (Assembly)
1:30 PM
417 North (GAR Hall) Items: Assembly Bill 198
Public Hearing
May 26 Tue
Veterans and Military Affairs (Assembly) (Executive Session)
1:31 PM Or immediately upon conclusion of the public hearing
417 North (GAR Hall) Items: Senate Bill 39; Assembly Bill 83
Executive Session
May 27 Wed
Administrative Rules (Joint)
11:00 AM
415 Northwest Items: DHS 10.23 Emergency Rule Extention; HFS 12.115 Emergency Rule Extension
Public Hearing
May 27 Wed
Administrative Rules (Joint) (Executive Session)
11:15 AM
415 Northwest Items: DHS 10.23 Emergency Rule Extention; HFS 12.115 Emergency Rule Extension
Executive Session
May 27 Wed
Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing (Senate)
2:00 PM
411 South Items: Senate Bill 43; Senate Bill 40
Public Hearing
May 27 Wed
Elections and Campaign Reform (Assembly)
2:00 PM
Room 1132, Old Library (attached to McIntyre Library), University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54702 Items: Assembly Bill 63; Assembly Bill 65
Public Hearing
May 28 Thu
AB 137 Real ID (Assembly)
9:30 AM
415 Northwest Items: Assembly Bill 137
Public Hearing
May 28 Thu
Personal Privacy (Assembly)
10:00 AM
415 Northwest Items: Assembly Bill 193
Public Hearing
May 28 Thu
Criminal Justice (Assembly)
10:00 AM
328 Northwest Items: Assembly Bill 263; Assembly Bill 221; Assembly Bill 241
Public Hearing
May 28 Thu
Criminal Justice (Assembly) (Executive Session)
10:15 AM or upon adjournment of the public hearing
328 Northwest Items: Assembly Bill 110
Executive Session
Jun 2 Tue
Urban and Local Affairs (Assembly)
10:00 AM
300 Northeast Items: Assembly Bill 159
Public Hearing
Jun 3 Wed
Financial Institutions (Assembly)
10:00 AM
328 Northwest Items: Senate Bill 31; Assembly Bill 265
Public Hearing
Jun 4 Thu
State-Tribal Relations (Legislative Council)
10:00 AM
Town of Rib Mountain Admin. Center, 3700 North Mountain Road, Wausau, WI Items: (None)
Overview: · Mutual assistance between tribal and county or municipal law enforcement agencies. · School mascots and logos depicting American Indians. Study Meeting
Jun 4 Thu
Personal Privacy (Assembly) (Executive Session)
10:00 AM
415 Northwest Items: Assembly Bill 29; Assembly Bill 30; Assembly Bill 137; Assembly Bill 171
Executive Session |
| Upcoming Fundraisers:
Month of May, June 1st |
| Tuesday, May 26
5-7 pm:
Cocktail Reception in Support of Attorney General JB Van Hollen,
The Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, 9 East Wilson St, Madison.
Hosts: Platinum: $1,000 couple. Gold: $500 couple. Silver: $250 couple. Guests: $100 couple. PAC contributions welcome. Host names due by Friday, May 1st. Contact Mary Stitt at (262) 268-6859 or marystitt@wi.rr.com
Friday, May 29
9:30 am:
State Senate Democratic Committee Golf Outing, Brute Course, Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva. 10 am: Shotgun start. Cost: $900 per golfer. $3200 per foursome. $3700 foursome plus hole sponsorship. $700 hole sponsorship. Breakfast: Add $350 per person. Limited to first 10. Sorry, no PAC. New this year - 2 hole in one contests. Grand prize $50,000 and a new car. Other prizes: Lowest score team: $500 stay and play package at Grand Geneva for each player. Longest drive male: $100 golf shop gift card. Longest drive female: $100 golf shop gift card. Longest putt: $100 golf shop gift card. Random Prize: Spa basket. Call (608) 260-2403 to RSVP or e-mail koryk@wisdems.org.
Monday, June 1
7:30 am: Governor Doyle's 7th Annual Golf Outing, University Ridge Golf Course, Verona. Shotgun starts at 7:30 am and 1:30 pm. Continental breakfast before the first round. Grill out lunch at noon. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres after the last round. $5,000 per foursome. $1250 per golfer. For more information please call (608) 250-5083. Please make checks payable to Doyle for Wisconsin. Individual and conduit contributions gratefully accepted.. We are unable to accept corporate or PAC contributions.
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