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State Capitol
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Madison, WI 53707
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Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov
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SENATE COMMITTEES:
Joint Legislative Council
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Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications
Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges
Special Committee on Reporting of Child Abuses and Child Neglect
|
June 26, 2013 |
Dear Friends and Neighbors - The past few weeks have been very busy in the state legislature with the passage of the 2013-15 state budget. Governor Scott Walker has announced that he will sign the budget into law this Sunday, June 30th. This newsletter includes additional information on the budget and alternative proposals offered by Democrats in the legislature, as well as an update from the Natural Resources Board and a new consumer protection alert. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the budget or any other state legislative issue. Sincerely, |
| 2013-15 Budget Vote |
| In the early hours of June 21st, Gov. Walker's biennial
budget was passed in the State Senate by a vote of 17-16; just
three days after the State Assembly passed the budget by a vote
of 55-42. The budget bill is now headed to Gov. Walker where he
can issue full or partial vetoes of budget provisions before he signs the bill on Sunday, June
30th.
|
| Statement on the Budget |
| "Throughout this budget process, Wisconsin families, seniors,
and small business owners have said that we need to focus on our
core values. We need to improve access to affordable health
care, invest in our local public schools and create jobs. "Unfortunately, this budget doubles down on the failed policies of the past, and it benefits well-connected special interests at the expense of our children, working families and seniors. It expands Gov. Walker’s unaccountable and underperforming private school voucher program statewide, it rejects a BadgerCare expansion that would have saved taxpayers $120 million, and it will take us from a budget surplus to a deficit of over $505 million. This budget is a roadmap to mediocrity. "After weeks of backroom deals and special interest input, this budget continues the same failed policies of austerity that have devastated our economy. Two and a half years of Republican economic policies have dropped our state from 11th to 44th in economic performance. We are one of only three states that have lost jobs over the past year and we are one of only five states expected to see a decrease in economic activity over the next six months. "This budget underfunds our public schools, makes it more expensive to access health care, and fails to invest in proven job creation programs that are needed to jumpstart our struggling economy. We need to do more to support Wisconsin families, businesses, and communities." - Jennifer Shilling |
| 2013-15 State Budget by the Numbers |
| ECONOMY: Wisconsin job creation rankings U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 44th in overall job creation Forbes Magazine: 49th in short-term job growth Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank: 49th in job creation over the next six months U.S. Chamber of Commerce: 44th in overall economic performance, 45th in long-term job growth and 50th in short-term job growth EDUCATION: K-12 school increase in per pupil general aid* Public Schools: +$150 per student Private Voucher Schools: +$768 per K-8 student and +$1,414 per high school student EDUCATION: K-12 school percentage increase in general aid funding (current fiscal year to 2014-15 fiscal year)* Public Schools: +2.8% Private Voucher Schools: +38.0% HEALTH CARE: Residents who will lose BadgerCare eligibility (by county)* Crawford County: 461 Grant County: 908 Jackson County: 437 Juneau County: 666 La Crosse County: 1,923 Monroe County: 878 Richland County: 424 Trempealeau County: 500 Vernon County: 689 TAXES: Property tax increases* Net property tax levies would increase by $159.4 million in 2013-14 and an additional $178.8 million in 2014-15. TAXES: Income tax distribution* Individuals making between $40,000-$50,000 per year would see an average tax cut of $87 Individuals making over $300,000 per year would see an average tax cut of $1,518 *Source: Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau |
| Democratic Blueprint for a Better Wisconsin |
| Senate Democrats constructed a 12 step blueprint to improve
the budget by prioritizing job creation, investing in our public
schools, and increasing access to affordable healthcare. Job Creation for Wisconsin Families To turn Wisconsin’s economy around from 44th in the nation, a middle-class budget must prioritize job creation, workforce training, and start-up assistance for entrepreneurs. Remove Policy and Pork from the Budget The 2013-15 budget includes a record number of pork and policy items including an attack on the Center for Investigative Journalism, the authorization of bail bondsmen and bounty hunters in Wisconsin, and liability exemptions for lead paint manufacturers. Wide ranging policy decisions should go through the normal legislative process to allow public input and have an independent vote. Eliminate Public Dollars for Private Schools End the statewide expansion of unaccountable, state-subsidized private voucher schools. Wisconsin needs to invest in our existing public school system rather than diverting taxpayer dollars to create a new entitlement. Public Education Deficit Restore the historic $1.6 Billion cut to our public schools in the last Republican budget by investing in our children’s future with a $275 per-pupil increase. Stop Spending More for Less Health Care Coverage Accept the Affordable Care Act funding to provide health care coverage for 85,000 more Wisconsinites while saving state taxpayers $120 million. Provide a True Middle Class Tax Cut Give middle-class families the lion’s share of any tax relief rather than the GOP tax plan which gives 55% of the tax cut to those making over $100,000. Eliminate the Walker Deficit Eliminate the Republicans' $505 million deficit. Wisconsin must balance our budget the same way middle class families have to balance their checkbook. End the No-Bid Fire Sale of State Property Remove the ability of politicians to sell off Wisconsin assets like prisons, highways, UW dorms, and power plants without requiring a competitive bid process. Help Unemployed Workers Eliminate policy provisions that penalize unemployed workers and focus on improving our economy to lift people off assistance programs. Reverse the Growing Student Debt Crisis Provide relief to college students and families by funding need-based financial aid. Ending Environmental Hazards Restore Stewardship funds and support frac sand monitoring to save our natural habitats. End Big Government Mandates Stop forcing local governments to comply with unfunded big government rules. Local control should be important to both parties, not just Democrats. |
| High Capacity Wells in the Budget |
| A provision that does not belong in the budget is Motion
375, which would limit citizens’ ability to challenge
permits for high capacity wells based on the cumulative impacts
of the well and the surrounding wells on the environment. This provision limits property owners from being able to ensure that they have a safe, adequate supply of drinking water and is especially problematic for people who live in areas of the state where water resources are strained by large farms and frac sand operations. High-capacity wells use a massive amount of water and have been a historically contentious issue in Wisconsin and the driftless region. Changing the law will put our groundwater, lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands in jeopardy. I am disheartened that this provision was added to the budget during the Joint Finance Committee proceedings instead of being introduced as a stand-alone bill with a public hearing and open debate. |
| Watch Natural Resources Board Meetings |
| In April, the Department of Natural Resource's Natural
Resources Board voted to air their monthly meetings live on
their website.
To watch the monthly meetings, visit the DNR website here and click Webcasts in the Related Links column on the right. Then click this month's meeting. If you can't watch the meeting live, the meetings will be permanently available on the website after each meeting. The next Natural Resources Board meeting is today,
June 26th. |
| DATCP Alert |
|
On June 20th, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) sent out an alert regarding a telephone scam from someone pretending to be from Publishers Clearing House. In these calls, Publishers Clearing House claimed that certain residents had won a sweepstake prize, but to collect the winnings, they had to pay an upfront fee with a pre-paid debit card. The DATCP wants to remind consumers that a request from a
stranger for money through a pre-paid card is likely a scam. |
| Severe Weather Response and Clean-Up Efforts |
|
A state of emergency was declared in Ashland, Crawford, Grant,
Iowa, Richland, St. Croix, and Vernon Counties today as a result
of the recent storms and severe flooding. While there has been
significant damage in many areas, local Emergency Management
Departments and First Responders have done an outstanding job of
keeping our families safe despite challenging conditions. As we
work to clean-up and rebuild our communities, I will continue to
be in regular contact with state and local officials to monitor
the situation on the ground and expedite our recovery efforts. |
|
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