September 28, 2007
Volume #29, Issue
#34
BUDGET PROGRESS MADE. . .
Now that discussions are occurring in private, Speaker Huebsch has agreed to the
cigarette tax increase.
In exchange, Senate Democrats have agreed to drop their proposal to create a Hospital
Assessment to
help draw federal dollars and bolster the State’s Medical Assistance fund. Other
proposals are still on the
table, including the much needed oil company assessment, to offset the loss of gas tax
indexing in the last
legislative session.
. . .BUT NOT ENOUGH
Assembly Republicans have not yet ended all of their stall tactics in budget
deliberations. Many members
of the Republican caucus have publicly lauded the delayed implementation of the State
Budget as a way
to save taxpayers money. Each day adoption of the budget is delayed, the State loses
significant revenue,
with some estimates claiming up to $15 million a month. This is revenue that is needed to
fund state
agencies, pay for state employee salaries and provide aid to local governments.
Legislators need to hear from you today. Contact your State Representative
and Senator and tell them we need a budget now. Tell them that this extended
delay is jeopardizing vital public services throughout the state and to stop
playing politics with your jobs.
Additionally, if you are in Madison be sure to attend the AFSCME budget
vigils every Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday in the Capitol and visit your State Legislators. We need to keep
the pressure
on over the next few weeks to make sure public services are protected in the final budget
package.
PROTECTIVE STATUS UPDATE
Assembly Bill 354, which provides Protective Service Status for all persons
working in secured state
institutions, is set for a hearing on Thursday, October 4, at 9:30 am in the State
Capitol. AFSCME
encourages members to attend the Assembly Corrections and Courts Committee meeting, and
offer
testimony on the need for the legislature to pass this legislation.
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