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Wisconsin Legislative SpotlightMaintained by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), this page provides an overview of recent and upcoming activities in the Wisconsin Legislature. The LRB revises its content weekly during legislative floorperiods. Links to more detailed information are highlighted in the text. |
The schedule of floorperiods for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session was established by 2009 Senate Joint Resolution 1. The current floorperiod began on Tuesday, May 12 and runs through Thursday, May 21.
Governor Doyle announced that declining state revenues were increasing the budget deficit, now projected at $6.5 billion through the next biennium. A scheduled 2% raise for nonrepresented state employees has been cancelled, and the administration will attempt to renegotiate scheduled raises for unionized employees. Some layoffs of state employees will also be necessary. In addition, nonemergency employees will be expected to take 8 days of unpaid leave in each year of the fiscal biennium 2009-2011.
On May 11, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported that they now believe that general fund tax revenues will be lower than January’s estimates by $408 million in 2008-09, $573 million in 2009-10, and $622 million in 2010-11. The three-year reduction is $1,603 million, or approximately -4.3%.
On May 13, Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan and Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald said that assembly legislative staff will be put on furlough for 16 days over the next two years to match those ordered by Governor Doyle for executive branch employees. Representatives Sheridan and Fitzgerald also announced they will each return 16 days of their legislative pay to the state treasury, as the governor previously said he would do.
A compromise between advocates and opponents of a statewide smoking ban in certain retail establishments provides for a ban to take effect on July 5, 2010, prior to which local ordinances will remain in effect. The compromise allows businesses to establish outdoor smoking areas for their customers. Senate Bill 181 passed both houses on May 13.
A modified version of the governor's budget provision allowing regional transit authorities with taxing power in certain parts of the state was approved by the Joint Committee on Finance on May 1.
After Governor Doyle delivered his Budget Message (video) to the Legislature on February 17, the Joint Committee on Finance introduced the Biennial Budget Bill, 2009 Assembly Bill 75. The Department of Administration issued its guide to the bill, the Budget in Brief.
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has prepared an Informational Paper on the State Budget Process, which explains the budgeting process in both plain language and technical detail.
Tax and Fee Increases. On March 18, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memorandum titled: “State Tax and Fee Modifications Included in the Governor’s 2009-11 Budget Recommendation.” According to a summary in the memo, the changes in the governor’s budget would increase net taxes by about $1.47 billion during the biennium and would increase net fees by about $237 million during the two years covered by the budget. In addition, measures to enhance the collection of current taxes and fees would generate an estimated $61 million.
Local aids. On March 19, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released estimates for 2010 County and Municipal Aid Payments under AB 75. The bill would reduce local aid payments by a total of about 1%, or $8.5 million.
Property Tax Estimates. On April 8, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memorandum that provides an estimate of the effects of the budget bill on property taxes, updating the property tax estimates for the 2008(09) tax year based on nearly complete reports filed with the Department of Revenue.
On April 7, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a list of non-fiscal policy items contained in the proposed budget. Joint Committee on Finance co-chairs Senator Miller and Representative Pocan released a letter in response. (Links courtesy www.thewheelerreport.com.)
The Joint Committee on Finance conducted a series of public hearings across the state on the 2009-2011 budget bill, AB-75. Video of all these hearings can be found in the archive at WisconsinEye.org.
The Joint Committee on Finance has also held a number of executive sessions on the state budget in recent weeks. It is expected that the committee will meet on several days during the week of May 18.
2009 Wisconsin Act 11, which was signed by Governor Doyle on May 15, 2009, appropriates federal funds available to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed the Assembly on May 13 and the Senate on May 14. The bill will allow those who quit their jobs to relocate with a spouse, care for ill relatives, or because of domestic violence to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits, and workers in some training programs will receive up to 26 additional weeks of unemployment benefits. The bill protects municipalities receiving federal funds from being penalized under the expenditure restraint program. It also provides financial assistance under the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program and for criminal justice programs, authorizes local governments to make residential energy efficiency improvement loans, makes eligibility and notice changes for state continuation of coverage for health insurance, and makes changes to enterprise zone jobs credits.
Assembly Bill 265, introduced on May 12, relates to the regulation of income tax refund anticipation loans. It was referred to the Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions.
Assembly Bill 266, introduced on May 12, relates to the provision of support services information to employees who are affected by a business closing or mass layoff. It was referred to the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development.
Senate Bill 201, introduced on May 14, relates to permitting motor vehicle dealers to remain open for business on Sunday. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection.
Senate Bill 202, introduced on May 14, relates to school policies on bullying. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Education.
Senate Bill 204, introduced on May 14, relates to prohibiting discrimination in housing because of domestic abuse victim status. It was referred to the Senate Committee Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing.
The LRB Library has created a list of items available through its catalog that addresses Wisconsin’s preparedness for a pandemic. Resources include historical items about the 1918 influenza pandemic as well as items about more recent outbreaks (i.e., SARS) and other public health concerns such as drug-resistant bacteria. Access the list by going to the Library Services page of the LRB Web site and clicking on the link in the right-hand menu titled “Wisconsin’s Pandemic Preparedness.”
The National Conference on State Legislatures has recently compiled a nationwide list of cuts proposed or enacted to help compensate for budget shortfalls: FY 2010 Actions & Proposals to Balance the Budget: Across the Board Budget Cuts & Other Cuts of Note. NCSL also produces annual updates to their report on state budgets and the 2009 report is now available in paper or electronic form through the library. An interactive map shows the current and estimated budget gaps across the U.S.
There are committee hearings scheduled for each day of this week. See the Schedule of Committee Activities to view the full monthly calendar and details on times and locations of committee meetings.
The Legislative Reference Bureau recently issued the following publications:
The LRB is on Twitter
You can now access updates from the LRB on Twitter, including information on new LRB publications, new acquisitions by the LRB Library, and general information about the legislature, and the current legislative session. To find the LRB on Twitter, go to: http://twitter.com/WILRB.LRB Podcasts
The LRB has also released a new Podcast about the online library catalog system (LRBCat).
Recent publications by other legislative service agencies:
Two Informational Bulletins were also issued by the LRB as companions to the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book: Informational Bulletin 07-1, “A Study Guide to the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book,” and Informational Bulletin 07-2, “Inside the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book.”
Send comments to LRB.Reference@legis.wisconsin.gov
Last revised: May 19, 2009