May 11, 2007
Volume
#29, Issue #14
LEGISLATURE'S JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE SORTS THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET -
Most of Doyle's Initiatives Remain Intact - For Now
The budget committee finished its second week of deliberations on the Governor's budget,
Senate Bill 40.
The committee has approved the Governor's proposed 4% limit on local property tax levies;
the doubling of
the real estate transfer fee; the increase in funding for Youth Aids (juvenile
corrections); the creation of a
new Department of Children and Families which would house W-2, child care, child welfare
services
(including the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare); funding for child support enforcement
activities; State
Department of Veterans Affairs (including the veterans homes); funding to recreate the
Labor Management
Cooperation Program in the State Office of Employment Relations; DHFS food share, IM and
State
institutions; and more.
The committee rejected a proposal offered by Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) to
move the Division of
Juvenile Corrections to the new Department of Children and Families, with Rep. Pedro Colon
and Rep.
Mark Pocan joining all eight republicans voting against the motion. All six Senate
Democrats supported
the proposal.
On May 15 the Joint Budget Committee will vote on school aids and school funding revenue
limits. For
more information on budget votes or the committee's agenda, contact the AFSCME lobbyists
or go to the
Wheeler Report or the WisPolitics budget blog.
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION OK'D BY STATE ASSEMBLY - The
State Assembly on Wednesday
voted on two bills to restrict employment of persons with felonies. AB-30,
offered by Rep. Jerry Petrowski
(R-Marathon), allows an educational agency to fire or refuse to hire an unpardoned felon. AB-30
passed
on a voice vote, but was held up on a procedural vote. The Assembly meets again May 16,
and AB-30 is
certain to be on the agenda.
Another bill, AB-260, offered by Rep. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc)
allows employers to fire or refuse to
hire an individual convicted of a sex offense or a violent offense and restricts local
governments from
enacting ordinances to prohibit employment discrimination based on arrest or conviction
record. AB-260
passed 61-33 and was sent on to the Senate.
Legal Action of Wisconsin argues that AB-30 and SB-260
are unnecessary because current law already
allows employers not to hire someone if there is a "substantial relationship between
the offense and the
circumstance of the job."
LEGISLATIVE WEBSITES. . .For those "online", here are some good info spots:
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 Legislative Fiscal Bureau: www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/
Wisconsin Ethics Board: http://ethics.state.wi.us