Legislative Update

Budget Repair Bill The budget repair bill remains stalled in the Senate due to the absence of the 14 Democratic senators. The Senate is meeting today, but can only consider items without a financial implication. The Assembly is also in session, and will consider more than 100 amendments to the repair bill offered by Democrats. Republican leadership was criticized last week for taking a vote on the budget repair bill before Democrats had entered the chamber. Governor Scott Walker told the Associated Press this morning that as many as 1,500 state workers will be laid off if the bill does not pass by Friday. The governor also plans to address the citizens of the state in a fireside chat this evening.

2011-13 Biennial Budget Governor Walker announced last week that he will delay introduction of the 2011-13 budget bill until next Tuesday, March 1. The proposal was scheduled to be introduced today. He will also deliver his budget address in the Assembly Chambers, rather than at Vita-Plus, a manufacturer of livestock feed. Several legislators questioned whether the state constitution allowed for the proposal to be introduced outside the Capitol.

New Badger Partnership Governor Walker is expected to include elements of the New Badger Partnership in his biennial budget proposal. It has been widely reported that UW-Madison will become a public authority and operate separately from UW System if the proposal goes forward. The Board of Regents announced this afternoon that they will meet to discuss the potential split at a special meeting on Friday, February 25 at 10 am. A live webcast of the meeting will be available here.

Edited at 5:40 pm to add information about the Board of Regents meeting.