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Capitol capsules

April 8, 2003

Capitol Capsules provides a quick overview of state government activities of interest to UW–Madison employees.

Committee holds public hearings on budget
The Joint Finance Committee held two public hearings on the biennial budget bill (SB-44) recently.

At the March 31 hearing in Milwaukee, UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, Nursing Dean Sally Lundeen and Regent Tommie Jones were among those who testified. Committee members’ questions included the effects of budget cuts on general access, recruitment of low-income students and minority students, and pre-college and non-traditional programs.

At the April 3 hearing in River Falls, UW-River Falls Chancellor Ann Lydecker and UW-Stout Chancellor Charles Sorenson were among two dozen faculty, staff and students who addressed the committee on behalf of the UW System. Testimony focused on preventing further cuts beyond the governor’s budget, the need for tuition increases to offset part of the cut, the impact of ongoing cuts on quality and the need for state funding of financial aid.

Two additional meetings were to be held this week: Tuesday, April 8, in Platteville and Wednesday, April 9, at the State Capitol.

Joint finance executive sessions scheduled
Joint Finance Committee executive sessions are scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 22, and be completed in late May. For the Legislative Fiscal Bureau summary of the governor’s budget, click on: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/2003-05budget/Governor/tableofcontents.htm.

Other committee hearings
The Assembly Committee on Health held an informational hearing on the state budget and a number of other items, including graduate medical education. UW Medical School Professor Linda Fry testified in support of graduate medical education as a representative of the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians.

The Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met on April 2 to discuss AB 74, providing tuition vouchers for students who sound Taps at military honors funerals. The committee passed the bill on a 13-0-1 vote.

The Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities was scheduled to meet Tuesday, April 8, to take up the following legislation:

  • Assembly Bill 66 — Requires all persons admitted to the UW Medical School to take the Medical College Admission Test. The UW Regent position opposing this bill is available at http://www.uwsa.edu/univ_rel/ govrel/pending/position/p_ab66.htm.
  • Assembly Bill 84 — Prohibits the use of Social Security numbers in student IDs at private institutions of higher education.
  • Assembly Bill 207 — Bans smoking in and around UW System residence halls.
  • Assembly Bill 208 — Changes the Board of Regents’ membership to include a resident from each of the 16 technical college districts in the state and two students, one of whom must be at least 24 years old.
  • Assembly Bill 209 — Allows an individual income tax deduction for contributions by a great-grandparent, aunt or uncle to a college savings account or a college tuition and expenses program.

For information on state-related issues, visit http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu.

Contact: Charles Hoslet, senior special assistant to the chancellor and director, state relations, 263-5510, hoslet@mail.bascom.wisc.edu.