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SENATE COMMITTEES:
Joint Legislative Council
Joint Committee on Finance
Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications
Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges
Special Committee on Reporting of Child Abuses and Child Neglect
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June 12, 2013 |
Dear Friends and Neighbors - The Joint Finance Committee has finally finished reviewing Gov. Walker's state budget and this newsletter will touch on some of the last provisions voted on in the JFC. Continue reading for more information on the happenings "under the dome" and, as always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the budget process, budget provisions, or any other state legislative issue. Sincerely, |
| State Budget Update |
| The Joint Finance Committee wrapped up its work on the
2013-15 state budget which will now head to the Assembly and
Senate for additional debate and approval. Both houses of the
Legislature are expected to pass the budget in its current form
within the next two weeks and forward the bill to Governor
Walker for his signature by the end of the month. In the final days of committee action on the state budget, Republicans voted to expand the private school voucher program statewide, cut $250 million from the state building program, and limit Unemployment Insurance eligibility. The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has created a full comparison of the committee’s actions and the changes that were made to Gov. Walker’s original proposal which you can view here. |
| Budget changes fail to address core middle class issues |
| Following a 19 hour meeting that lasted through the night
and ended at 6:00 in the morning on Wednesday, June 5th, the
Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted along party-lines to
pass a revised version of Governor Walker’s two-year state
budget. The budget now awaits approval by the State Senate and
Assembly later this month. As the only member to represent the Coulee Region on the Joint Finance Committee, I am honored to be a voice for the hardworking families, children, seniors, small business owners and students throughout our region. Thanks to the input I received from many concerned constituents, I joined both my Democratic and Republican colleagues in offering a number of amendments to improve on Governor Walker’s proposed budget. I am pleased that we had bi-partisan consensus on many issues including local highway projects and transit services, additional funding for senior nutrition programs, and expanded mental health services. I also joined my colleagues across the aisle in supporting a two-year university tuition freeze to help reduce the growing debt burden on college students and their families. While we were able to find bi-partisan agreement on a number of important issues, unfortunately there were many areas of disagreement that highlighted the differences between the two parties. Rather than restoring the historic $1.6 billion cut to our public schools that Republicans made last session, this budget diverts more money from our local schools to fund a statewide expansion of the unaccountable private school voucher system. Many have argued that we shouldn’t use state taxpayer dollars to subsidize an alternate school system that will end up costing hundreds of millions and primarily benefit wealthy families at the expense of the middle class and our public schools. Republican members of the committee also rejected a common-sense proposal to strengthen Wisconsin’s successful BadgerCare program and increase access to affordable health care. The failure to adopt the BadgerCare expansion plan will cost state taxpayers $120 million more over the next two years and kick 85,000 Wisconsinites off their current health care coverage. I cannot support a health care plan that will cost the state more, provide coverage for fewer people, and lead to more emergency room visits. Additionally, this budget fails to make needed investments in worker training programs and proven job creation initiatives. Instead of focusing on economic development, Republicans inserted over 100 earmarks, pork barrel projects, and non-fiscal policy items that cut out local control, repeal consumer rights, and allow the no-bid sale of state property including power plants, prisons, highways and dorms. Under Governor Walker, our state has dropped from 11th in overall job creation to 44th in the nation and our unemployment rate has gone up over the past year - even as our Midwestern neighbors have enjoyed significant job growth. Wisconsin currently ranks 49th in short-term job creation according to Forbes Magazine and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank. Even the conservative leaning U.S. Chamber of Commerce lists Wisconsin dead last for job creation. We need to focus on policies that will create jobs and move our state forward. Unfortunately, this budget doubles-down on the failed trickle-down policies of the past that largely benefit wealthy, well-connected special interests at the expense of our children, working families and seniors. Unless moderate Republicans can stand up to the Tea Party ideologues and insist on investing in our public schools, expanding access to affordable health care, and renewing our focus on job creation, this budget will fall short of what is needed to grow our economy and improve our middle class. |
| Regents salute UW-La Crosse Department of Biology |
| Academic staff and faculty with the UW-La Crosse Department
of Biology were honored with a 2013 Regents’ Teaching Excellence
Award by the UW Board of Regents on June 7th. This award is the
UW System’s highest recognition for members of its faculty and
academic staff. The UW-L Department of Biology educates more than 1,100 Biology majors annually – over a tenth of the UW-L undergraduate population. It also mentors 40-60 Masters of Biology graduate students. The department has developed a model of collaborative teaching to improve student learning at every level. In this model, Biology faculty work together in course planning and design, implementation in the classroom, and course assessment and enhancement. Recognizing that the best way to learn science is through hands-on engagement, students are involved in research projects both in course labs and independent undergraduate research projects. The department has been very successful in obtaining external funding to support research with students, including 53 different external research grants or contracts totaling over $7.5 million in the last five years. The department also has a strong commitment to increasing the involvement of traditionally underrepresented students through leadership roles in programs such as the McNair Scholars. Congratulations to the outstanding faculty and staff in the UW-La Crosse Department of Biology on earning the UW System’s highest recognition!  UW Regent Gary Roberts presents the 2013 Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award to the Biology Department at UW-La Crosse, represented by its chair, Professor David Howard. |
| State Budget Listening Session |
|
This Thursday, June 13th, I will be holding a public listening
session at the Prairie du Chien City Hall. |
| June Dairy Breakfast - Crawford County |
Thanks to everyone who has made it to a June Dairy Breakfast this month! I had a lot of fun at the Crawford County
breakfast on June 8th that was hosted by Tim, Char, Jessica,
Emily, and Terry Steger of Steger Farms! In case you want to attend a Breakfast at the Farm for Dairy Month, there is still one breakfast left in the district: La Crosse County Dairy Breakfast – Jodi & Ernie Hoffman Farm W2951 Hoff Rd. West Salem, WI 54669 Saturday, June 15, 2013 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM Activities: hay rides, inflatables for kids, spin-to-win-wheel, petting zoo, educational booths, performances by “Leather and Lace,” and a dairy barn open house. Cost: adults - $5, children (ages 6–12) - $3, children under 5 are free For more information about remaining breakfasts and other fun Dairy Month events across the state, click here. |
| Happy Father's Day! |
|
Happy Father's Day from my family to yours! And a big thanks
to my husband, Chris, for being a wonderful dad to Nate and
Zach! |
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