March 2, 2007                                                               Volume #29, Issue #7

HEALTH CARE CRISIS, PROPOSED FIXES, TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AT LEGISLATIVE HEARING IN
GREEN BAY, MARCH 8 - A legislative committee is asking citizens in Green Bay to turn out to the hearing
on Thursday, March 8, at 4:00 p.m. to speak on the need for health care reform. The Senate Committee
on Health and Human Services, chaired by Senator Jon Erpenbach of Middleton, makes the first in a
series of hearings around the state to focus on health care. AFL-CIO President David Newby, Wisconsin
Health Plan authors David Reimer and Lisa Ellinger, and universal health care plan promoters will jump-
start the hearing with a brief outline of their plans, followed by testimony from the public.

AFSCME members are strongly encouraged to attend to either speak on the need for health care reform
or to simply fill out a hearing slip or ballot indicating your support for health care reform.

For more information, contact Take Back Wisconsin staff member Steve Kwaterski in Green Bay at
skwaterski@tds.net or contact AFSCME at 608-836-6666.

To read AFSCME's perspective on why public employees should support health care reform, go to
http://www.afscme.org/docs/principles_for_reform.pdf.

LEGISLATURE'S JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE OK'S STATE EMPLOYEE POWER PLANT
OPERATOR JOBS - On Wednesday, the Finance Committee voted 16-0 to reauthorize 271 power plant
operator jobs. The positions were rolled into a larger "budget adjustment bill" requested by the Governor to
fill deficits in key state services for the remainder of this fiscal year (which ends June 30, 2007). Thanks to
the 40+ AFSCME members who took the time to lobby lawmakers February 7 on the need to continue
those jobs.

The Assembly and Senate are expected to take action on the budget adjustment bill (AB-72) soon. We do
not expect any snags or delays.

HOW THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT LEGISLATION (AB-72) AFFECTS OTHER SERVICES
PROVIDED BY AFSCME MEMBERS - Other key items contained in AB-72 that involve services that
AFSCME members provide to the public:

-- $30 million in new money for child care subsidies to partially cover the shortfall (just until June 30, 2007);
-- $55 million for the Department of Corrections for salary and fringe benefits, inmate food and wages, fuel
    and utilities;
-- $7.5 million for prison bed contracts with counties (which more than doubles the state's current prison
    bed funding level);
-- $5.5 million for BadgerCare benefits;
-- 31 total DOJ DNA crime lab analysts.

AB-72 provides this additional funding through a combination of switching money from one account to
another, tapping into surplus segregated funds, lowering the state's statutorily required balance and using
new found GPR (general tax dollars).

JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE SETS STATEWIDE HEARINGS ON THE BIENNIAL BUDGET
(2007-09) -- AFSCME MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND! - Every two years, the State
Budget Committee goes on the road to hear from citizens on what they like and don't like about the two
year budget plan presented by the Governor. This is a great opportunity for public employees to weigh in
on the agency where you work and the services you provide to citizen taxpayers.

This year, AFSCME would like to see a strong green presence at the hearings. Not everyone has to speak,
but it's helpful to show up and register for or against parts of the budget. We understand that the details of
the budget are still being sorted out, but we urge you to show up if you are able.

March 20 (Milwaukee) 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
March 21 (DeForest) 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
March 27 (Chippewa Falls) 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m.
April 4 (Prairie du Chien) 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m.
April 11 (Rhinelander) 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m.
April 12 (Green Bay) 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

GOVERNOR DOYLE'S "MILWAUKEE INITIATIVE" HIGHLIGHTED AT HEARING HOSTED BY
AFSCME MEMBER SENATOR SPENCER COGGS - In his two year budget bill, Governor Doyle
provided funding and a special focus on the economic woes of Milwaukee. The so-called "Milwaukee
Initiative" will be the subject of an informational hearing hosted by the Senate Committee on Labor,
Elections and Urban Affairs, chaired by AFSCME member Spencer Coggs of the 6th Senate District.
Hearing details follow. We encourage AFSCME members to appear to show support for the Milwaukee
Initiative.

The hearing will be on Tuesday, March 6, at 10:00 a.m. at the Northside YMCA, 1350 W. North Ave. For
more information, contact AFSCME at 608-836-6666.

Wisconsin State Legislature: www.legis.state.wi.us/

"Who Are My Legislators": www.legis.state.wi.us./waml/

State of Wisconsin: www.wisconsin.gov/state/home

Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau: www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/

Wisconsin Legislative Council: www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/

Wisconsin Ethics Board: http://ethics.state.wi.us


LEGlSLATlVE HOTLINE NUMBERS:
In Madison, call 266-9960 / Outside Madison, call 800-362-9472