The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB), the nonpartisan agency that advises the Legislature on budgetary matters, has published its summary of Governor Walker's 2013-2015 budget proposal, Assembly Bill 40.

With the LFB summary complete, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee has scheduled a series of agency briefings, beginning next Tuesday, March 19.  These briefings are an opportunity for committee members to question agency officials about their respective portions of AB 40.  Although the committee will not take public testimony at these briefings, all briefings will be open to the public.  You may also watch the briefings online at Wisconsin Eye, which is essentially a Wisconsin version of C-Span and provides coverage of many committee meetings and other noteworthy events.

After the finance committee has completed the agency briefings, it will hold a series of hearings around the state to get the public's input on AB 40.  The dates and locations have not yet been announced, but the committee usually tries to strike a geographical balance.  (In 2011, for example, the committee held hearings in Stevens Point, Superior, West Allis, and Neenah.)

One of the most contentious portions of AB 40 - and probably of every state budget in living memory - is school funding, and Governor Walker has also included several other education-related items in his budget, including a proposal to expand the parental choice ("voucher") program beyond Milwaukee and Racine.  I have already had several conversations with local school officials about the Governor's education proposals.  Last Friday, for example, Sen. Terry Moulton, Rep. Kathy Bernier, and I met with the superintendents of the Cadott, Cornell, and Stanley-Boyd school districts.  I expect to have more of these conversations throughout the spring.

I appreciate all the feedback I receive from residents of the 67th Assembly District, particularly with a proposal as massive and complex as AB 40.  I represent over 57,000 constituents, and each of you has your own interests, ideologies, and areas of expertise.  No matter how I vote on a given issue, someone is going to be disappointed, but I do listen to all sides and bear them in mind as I make my decision.  I welcome your input.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' sale of 2013 licenses is under way.  Annual licenses are valid April 1 through March 31.  You may purchase your license online or use the DNR's website to learn where you can purchase a license in person.

The DNR is also hosting a series of deer hunter forums around the state to provide information to hunters and receive hunter feedback.  One such forum will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, at the DNR Service Center at 1300 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire.  That forum will focus on deer-related issues in Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, and Pepin counties.