The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance will meet today and tomorrow in an effort to complete its work on Governor Scott Walker’s 2011-13 biennial budget. They plan to begin at 1 pm each day, with the possibility that work will…
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…
Reschovsky: Revenue Limits Will Force School Districts to Cut Property Taxes
Andrew Reschovsky, a professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs and PROFS Steering Committee member, has found that more that three-quarters of school districts in the state will be forced to reduce the amount of revenue they can…