Lisa Subeck

State Representative

78th Assembly District

Budget Summary Highlights (and Lowlights)

Gov. Walker’s fiscally irresponsible “Cut and Borrow” policies are preventing economic growth and holding Wisconsin families back. With a self-inflicted $2.2 billion budget deficit, a lagging economy and stagnant family wages, we need more effective solutions to invest in our communities and build a brighter future.

As we work to responsibly balance the state budget, Democrats want to put Wisconsin families first and increase economic opportunities by strengthening our schools, investing in infrastructure and creating quality jobs.

K-12 EDUCATION

·         -Reduces state support for education and forces local public schools to reduce per pupil spending by $150 on average in the 2015-16 school year.

·         -Takes funding directly from local public schools to pay for the statewide expansion of Gov. Walker’s taxpayer-subsidized private school voucher program.

·         -Removes local control of schools by creating an unaccountable and unelected statewide charter school board.

·         -Provides $6.7 million in additional funding for rural sparsity and high cost transportation aid.

HIGHER EDUCATION

·         -Cuts $300 million from UW schools and forces layoffs across the state.

·         -Converts the UW System to a public authority model and allows the new UW System Authority to increase tuition.

·        -Reduces funding for Technical College schools and worker training programs.

·         -Fails to fully fund the Wisconsin GI Bill which provides veterans and active duty members of the armed services with an education at UW and Technical College schools.

·        -Eliminates public oversight and makes Wisconsin the only state without student protections at for-profit colleges.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

·         -Merges the WEDC and WHEDA agencies into a new quasi-private authority, the Forward Wisconsin Development Authority, and removes legislative oversight.

·         -Removes the requirement that the Forward Wisconsin Development Authority be financially audited by the Legislative Audit Bureau –– the non-partisan agency that uncovered the WEDC’s past fiscal mismanagement.

ENVIRONMENT

·         -Freezes Knowles-Nelson Stewardship and prevents land conservation efforts.

·         -Removes citizen oversight by converting the Natural Resources Board and Conservation Congress from policy-making entities to advisory councils.

·         -Shifts away from research-based conservation policies by eliminating 66 science and education positions at the Department of Natural Resources.

·         -Eliminates public funding for the state park system, increases annual park fees by 12 percent and allows the DNR to sell corporate naming rights for state parks.

HEALTH CARE

·         -Cuts $15 million from SeniorCare and forces seniors to enroll in the more costly and confusing Medicare Part D prescription drug program –– a move that will cost seniors nearly $700 more per year in enrollment fees.

·         -Limits health care access and shifts $345 million in additional costs onto state taxpayers by rejecting federal funding for BadgerCare.

·         -Makes dramatic changes to Wisconsin’s long-term care programs leaving the elderly, individuals with disabilities and their families uncertain about future care options.

·         -Creates additional barriers for doctors and dentists to work in rural, underserved areas.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

·         -Creates a new county-based property assessment system.

·         -Increases insurance costs for local communities by eliminating the long-standing and cost-effective Local Government Insurance Fund.

·         -Cuts $4 million from the successful municipal and county recycling grant program.

PUBLIC SAFETY

·         -Cuts $139 million from the Department of Corrections.

·         -Eliminates overnight guard tower shifts at state prison facilities.

·         -Eliminates 10 criminal prosecutor positions and deletes staff retention funding for local District Attorney offices.

TAXES & BORROWING

·         -Both Wisconsin residents and out-of-state property owners would see a $5 annual reduction in property taxes on a median-valued home.

·         -Reduces funding for the Veterans and Surviving Spouse Property Tax Credit by $1.14 million.

·         -Reduces funding for the Wisconsin Jobs Tax Credit by $2 million.

·         -Borrows $1.56 billion including $220 million to help pay for a new Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena.

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE

·         -Puts $1.3 billion in transportation spending on the state’s credit card shifting more debt onto Wisconsin’s children and grandchildren.

·         -Transfers $6 million from the Universal Service Fund to subsidize broadband expansion projects.

·         -Eliminates state funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects and deletes the program that ensures bike and pedestrian accommodations are included in new construction projects.

Budget Hearings in Madison

Last Thursday, Senator Fred Risser, Representative Chris Taylor and Representative Terese Berceau, and I hosted a budget listening session at UW-Madison to learn more about how the governor’s proposed budget cuts and structural changes to the University would impact students, faculty, and other stakeholders. We heard from students, professors, support staff, and community members that these cuts reduce the quality of the education and place the burden of balancing the state’s budget on the backs of students in coming years.

We heard from a professor that there are some fields of study where there is only one staff member, and cuts could mean elimination of such programs. We also heard from students about the importance of specialized centers such as race, gender and LGBTQ centers on campus. Students fear that these cuts will reduce the services and resources these centers provide.  

There is still time to share your input on the budget. I will be hosting another listening session on Wednesday, April 8, at Alicia Ashman Library. Please stop by to share your ideas and concerns about the 2015-17 budget. I hope to see you there.

Listening session details:

Wednesday, April 8

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Alicia Ashman Library, Community Room

733 North High Point Road, Madison

Legislators from Dane County will also be hosting a budget hearing in Madison later this month. It will be held the evening of March 30^th. The exact time and location are yet to be determined. I will provide more details as soon as they are available.

Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearings

While none of the official Joint Finance Committee public hearings on the 2015-17 state budget will be held in the Madison area, please feel free to share this information with your friends and family in these areas.

Public hearing information:

Wednesday, March 18; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Brillion High School; Brillion

Friday, March 20; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Alverno College; Milwaukee

Monday, March 23; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; UW Barron County; Rice Lake

Thursday, March 26; 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; CAL Auditorium; Reedsburg

Democratic Budget Listening Sessions

Democratic members of the Joint Finance Committee are holding additional budget listening sessions throughout the state. The list of locations continues to grow.

Listening Session information:

Thursday, March 19; 5pm - 8pm; Common Council Chambers, 444 Grand Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids

Saturday, March 21; 10am - 2pm; Nicolet Technical College, Room 207, 5364 College Drive, Rhinelander

Saturday, March 21; Noon - 4pm; UW-Marathon County, Room 100, 518 S.7^th Avenue, Wausau

Tuesday, March 24; 4pm - 7pm; West High School, Thune Center, 966 Shawano Avenue, Green Bay

Saturday March 28; 10am - 2pm; Menomonie Public Library, Meeting room, 600 Wolske Bay Road, Menominee

Saturday March 28; Noon - 4pm; Common Council Chambers, 75 N. Bonson Street, Platteville

Monday March 30; 4pm - 7pm; UW-Oshkosh, Reeve Union, Room 213, 800 Algoma Boulevard Oshkosh

Tuesday March 31; 5pm - 8pm; Common Council Chambers, 100 E. Fountain Street, Dodgeville

Saturday April 11; 10am – 3pm; UW-Eau Claire, Centennial Hall 1614, 1698 Park Avenue, Eau Claire

Visit from St. Maria Goretti School

Last Thursday, two classes from St. Maria Goretti School visited the Capitol to learn more about state government. Students visited the Assembly Chambers and asked me questions about what I do in the legislature. I enjoyed answering the questions of this eager group of young citizens.

Doctor Day at the Capitol

Last week, I met with doctors who live or work in the 78^th Assembly to discuss ideas and concerns of doctors. We discussed improving health care quality and access to care, as well as other topics of importance to those who work to keep our communities healthy.

2015-2016 Official State Highway Maps

My office has several new 2015-2016 official state highway maps. If you would like one, please feel free to stop by my office, call, or email your request.