Tag: legislature

PROFS Testimony in Support of Special Session Senate Bill 1

Yesterday, PROFS offered testimony in support of Special Session Senate Bill 1 at a public hearing the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Technical Colleges. The legislation was proposed by Governor Tony Evers last month and includes several items that will benefit UW-Madison.

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PROFS Statement on Governor Evers’ 2023-25 Budget Proposal

Last night, Governor Tony Evers delivered his biennial budget address, announcing a $104 billion in spending over two years. His plan for the 2023-25 state budget reflects increased spending as a result of a projected $7.1 billion budget surplus at the end of the current fiscal year. The largest items include a $2.6 billion K-12 budget, $1.2 billion in middle-class tax cuts, a second year $576 million increase in aid to local governments, and almost $250 million to seed a new family leave program for public and most private sector employees.

Evers’ budget also includes pay raises of 5% in the first year of the biennium and 3% in the second year and funding UW System’s Wisconsin Tuition Promise.

Our statement on Governor Evers’ budget proposal:

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Governor Evers’ University of Wisconsin System proposed budget:

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UW-Madison State Budget Priorities

Governor Tony Evers will deliver his first State of the State Address of his second term in office at 7 pm tonight. Coverage of the speech is available on Wisconsin Public Radio and PBS Wisconsin.

While a preview of the speech was not made available, the governor is expected to offer some insight on where he might direct some of the state’s record $6.6 billion budget surplus as part of the 2023-25 biennial budget.

PROFS has already met with members of Governor Evers’ staff to discuss the upcoming budget, and UW-Madison has outlined its priorities in the handout below. The budget process is lengthy and begins  on February 15 when the governor delivers his biennial budget message.

PROFS is actively involved throughout the entire process and will continue to keep faculty and the entire university community informed over the coming months. Follow PROFS on Facebook and Twitter for the most current information.

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The GOP Higher Education Agenda

As we enter the final week of the 2022 campaign season, PROFS President Michael Bernard-Donals shares his thoughts on the value of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin System to the state and why it’s important to set aside political partisanship when it comes to the university.

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PROFS/ASPRO Legislative Forum Video

PROFS and ASPRO co-hosted an in-person panel discussion on the recently-completed 2021-22 Legislative Session. The April 28 panel discussed implications of the session for the university and looked forward to what may happen after the 2022 elections, including what UW-Madison needs from the state to remain a top public research university.

The panel:

Jessie Opoien, Cap Times Capitol Bureau Chief moderated.

Reminder — PROFS/ASPRO Legislative Forum Thursday

Reminder: PROFS and ASPRO will co-host a legislative forum tomorrow, Thursday, April 28 at noon in the De Luca Forum in the Discovery Building, 330 N. Orchard Street. Please note the room has changed. WisconsinEye will stream the event live and a recording will be posted by PROFS within a few days of the event.

Our panel will review the recently-completed 2021-22 Legislative Session and discuss implications of the session for the university and look forward to what may happen after the 2022 elections, including what UW-Madison needs from the state to remain a top public research university.

Our panel:

Jessie Opoien, Cap Times Capitol Bureau Chief will moderate.

This event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.

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State Legislative Forum Hosted by PROFS and ASPRO

PROFS will co-host an in-person panel discussion reviewing the recently-completed 2021-22 Legislative Session. Panelists will discuss implications of the session for the university and look forward to what may happen after the 2022 elections, including what UW-Madison needs from the state to remain a top public research university.

The forum will be held at noon, Thursday, April 28 in the Discovery Center’s Orchard View Room (330 N. Orchard Street).

Our panel:

Jessie Opoien, Cap Times Capitol Bureau Chief will moderate.

This event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.

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April Legislative Update

This legislative update was shared with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Faculty Senate. The senate meets the first Monday of every month at 3:30 pm during the academic year, October through May, except in January. Guests are welcome to attend meetings, which are held in Room 272 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive.

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February Legislative Update

This legislative update was shared with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Faculty Senate y. The senate meets the first Monday of every month at 3:30 pm during the academic year, October through May, except in January. Guests are welcome to attend meetings, which are held in Room 272 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive.

The Wisconsin Legislature has been busy with committee hearings and floor sessions, and Governor Tony Evers is scheduled to deliver his State of the State address on February 15. Evers and members of the Legislature will make a final legislative push over the next several weeks before turning their attention the November elections.

Fall Elections

Democratic Governor Tony Evers is running for re-election, but Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes has instead joined a crowded field of Democrats vying to challenge two-term Republican Senator Ron Johnson. The Republican race for the gubernatorial nomination heated up last week when Delafield businessman Kevin Nicholson announced his candidacy, challenging former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch for the Republican nomination.

Legislature

PROFS is actively lobbying on and monitoring several pieces of legislation:

  • Assembly Bill 195/Senate Bill 323   PROFS registered against these bills that prohibit transgender women from participating in UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System intercollegiate, intramural, and club sports. AB 195 passed the Assembly but failed passage 2-3 in a Senate committee. However, it could still be scheduled for vote in the Senate floor this session. Our statement on this legislation is on the PROFS website.
  • Assembly Bill 413/Senate Bill 409  PROFS is registered against these bills that essentially ban instruction on systemic racism at UW System and the Wisconsin Technical College System. Last week, the Committee on Colleges & Universities recommended passage of the bill along party lines, 10-4. PROFS’ statement in opposition to the bill is on our website. PROFS was also registered against similar legislation targeting K-12 public schools which was vetoed by Gov. Evers last Friday. PROFS is also registered against legislation that targets training for state and local government employees (AB 414/SB 410).
  • Assembly Bill 568/Senate Bill 557  PROFS is registered in favor of these bills that expand the type of revenue the university currently is allowed to invest to generate additional returns. Both bills passed unanimously in committee but neither have been scheduled for a floor vote.
  • Assembly Bill 639/Senate Bill 602  PROFS is registered in favor of this legislation. The bill will provide funding $180,000 in funding in each of the next two years for UW-Madison’s Missing-in-Action Recovery Project. SB 602 passed in committee but has not been scheduled for a floor vote.
  • Assembly Bill 775/Senate Bill 728  PROFS registered in favor of this bipartisan legislation that provides $1 million to plan and design a new engineering building at UW-Madison. Gov. Evers signed this bill into law late last month.

UW System Presidential Search and UW-Madison Chancellor Search

The UW System Board of Regents named Milwaukee attorney Jay Rothman as UW System President. Rothman, Chair and CEO of Foley & Lardner, will begin in June. He is a graduate of Marquette University and Harvard Law School. The UW-Madison Chancellor Search Committee released a position description last month and is accepting nominations until March 11. The committee hopes to announce finalists for the position in April.