Lisa Subeck

State Representative

78th Assembly District

Budget Update

The Joint Finance Committee was expected to finish their work on Friday. However, Republicans have not yet reached agreement on key pieces of the budget, including transportation funding, so it is unknown when the Joint Finance Committee will complete its work.

Below, you will find a recap of action taken by the Joint Finance Committee at its most recent set of meeting. 

University of Wisconsin

Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee introduced one sweeping motion on the University of Wisconsin System. The motion had 70 separate provisions with the biggest and most infuriating being a $250 million cut to the University System. This cut will negatively impact education opportunities for students, as well as the role UW-Madison plays in our economy and what it means for the future of our state. We should be looking to expand the high quality and affordable educational opportunities the University provides, not destroy it. These cuts are a clear move in the wrong direction for students, our economy, and our state.

Under the current proposal, academic tenure will no longer be state law. Instead, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents will choose whether or not to keep tenure in place, and universities will have the ability to utilize a system merit pay instead. The motion also contained a provision to allow the UW System and certain technical colleges to authorize the creation of new charter schools. Further, it included cuts to programs such as the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative, the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, solid waste research funding, and UW Extension recycling education funding.

Department of Natural Resources  

The Republicans on Joint Finance rubber stamped the Governor’s proposal to cut 80 positions from the DNR, including 18 out of 58 Bureau of Science Services positions. This is a wrongheaded move that would result in a failure to fully protect our vital natural resources.

There was good news and bad news relating to the land Stewardship program. Democrats were able to preserve the existence of the Stewardship program because of the good work conservation advocates, but Republicans still made reductions to spending and borrowing limits on the fund.

Family Care & IRIS

Almost mirroring the Governor’s recommendations, Joint Finance Republicans will force FamilyCare on all counties in Wisconsin, including Dane County. We currently don’t participate in FamilyCare because we have a unique system that better serves our residents. The motion that Republicans ultimately passed on a party line vote created new entities known as Integrated Health Agencies (IHAs) to replace Wisconsin’s current Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) model. There are still several unanswered questions about how this will be implemented, and more importantly, if it will work for those who need these vital services.

Other Important Items

Republicans continued their attacks on Dane County by requiring the state to look at relocating its agencies to buildings outside of Dane County before renewing current leases. This could have an enormously negative impact on Madison’s economy if moves are made, and it certainly adds to uncertainty as leases expire.

If that wasn’t enough of an assault on Dane County, Republicans also slipped in a provision that would exempt a proposed redevelopment of the Hill Farms state office building from Madison zoning ordinances. The City of Madison will now have no input or jurisdiction over the Development that will have significant impact on its west side neighborhoods.

Republicans successfully voted to limit the amount of local room taxes that towns and cities could use for purposes other than promoting tourism. Once again, Republicans attack local municipalities’ ability to make decisions that best fit their communities.   

The Joint Finance will have to reconvene for a meeting to deal with the large and lingering issues of transportation funding, Bucks arena, and taxes. Watch for my next “Budget Update” to get the latest news.

                                                                              Abortion Ban Update

Last week the Assembly Committee on Health, of which I’m a member, held a joint hearing with the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to hold a hearing on a Republican proposal that would ban all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The committee heard from doctors and mothers as to why this is clearly a bad idea. Less than 1% of all abortions take place after 20 weeks in Wisconsin. Women who seek abortions at this time in their pregnancies are generally women with wanted pregnancies who face serious and life-threatening health problems, untenable pregnancies, or severe fetal anomalies. It is unconscionable that Republicans would take medical options away from these most vulnerable women and families.

The bill passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week and is up for a vote in the full Senate today. In the Assembly, the Health Committee has not yet voted on the bill.

         Session Day Highlights

We are back on the floor of the Assembly today with a long list of bills before us. With the Joint Finance Committee still not completing the budget and Wisconsinites looking for a focus on providing educational and economic opportunity, the Republican-led State Assembly is focusing today on 7 bills that increase access to guns. Clearly, the priorities of the Assembly’s Republican leadership are wrong for Wisconsin. Here are a few highlights of what we will be voting on today.

Gun Legislation

Today, the Assembly passed SB 35, which, if signed by Governor Walker, would eliminate the 48−hour waiting period to purchase a handgun. This bill removes the “cooling off” period in Wisconsin law that is intended to prevent impulsive acts of violence toward oneself or others. Today’s vote will put lives in jeopardy.

 There are several other gun bills on today’s agenda including a bill that removes judicial discretion over returning guns seized during criminal investigations to a gun owner and a bill allowing off duty and former law enforcement officers carry firearms on school grounds. This bill passed despite significant concerns raised by school officials. There is also legislation before us today that would allow members of the armed forces stationed in Wisconsin get a conceal carry permit and create certification cards for former law enforcement officers from other states to conceal carry without going through the traditional process.

Click here to read my statement on passage of SB 35

Epinephrine Auto-injector Bill

I am pleased that today, the Assembly passed AB 203. This bill will allow epinephrine auto-injectors to be stocked at public places where someone could come in contact with an allergen. The bill would permit health care professionals to prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors to camps, colleges, restaurants and sports arenas etc. Employees at these facilities would be required to complete a training program before they could administer the auto-injector in an emergency situation.

I worked with the author of the bill and introduced an amendment in the Health committee that ensures those that are trained to administer the epinephrine call 911 to get emergency assistance.

As someone who carries an epinephrine auto-injector because I have suffered life-threatening anaphylactic reactions, I know firsthand the lifesaving treatment they provide. The bill ensures that individuals have access to life-saving treatment during anaphylaxis. If signed into law by the governor, we would join Oregon, Rhode Island, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, and New York who have already passed and implemented similar legislation.

Wood Heater Bill, Circumventing EPA standards

Republicans are trying to circumvent federal Environmental Protection Agency standards on air quality. This bill would prohibit the DNR from creating a new rule, or enforcing a federal regulation, that specifies a new performance standard or other emission standard for residential or commercial wood stoves. Unfortunately, this will have a negative environmental impact.

                                                                Summer Interns

We have two new interns in the office for the summer. We are welcoming Shane and Melissa this semester, both who are studying at UW Madison. We are excited to have them in the office and for them to learn more about state government and be a part of the process. Watch for their profiles in upcoming newsletters.

           2015-2016 Official State Highway Maps

My office has the new 2015-2016 official state highway maps. If you would like one, please feel free to stop by my office to pick one up. You can also call or email your request, and my office will mail one to you. 

We also have large laminated highway maps. If you would like one of these maps, please email Rep.Subeck@legis.wi.gov to arrange picking on up. 

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