Author: Michelle Felber

Assembly Passes Budget

The Assembly passed the 2011-13 biennial budget early this morning, after 13 hours of debate and 40 rejected Democratic amendments. PROFS lobbied hard for changes that benefit faculty and the university. The vote was 60-38 along straight party lines, with…

Concealed Carry Passes Senate

The Wisconsin State Senate yesterday approved legislation that would allow citizens of Wisconsin to carry concealed firearms. The proposal passed by a margin of 25-8, with 6 Democrats joining all Republicans in support of the bill. The Assembly is expected…

Wisconsin Supreme Court Overturns Sumi’s Collective Bargaining Decision

The Wisconsin Supreme Court today overturned Judge Maryann Sumi’s decision to invalidate collective bargaining legislation, saying that she overstepped her authority and should not have stopped the publication and implementation of the legislation. Last month, Judge Sumi ruled that passage…

PROFS Lobbies for Changes to Budget Bill

PROFS is actively communicating with state legislators on two important issues in the state budget. The following statement was distributed to legislators today: PROFS:  State Budget Changes Needed to Keep UW-Madison Competitive As legislators consider provisions in the state budget…

Collective Bargaining May Be Added to Budget

Assembly Republican leaders have indicated they plan to add controversial legislation that sharply limits collective bargaining by public employees to the state budget. The Assembly is scheduled to begin budget deliberations at 11 am today, June 14, and the Senate…

Legislative Week Ahead

A busy and transformative week is ahead for the Wisconsin Legislature. The Assembly is scheduled to vote on Governor Scott Walker’s 2011-13 biennial budget, and the Senate is poised to approve concealed carry legislation. The Assembly will meet on Tuesday…

Legislative Update

The Joint Finance Committee is meeting today in executive session at noon to consider two items — Senate Bill 93 (concealed carry) and Senate Bill 27 (2011-13 state budget). The committee is expected to add language to the proposed concealed…

WiscNet to Lose Funding Under Budget Proposal

Included in the budget bill that passed the Joint Finance Committee last Friday were several provisions affecting WiscNet, a non-profit association of more than 450 schools, libraries and units of government providing high-speed internet services to the state’s education and…

Joint Finance Committee Passes UW Budget

Shortly after 7 pm Friday, the Joint Finance Committee voted 12-4 along party lines to approve an omnibus motion that would grant greater flexibility to all UW System campuses. The motion does not include public authority status for UW-Madison, but…

JFC Announces Plans for UW

The chairs of the Joint Finance Committee announced today that while public authority status for UW-Madison is out of the budget, flexibilities for all UW System campuses are in. Representative Robin Vos (R-Caledonia) and Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) said…