Month: May 2011

Fiscal Bureau Budget Papers Available

The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has released the budget papers that relate to UW-Madison’s proposed public authority status (papers 690 and 691) and the funding of UW System (papers 740-753). Several of the papers include opportunities for increased management flexibility:…

An End to the Wisconsin Covenant and Changes to Reciprocity

The Joint Finance Committee met on Tuesday and voted to support Governor Scott Walker’s proposal to do away with the Wisconsin Covenant. The program offers financial assistance to needy Wisconsin students who enter an agreement with the state in eighth…

Collective Bargaining Law Struck Down

Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi issued a permanent injunction against a law that would severely limit collective bargaining by most public employees in the state. Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has argued that Judge Sumi overstepped her authority. He…

Legislative Update

The Legislature acted on two bills mentioned last week: AB 7 (Voter ID) The Senate, after two days of rancorous debate, passed the proposal 19-5 on Thursday, May 19. Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison) was speaking against the bill when Senate…

Legislative Update

While the state budget has been the focus of much of PROFS’ work recently, several bills have been introduced that have an impact on campus. Voter ID An amended version of AB 7 passed the Assembly 60 to 35 late…

PROFS Advocates in Support of Flexibilities

Last week, the Faculty Senate voted to support the legislative proposal that would transform UW-Madison into a public authority.  The Senate also approved principles in support of key flexibilities for UW-Madison (Faculty Senate Document 2280). The faculty motion in support…

Pocan and Vos on the UW Public Authority

State Representatives Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Robin Vos (R-Burlington) were recently interviewed by Steve Walters of WisconsinEye. Vos is co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee; Pocan served as co-chair last session. The pair discussed the proposed public authority status for…