February 9, 2017

Working for you!

 

Governor Walker Proposes the 2017-2019 Biennial Budget

Yesterday, Governor Walker introduced his proposal for the 2017-2019 biennial budget (AB 64/SB 30). It's clear our reforms are working! As Governor Walker has said, we have a "reform dividend" that gives us additional funds to invest in important priorities like education, transportation, workforce development, welfare reform, cutting taxes, and many more. This proposal is by no means final; it's a work in progress. The legislature will have several months to take input from constituents and incorporate them into the budget. If you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns regarding the budget, please feel free to contact my office.

You can see my comments on the budget by clicking the photo below. For a brief explanation of the budget process and helpful links to the budget, please see "The Budget Process" story below.

Please click on the photo above to play a video of my comments (approx. 90 seconds)

Investing in Our Colleges and Universities

I was with the governor at Fox Valley Technical College today for his announcement about the additional funding in the budget proposal for our technical colleges and for grant aid for students to make college more affordable. As we build on my college affordability legislation from last session, I look forward to working with the governor on keeping costs low for college students, helping students complete their credentials in a timely manner, and moving our economy forward.

The Budget Process

In a nutshell, here is the process for a budget bill to become law in Wisconsin. At the start of each odd-numbered year, the governor proposes a two-year budget plan. Then, the budget is reviewed by the 16-member Joint Committee on Finance, which first holds informational briefings with state agency heads to discuss their budget requests, then holds several public hearings around the state.

 

After the public hearings, the Committee spends several weeks voting on each individual piece of the budget. The Committee takes its final vote and the budget then goes to the full Assembly and Senate. Once it passes both houses of the legislature, the bill goes back to the governor for a signature. The governor has partial veto authority that allows him to veto individual pieces of the budget before signing it into law.

 

Wisconsin is required by statute to pass a budget. If a budget isn't passed on time, state operations continue under the terms of the previous budget until the new budget is passed.

 

You can also learn about the Joint Committee on Finance and find your way to budget papers and other information on the Joint Committee on Finance page. If you are interested in all aspects of the state's finances, you may want to check out the non-partisan Fiscal Bureau page, which features informational papers (descriptions of all state entities and their costs), budget papers, and much more pertaining to how Wisconsin funds operations.

 

To view the budget in brief: click here.

 

To view the complete executive budget: click here.

 

To view the budget bills click here: (AB 64/SB 30).

"Like" Representative Murphy's Facebook Page

In an effort to continually engage with you on important topics facing the state, I launched a Facebook page. Please like it by clicking here!

I use Facebook to update constituents more frequently on my work in Madison and the 56th Assembly District. I look forward to using this as another way to connect with constituents and encourage you to follow it and watch for regular updates.

"Like" Representative Murphy's

Official Facebook Page

 

Welcome!

I live in Greenville, but have an office at the State Capitol in Madison. If you are in downtown Madison, please feel free to stop by and say hello! Just go to the information desk in the rotunda, and they can direct you on how to find my office, 318 North. At the bottom of each e-update, you'll see my office contact information.

If your school or group plans to tour the Capitol building, please let me know in advance. I'd love to visit with you for a few minutes and take a group photo.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

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Rep.Murphy@legis.wisconsin.gov State Capitol Room 318 North - PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 537088 Toll Free: (888) 534-0056 or (608) 266-7500