WisPolitics Budget Blog

Kaufert Pulls the Plug on Today's JFC Meeting

JFC Co-Chair Dean Kaufert just announced that the Joint Finance Committee will not meet today, but he said tomorrow's meeting is now planned for 11 a.m.

The Memorial Day holiday put the process on hold as members went to their respective districts for a long weekend. Kaufert poked fun at allegations that the budget is being pasted together in secret. "The good news we didn't meet in secret all weekend. That's pretty obvious," he joked.

Committee members would meet with Legislative Fiscal Bureau staff and talk about the numbers on the big three budget items, Medicaid, transportation and school aids. "We thought we'd go to fiscal bureau now. Rather than make people sit around, we decided to pull the plug now," he said.

The committee is "gearing toward the finish line," the Neenah Republican said, and he promised prompt start is expected tomorrow by him and his Co-Chair Sen. Scott Fitzgerald. "Fitz and I are holding to 11 a.m. is 11 a.m., and we told our members that."

The Assembly GOPers will caucus at 7 p.m. tonight to talk over budget matters. Kaufert said contrary to rumor, there isn't a funding package being shopped to the caucuses. "Not that I'm aware of," he said.

OSER Director Timberlake: Hands Off Comp Reserve

In a letter to Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Dean Kaufert and Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, Office of State Employee Relations director Karen Timberlake advised them not to dip into the state's compensation reserve to fill budget holes.

"State employees have made significant sacrifices over the last two years in order
to help repair a budget deficit that they did not cause," wrote Timberlake. "Any reduction in the compensation reserve would seriously impair the state’s ability to provide needed pay increases to state employees."

Timberlake continues: "The amounts set aside in the Governor’s proposed compensation reserve are, simply put, the minimum needed over the next two years to provide fair wage increases to all state employees and pay for the benefits on which state employees and their families depend. Any reduction in the compensation reserve would be inconsistent with the desire expressed by a number of members of the Legislature to see the state wrap up negotiations with state employees as fast as possible."

Timberlake letter

Quotable

“This is a theft of my time.”
-- A lobbyist expressing frustration at consistently late JFC starts.

“Maybe they're not aware, but there's a blood drive going on downstairs. They could go down and donate blood. It would be the first and only contribution they've made to the budget process so far.”
-- A Republican staffer's retort to complaining lobbyists.

Still Waiting

There are some signs that today's meeting may be even further delayed. As 3:30 p.m. approaches, there are no leggie staff in the room. Normally, there are a few committee members in the room up to an hour before the meeting start and a good number of staff.

So far, there hasn't been an announcement of a new meeting starting time. Those announcements are typically a comfort, even though they're generally wrong.

Assembly GOP to Caucus Tonight

Assembly Republicans will caucus tonight to mull over budget matters. The caucus will begin at 7 p.m., or whenever the Joint Finance Committee calls it a day.

Senate Republicans do not have a caucus planned for tonight.

JFC Delay of Game

An hour past the scheduled start time of 1 p.m. and there's nary a member of the Joint Finance Committee in the hearing room, a sign that doesn't bode well for things getting underway any time soon.

According to staff of JFC members, the committee will tackle some long-delayed items today, including the UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System, and the Higher Educational Aids Board.

Berceau, Grigsby Weigh in on Budget

Dem Reps. Teresa Berceau and Tamara Grigsby released statements today on Joint Finance Committee action.

Berceau applauded the committee for raising the tax on hard liquor by .08-cents per gallon, and suggests they take her advice and also raise the beer tax.

Berceau release

Grigsby decried the actions of the committee as a "war on the poor."

Grigsby release

Gov. Doyle: "Today Is a Great Day for Seniors and People with Disabilities in Wisconsin"

Gov. Jim Doyle issued a statment today heralding the Joint Finance Committee's adoption of his plan to reduce nursing home populations by integrating them back into the community.

" Thanks to this initiative, current nursing home residents all across the state will have the option to move back into their home or other community setting," Doyle said. "It's a win-win for everyone. Seniors and people with disabilities get the option to move home and state taxpayers save millions. I couldn't be more pleased."

Doyle release

Previous posting

JFC Serves Full Plate Next Week

The Joint Committee on Finance has an ambitious agenda next week, including shared revenue, transportation, public instruction and adult corrections. See the calendar below.

May 31 & June 1 calendar

UW System Close but No Cigar

It was a close one, but the committee was still able to find a reason not to do the UW System budget papers today.

The UW has been on the calendar for several days but the committee didn't quite have it together. That was the case again today, Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said. “We're working hard to get that package moving forward,” he said. “There are a few things we're still trying to get information on, and with it being as late as it is, we're not going to tackle it tonight.”

The UW is re-posted for Tuesday.

The JFC is scheduled to swing into session at 1 p.m. Tuesday and at 11 a.m. Wednesday. No meeting Monday due to Memorial Day.

Also, apparently all the budget papers that are left are to consider are now posted on the Legislative Fiscal Bureau's site.

Insurers Avoid Paying More for Fires

Co-Chair Dean Kaufert introduced a motion to increase the amount insurers pay the state from premiums collected from fire claims from 2 to 2.5 percent. The change would have brought an additional $3.95 million to the state annually, money Kaufert said would have aided local fire departments, but he withdrew the motion due to complications.

But that didn't stop him from jabbing at insurance companies, who are airing radio spots around the state in opposition to his “Fair Claims” bill. “It's too bad, they probably have the $4 million they could use on this instead of radio ads,” he said.

Other Commerce votes:

--A motion by Sen. Lena Taylor to allow Commerce to create enterprise development zones within development zones elicited an odd union. At first, the vote was 8-8, with Cowles and Jensen among the Republicans voting with the Dems. The tie was resolved when Darling reversed her vote, shifting the tally to 9-7 in favor of passage.

--A proposal from Rep. Scott Jensen and Sen. Alberta Darling for a $2.5 million grant to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to establish a Biomedical Technology Alliance in southeastern Wisconsin passed 15-1, with Sen. Rob Cowles voting against.

--A grant of $274,000 for a reservoir in Wonewoc passed on a 12-4 party line vote.

--A block grant of $80,000 for a water well in the village of Ithaca passed 14-2 with Dem Reps. Mark Pocan and Pedro Colón voting against.

Commerce Pork Grab Slows Deliberations

The Department of Commerce deliberations may have set the record for motions in this budget year, with nearly every member reaching for a strip of bacon.

Or as one staffer put it, “pork-o-rama.”

A dozen motions were submitted, so the co-chairs have called for a break to let the members digest the proposal.

Commerce Cuts Bring Quick Rebuke from Doyle

Budget papers 206-213 were passed as a package by the committee, with Rep. Scott Jensen and Sen. Joe Leibham engineering the motion. With the vote, Republicans shaved nearly $12.5 million from Gov. Doyle's recommendations for the Department of Commerce.

Sen. Russ Decker voted against the motion, not because it cut too deeply, but not enough. He said Commerce's business retention and recruitment abilities are a constant disappointment. “You know what we ought to do with Commerce is we ought to just merge it with Transportation because wherever Transportation goes, Commerce goes,” Decker said.

The package passed 12-4.

After it passed, Gov. Jim Doyle said the committee's action would hurt job creation in Wisconsin.

"I am deeply disappointed by the actions taken today by members of the Joint Finance Committee that will jeopardize Wisconsin's economic recovery," Doyle said in a statement. "They eliminated and gutted important investments I proposed to create jobs and spur economic growth.

"My budget invested more than $13 million in job creation and created two innovative economic development programs. In less than 10 minutes, the Republicans eliminated these investments and turned their back on Wisconsin workers and businesses. Their cuts included eliminating a program to help attract companies to areas that need new jobs, cutting funding for manufacturing, and for the second time, eliminating a common sense worker training proposal."

They Deserve a Break

There will definitely not be a JFC meeting tomorrow or Friday, according to Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert.

“These people need a rest,” Kaufert said during an intermission in today's action. "They've been working late the last three nights, then reading budget papers after that. Plus, it's the holiday weekend.”

Gentlemen, Start Your Bonding

The committee approved $1.2 million in GPR-supported bond revenue to build an energy reduction barrier at State Fair Park to help the facility lure a top-level auto race. (Budget paper 387.)

Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert said the Milwaukee Mile at State Fair Park racetrack won't keep NASCAR or Busch Series races without the improvements. SBC has already committed to sponsoring a nationally televised NASCAR Busch Series race this June 25 at the racetrack. See the WisBusiness story on the race from last week: SBC Enters NASCAR World with Race at Milwaukee Mile.

Estimated debt service on the bonds is $85,200 in 2006-07.

Sen. Rob Cowles was the only no vote.

LFB Staffer Gets Moment in the Spotlight

Members of the Joint Finance Committee gave Legislative Fiscal Bureau worker Jessica Stoller a standing ovation in recognition of her service in putting together the budget. Stoller is leaving the LFB for a position with Brown County.

Doyle's Plan to Relocate Nursing Home Residents to Community Approved

Gov. Jim Doyle's recommendation on the community integration program (CIP II) has been adopted by the Joint Finance Committee, adding a provision that the relocation funding only be provided to MA-eligible individuals who have lived in a nursing home at least 100 days. (Budget paper 387.)

The governor proposed reducing funding by nearly $11 million over the biennium, which he estimates will be the savings realized from relocating nursing home residents to the community.

The committee approved the governor's recommendation on SSI Managed Care Expansion. (Budget paper 386.)

Committee Approves Money for Vets

The committee is giving the kid glove treatment to Veterans Affairs funding, all except Sen. Rob Cowles. The most notorious budget hawk on the panel, Cowles was the only JFC member to vote against a bipartisan motion authored by Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald and Dem Sen. Lena Taylor. And Cowles may have gotten a dressing down for being different.

The motion was to provide $234,600 in GPR over the biennium to provide housing vouchers to chronically homeless vets.

After the 15-1 vote, the first roll call vote of the day, Fitzgerald asked for a few minutes and he and Cowles excused themselves to discuss the matter.

On the next vote, $50,000 for a “Mission Welcome Home” campaign for people returning from military service, the vote was 16-0.

The committee also approved $822,000 in grant funding for programs to aid family members of deployed military who are experiencing financial hardship. The motion passed 16-0, but not everyone was enthusiastic. Sen. Alberta Darling said the committee will have to sit down “and have a heart to heart soon about this budget and where our priorities stand.” She said the state is in danger of spreading itself too thin.

Committee Gets Started

The Joint Finance Committee got underway today at about 3:40 p.m. The first order of business was budget papers pertaining to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Listen Live

See today's agenda

See today's budget papers

2:30 p.m. New Projected Start Time

The committee clerk just announced that the Finance Committee would begin work at 2:30 p.m.

Blogger Mea Culpa

Never let it be said that the WisPolitics Budget Blogger is not willing to set the record straight.

Last Thursday it was reported that Rep. Pedro Colón knocked over a pitcher of water at the outset of the Joint Finance Committee meeting, soaking the desk and papers of Rep. Mark Pocan.

Original posting

Turns out the klutz was Pocan himself. The Madison Democrat 'fessed up to the deed today, after a bit of prodding from Colón.

My sincerest apologies to the ever-graceful Mr. Colón.

Late Night Segues to Noon Start Tomorrow

The Joint Finance Committee called it a night at about 9 p.m. Because of the late hour, Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert said tomorrow's meeting will be posted to begin at noon instead of the previously announced 10 a.m.

Kaufert said the committee would try to get to the UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System budget items tomorrow.

Revised calendar

Transfers from DNR to General Fund Approved

In a move that contradicts members' “no transfers” message, the JFC approved nearly $19 million in fund transfers from DNR programs to the general fund and $3 million in general bonding authority in an omnibus funding motion covering budget papers 566, 567, 570 and 571.

The omnibus motion included a $5 million transfer from the environmental management account to the general fund, $11.5 million in transfers from the recycling fund to the general fund, and a $1.2 million transfer from the recycling demonstration grant to the general fund.

It also includes a $2.9 million “one-time basis” transfer from the recycling fund to the appropriation for wildlife damage claims and abatement within the fish and wildlife account of the conservation fund.

Medical Coverage for Outgoing Foster Kids Nixed

A passionate press conference today couldn't stop JFC Republicans from deleting a Gov. Doyle proposal to extend medical assistance coverage until age 21 to children leaving the foster care system.

Report from press conference

Sen. Lena Taylor tried to craft a compromise to Gov. Doyle's proposal, (Budget paper 431), asking the MA coverage be provided until the 19th birthday. Doyle had asked the coverage be extended until age 21.

Taylor’s compromise would have cost about $450,000 in GPR in 2005-06 and $604,000 in GPR in 2006-07. (FED funds were calculated at $570,000 in 05-06 and $816,000 in 06-07.)

Taylor said 600 youth grow out of the foster care system each year, and one in five of those young people say they need this service.

“I want us to give them a helping hand for one year,” Taylor said.

Several foster kids and parents had shown up at the meeting earlier to support the guv's proposal, but all drifted away as the hours dragged on.

Taylor's motion failed on a party line 12-4 vote. Conversely, the vote was 12-4 to delete the governor's provision.

Pizza Quorum Narrowly Averted

The JFC Republicans have been accused repeatedly of breaking open meeting rules, most publicly by Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser. The GOPers vehemently deny the charges, but hunger nearly drove them to a violation tonight.

During a break in the action, the Republican members had some pies delivered from Pizza Extreme to the conference room. Committee senators were already in the conference room, so when Assembly members stampeded in to grab a slice, they had to be held back by frightened but dutiful staffers to avoid a quorum.

“We averted it, so Rep. Kreuser can rest easy,” remarked one GOP staffer, still a little shaken by the memory of the horde of hungry lawmakers.

Cig Tax Up in Smoke

JFC members are smart enough to recognize political kryptonite, so tonight they stayed as far away from a cigarette tax increase as they could without leaving the roof.

No members offered motions or alternatives to budget paper 332, the document relevant to an increase, so Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert closed it out.

“You closed out that paper so that means smokes are safe?” asked Dem Sen. Russ Decker.

“Smoking is not safe,” joked Kaufert. “I'd say we're moving on.”

“iPod Tax” Goes Down

The JFC downloaded and deleted the so-called iPod tax, with two Democrats switching teams to vote against Gov. Doyle's proposal. The tax would have brought 3.2 million in collections to the state.

Rep. Scott Jensen, who dubbed it the iPod tax, said the measure, outlined in budget paper 326, is another example of a tax increase in the governor's budget. He said the tax would be impossible to enforce, and no one would keep track of their music downloads. “Do you know how many people you're going to turn into criminals?” he asked.

He said he received a letter opposing the tax from Apple Computers, the makers of the iPod, and also from local sheet music distributors who say their trade would be harmed by the Web-based tax.

Jensen said he was surprised by the attention the issue got, and said “Wisconsin was belittled for being a state that is taxing the future.”

The motion to stay with current law passed 13-2, with Dem Sens. Lena Taylor and Russ Decker siding with the Republicans.

Quotable

“Maybe we should have a rhetoric tax around here - we'd balance the budget pretty quick.”

Rep. Mark Pocan

Committee Zaps Streamlined Sales Tax Proposal

Committee Republicans killed a proposal by Gov. Doyle to step up the state's collection of sales and use taxes to include Internet-based commerce, calling it a tax increase.

Democrats argued the streamlined sales and use tax is an aid to small businesses who can't compete with Internet Wal-Marts" who escape state sales taxes because they aren't brick-and-mortar retailers.

The tax would have pulled in more than 26 million over the biennium to state coffers.

Dem Rep. Mark Pocan warned the committee against "passing another corporate tax break because WMC's asked for it." Dem Rep. Pedro Colon said Wisconsin should be leading on this issue, not trailing behind other states because "a few marginal people don't want us to move forward."

GOP Rep. Scott Jensen said those people living in the past must include the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided states can't levy taxes against a business that doesn't have a nexus located within it.

Jensen added there are many tax increases in the governor's budget. "This is the biggest."

The committee decided to ditch the Doyle proposal and stay with current law on a 12-4 party line vote.

Committee Bogs Down from GOP Infighting

With major holes yet to fill, discussions are a bit more testy than they have been thus far in the budget process. The committee is getting down to the business of cobbling together a budget, and today the proposed cut a 20-year-old program caused the first visible disagreement between the two Republican caucuses.

Budget hawking Sen. Robert Cowles authored the motion to take more than $3.2 million GPR from the Wisconsin Technical College System incentive grant program. The program was created in 1985-86 to allow the WTCS Board to award supplemental funding to districts under the grant categories of basic skills, emerging corporations, declining fiscal capacity, technology transfer and programs in juvenile correctional facilities.

"We have holes to fill and I think this is one place we can find savings," said Cowles, adding that the WTCS Board has a history of not allocating the funds wisely.

Cowles proposal also removes the current law that requires the WTCS Board to provide at least $1.5 million above the amount provided under incentive grants in 1988-89.

The debate divided the committee co-chairs.

Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald was an adamant supporter of the motion, speaking in favor of it with a vigor he's rarely shown in the committee so far. The motion is not about the"We are trying to deliver a real budget here," he said. "If we can't support what Sen. Cowles is trying to do here today, it would discourage me."

Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert voted against the cut, saying while Fitzgerald and Cowles made good points, the timing is wrong. "Today is not the day to cut them another $6 million," he said.

Fitzgerald followed with comments that seemed aimed at Kaufert. He said the committee can no longer afford to look away and leave tough decisions to another day. "We ain't got many days left," he said, sounding exasperated. "We better start making the tough decisions at some point."

Kaufert rebutted by saying the committee has made several sizable cuts in agencies like WHEDA and the Smarth Growth initiative. And, he said, a $15 million cut to WTCS in last budget didn't make it signing. "We're all on the same team here," the Neenah Republican said. "I want to make sure what we're doing holds up and is the smart thing to do."

Leading thorn-in-the-side Dem Rep. Mark Pocan was bemused by the squabble. "I hate to get involved in a family spat," he said.

"We still love each other," Kaufert replied.

Someone suggested Pocan should adopt the pair, to which he replied, "I can't even picture that."

Pocan then baited the GOPers by saying he hopes they pass the cut, which he said will not go over well with voters who rely on the techs for basic services like job re-training. "If you really want to support the governor's re-election committee, pass this motion."

The Republicans were so divided they had to take a break for several minutes to mull over the issue. When they returned, the decided to table the motion and the WTCS budget for the time being.

Students Make Scene at JFC

The first real drama of the budget occurred today when a group of UW students, holding a banner reading "Cut Tuition, Not the Budget" took the floor shortly before today's meeting was called to order at 3:50 p.m.

The students stood in front of the Joint Finance Committee and confronted them on their lack of action on the UW System budget, which has been on the calendar several times but always put off due to disagreement among Republican committee members on how to handle it. "We've come here three days waiting for the committee to discuss the university budget," said the spokesman for the group while three other young men held the banner, which pages quickly took away. He said he had tried to meet with the committee members individually to discuss his concerns but had been denied.

"Are you going to be cutting university budget?" the student asked. "Why won't any of you stand up for education. Do any of you all care?"

The group was escorted from the hearing room by a Capitol police officer. The vocal student continued to berate the committee as he left. "You know they don't care about any of y'all," he said.

"We know, we know," answered one lobbyist.

After they left, committee co-chairs Rep. Dean Kaufert and Sen. Scott Fitzgerald said it would be unlikely the committee would get to the UW System budget today.

2:30? Yeah right.

Today's meeting was supposed to start at 1 p.m. An announcement was made that it was postponed until 2:30. Now, the hour of 3 o'clock is upon us, and there are no tangible signs of the JFC getting underway any time soon.

Even though the committee tends to starts late, there are usually members in the hearing room reading budget papers prior to the start of the proceedings. While the occasional Assembly Republican JFC member has popped in today, there is no one in the hearing room now except some staffers, some students, foster parents and kids and lobbyists. Neither of the committee co-chairs has passed through the hearing room yet. Word is they're meeting with Legislative Fiscal Bureau head Bob Lang.

Meanwhile, the members of the gallery grow restless. The lobbyists entertain themselves by making sojourns to Walgreens and Starbucks, and playing the Brickbreaker game on their BlackBerries. Over-caffeination may become a serious threat to order today.

Another sign of the growing restlessness: A county lobbyist whose name will be withheld just walked in the room and sang "I'm a Little Teapot" to his counterparts.

Foster Parents and Kids Flex Muscles

At Gov. Jim Doyle's State of the State address in January, the entire Legislature stood and applauded Ray and Barb Jones to thank them for their dedication as foster parents to the more than 60 youths they helped raise. Will those same lawmakers applaud them today, as the Joneses are among a contingent of foster parents and kids who want to see the Joint Finance Committee put some funding behind that praise?

A press conference packed with foster parents and children was staged in the governor's office today to get Joint Finance Committee members' attention. The message was an emotional plea about the importance of approving Gov. Jim Doyle's budget proposal to extend health care coverage for young adults leaving the foster care system until age 21. The issue, outlined in
budget paper 431, is on the JFC agenda today, but it is unclear if the committee will take up the issue today. The governor's proposal would cost the state $838,000 over the next biennium.

Doyle's budget proposal calls for the extension of health care coverage for young adults leaving foster care until they turn 21. DHFS Children and Family Services Administrator Burnie Bridge said the JFC has already made some bad decisions with respect to foster parents and kids by gouging half of the governor's proposed for funding increase. "It is one of the most mean-spirited decisions they could have made and it looks like it's just the tip of the iceberg," she said.

Bridge said foster children face "incredible challenges" when they reach 18 and leave the foster system, and the prospect of losing their medical coverage should not be part of that list. She cited a study from the University of Chicago's Chapin Hall that found kids who leave the foster system face financial hardship at a greater rate than their peers.

Chapin Hall "talking points release"

Chapin Hall study executive summary

In her husband's absence, (Gov. Jim Doyle is in California raising funds for his re-election campaign), First Lady Jessica Doyle talked about her experiences with foster children as a teacher. "By continuing health care we can remove that one obstacle and that can really determine the pathway to success for that young adult," she said.

Jessica Doyle challenged the committee to back up the State of the State applause. "When the time (came) for the legislators to get down to business, they voted against the governor's proposal for foster families, the very same people they applauded earlier," she said.

Foster parent Barb Jones said the legislators have the power to make the transition from state care to adulthood less traumatic. "These children are not our seed, but by the very choices we make in life, they are our harvest," she said.

Sen. Lena Taylor and Rep. Tamara Grigsby were present at the news conference. Taylor invited the nearly 50 foster parents and kids in attendance to "stay in Joint Finance so the members can look at you when they make their decision."

Many of them took her up on that offer, although some who came up initially had to leave due to the committee's late start.

Meeting Start Delayed

The start of today's meeting has been delayed until 2:30 p.m.

Revised Calendar for Today's Hearing

A re-tooled calendar was issued last night. Check it out below.

Revised calendar

Meeting Adjourned

The JFC called it a night at 6:50 p.m. Tomorrow's meeting is set to begin at 1 p.m.

Legislative Fiscal Bureau director Bob Lang reported that thorugh action today, the general fund is about a half million ahead of the amount proposed in Gov. Doyle's budget bill.

Tommy Park Funding Nixed by GOP Panel

The GOP-dominated Joint Finance Committee turned down $2.25 million in bonding authority to develop facilities and a campsite at the Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Centennial State Park in Marinette County. Even more bizarrely, the motion offering the cash for the park named after the state's most popular Republican ex-guv was authored by a Democrat.

"This is from my budget buddy John Gard," joked motion-maker Sen. Russ Decker. The park is in Gard's home district. "And John Gard seconds it."

In December 2001, the JFC approved the purchase of property for two state parks in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the state parks system. The TGT state park includes at least 2,200 acres of land on the Caldron Falls.

The motion failed 14-2, with only Decker and fellow Dem Sen. Lena Taylor voting in favor of the bonding.

Meyer Gets Restriction on Land Sales to DNR

A motion to prohibit some property owners from selling their land to the state passed the JFC on a 9-7 vote.

The motion was authored by GOP Rep. Dan Meyer, who wants to keep lands on the tax roll. The motion requires town board permission before property owners in townships with more than 35 percent of acreage in public holdings can sell their land to the DNR.

Sen. Luther Olsen didn't like the idea of limiting property owners rights to sell to anyone they wish. "To give the town board authority to veto land sales of personal property and determine who they can sell it to, I don't know if that's a road we want to go down," Olsen said.

State Juvenile Facilities on the Chopping Block

A bipartisan motion to direct the Department of Corrections to either close one of three juvenile correctional facilities or reduce the proposed daily rate for care by $27 over the next two years passed in the Joint Finance Committee in a wild 11-5 vote.

Dem Sen. Lena Taylor and GOP Rep. Jeff Stone co-authored the motion. Gov. Jim Doyle's budget bill calls for an increase in the daily rate for the juvenile care to $218 in 2005-06 and $224 in 2006-07. The motion directs the department of corrections to either freeze the daily care rate at the current $187 dollars or close either the Ethan Allen School, Lincoln Hills School, or Southern Oaks Girls School.

Both chairs voted against the measure, along with Dem Rep. Mark Pocan and Sen. Russ Decker, and Republican Sen. Robert Cowles. The strange split caused Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert to remark, "We've lost total control."

Can-Can Breaks the Monotony

Ringing cell phones are strictly verboten in the Joint Finance hearing room, but on a "cats and dogs" day like today a renegade ringer can be a welcome diversion.

Moments ago, the phone of a reporter seated in the media area started ringing loudly. Adding to the absurdity, the ringtone was set to the tune of the French showgirl favorite, "Can-Can." The red-faced reporter searched feverishly in her purse to quiet the offending device, but it was too late as all eyes were on her. (JFC members pretended not to notice.)

Silencing the phone, the reporter walked briskly out of the chamber as lobbyists giggled behind her.

A Day of Cats and Dogs

The Joint Finance Committee continues to move fairly briskly through today's agenda of "cat and dog" issues. The relatively light load today is a gentle warm-up to more contentious issues tomorrow and Wednesday. See the calendars in the blog below.

Word is that if the week goes smoothly, the committee will not meet on Thursday or Friday, and of course there is no intention to hold a session next Monday, which is Memorial Day.

Pocan: Associating with Alliance Defense Fund Makes State Look Like "North Mississippi"

Rep. Mark Pocan doesn't mince words when the tells how he feels about Assembly Speaker John Gard's enlistment of the conservative Alliance Defense Fund to represent the state in a suit over domestic partnership benefits. He says aligning the state with the ADF "makes us look like fools across the country," and belittled the organization and Gard for ADF's attacks on cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

"I have no response to that, it's so absolutely idiotic," Pocan said, although he did have a response in a press release last week:

See release

The remarks were made as Pocan struggled to save domestic partnership benefits the governor proposed for the UW System. Pocan mused for a bit about the SpongeBob cartoon, his relationship with his starfish friend Patrick and his pet snail. At that point Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said, "Hang on - I think I've clearly lost control on this topic."

Pocan said the state can save some face nationally by adopting the domestic partner benefits, saying last week's events "made us look a little bit more like North Mississippi than we did Wisconsin."

Pocan, Jensen Battle Over Domestic Partnership Benefits

Making his case on a fiscal basis, Rep. Mark Pocan tried to get language in the budget bill to open the door for domestic partner group health insurance coverage in the University of Wisconsin System. (Budget paper 281.)

Pocan said 150 colleges and universities across the country offer domestic partner benefits, and not offering them at the UW schools is an impediment to recruitment and retention of faculty and staff. UW Chancellor John Wiley told Pocan that it costs the university $3 million each time they have to replace a faculty member. The Madison representative also read a letter from a UW faculty member who said he was seriously considering leaving the UW because of the lack of benefits.

Because he realized the political hesitance to pass a measure offering benefits to homosexuals, Pocan removed the funding component of Gov. Doyle's recommendation in his motion, cutting $1 million in GPR from the bill. (Alternative two in the budget paper.) Under that alternative, the system would have to find the funds to pay for the benefits. Take away the cost side of the discussion, Pocan said, and objections to the benefits can only be viewed as political, not fiscal as GOP members have argued. He accused his Republican colleagues of pandering to the Christian right.

"You're going to have plenty of political chances this year to make the evangelicals wildly happy," Pocan said, referring to the GOP-backed gay marriage constitutional amendment.

Republican Rep. Scott Jensen said if anyone has made a political issue out of domestic partner benefits it's Doyle. Jensen argued that more faculty and staff leave the UW System each year due to a lack of an optional retirement plan, not domestic partnership benefits. "I would argue the governor made a political choice there," said Jensen of Doyle putting domestic partnership benefits in the budget bill and not a retirement plan.

Jensen also wagged his finger at Pocan for bringing up that Assembly Speaker John Gard's children attend Edgewood High School and that the school's affiliated college offers domestic partner benefits. "Let's not bring legislators' children into this debate," he said.

Pocan said he meant the mention as a compliment.

Pocan's motion failed 13-3, with Dem Sen. Russ Decker voting with the 12 Republican members. A motion to delete the governor's position altogether passed by a 13-3 vote.

JFC Gets Late Start - Early Dig at Lawton

The Joint Finance Committee meeting was called to order at 2:25 p.m. The first item of business was the Office of the Governor, which passed by unanimous consent.

Co-Chairs Rep. Dean Kaufert and Sen. Scott Fitzgerald held off on ruling on the summary budget item for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor item. Kaufert said it warranted further scrutiny, “because it's apparent (Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton) doesn't have enough to do that she can run around the state and talk about the budget.”

Calendar Released for Wednesday Meeting

The Joint Finance Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

May 25 calendar

May 25 budget papers

New Batch of Budget Papers

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has prepared a new batch of budget papers for the Joint Finance Committee to sample. Monday's menu includes juvenile corrections and the offices of the governor and lietuenant governor.

Tuesday's selection includes the streamlined sales and use tax and excise taxes. Check them out at the links below.

May 23 budget papers

May 23 calendar

May 24 budget papers

May 24 calendar

UW, Techs Will Wait 'Til Next Week

Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert has announced because of the late hour and due to motions continuing to flow regarding DWD, the JFC will not be taking up the UW System, Wisconsin Technical College System or Higher Education Aids Board budget papers.

Technical colleges will be posted on the committee's calendar for Monday, and the UW System and HEAB will be taken up Tuesday.

Pocan Bid to Extend Newborn Grants Fails

Rep. Mark Pocan's motion to extend grants for caretakers of newborn infants from 12 to 26 weeks failed on a 12-4 vote. The motion would have set the monthly grant amount for weeks 13 to 26 at $585.50. The per month amount of $673 up to 12 weeks would be unchanged. (Budget paper 854.)

The Fiscal Bureau estimated the move would save more than $3.5 million in GPR in saved childcare subsidies. But Republicans argued that it would be a benefit that would be far greater than those who are not eligible for W-2 could afford.

Rep. David Ward had an interesting perspective on the motion.

“I was primary caregiver for my son over this period of time in his life, and I have to say bonding with your son at that age is an overrated experience,” Ward said.

Tidbits from the TANF Discussion

NOTE: The omnibus motion referred to below passed 12-4. See the item below for details.

A motion by Reps. Scott Jensen and Jeff Stone and Sens. Alberta Darling and Mary Lazich to restore funding for the Children First program in the amount of $834,000 annually passed 16-0.

The program was proposed for elimination under the omnibus TANF funding bill the committee is currently considering.

Gov. Doyle had recommended funding Children First with more than $1.3 million each year.

The Children First budget proposal is contained in Budget Paper 861.
The omnibus funding motion contains a piece that would increase child care co-payments by 15 percent. The increased co-pay decreases the state's childcare subsidy commitment by $3.7 million in 2005-06 and $5.1 million in 2006-07.

A motion by Sen. Lena Taylor attempted to limit that raise in the copayment to 9.75 percent, but it was defeated on a 12-4 partisan vote.

Find out more in Budget Paper 855.
The Division of Workforce Solution's Milwaukee Regional office is history. the elimination of the office is in the omnibus funding motion for TANF-related programs the committee has been batting around since they convened at about 3 p.m.

Eliminating the office cuts $944,500 annually from the state budget. Milwaukee Sen. Lena Taylor's motion to save the office failed on a party line vote (12-4).
Benefits to provide pregnant women with subsidies if they are unable to work in the third trimester have been cut by the committee. (Budget Paper 853). The move saves $685,800 in 2005-06 and $1,371,600 in 2006-07.

A motion authored by the four Dems on the panel to restore the program failed with no Republicans jumping ship.

After her last-ditch motion to save TANF-related programs, a frustrated and emotional Sen. Lena Taylor said, “I don't know if I should I laugh at the mistakes you're making or if I should just cry for those people who are affected.”

She proposed a motion that would nullify all the Republicans proposed cuts. Like so many others today, the motion failed on a 12-4 party line vote.

Doyle Says JFC Taking Out Anger on Foster Parents

Gov. Jim Doyle today said a Wednesday vote by the Joint Finance Committee to limit the financial help for foster care parents really shows where their values are, and it also shows they might need some anger counseling.

"It just amazes me that these guys sit in the committee room and take out whatever their little anger is, they take it out on the foster parents of the state of Wisconsin," Doyle said in an interview.

Joint Finance yesterday rejected Doyle's proposed 5 percent increase in the reimbursement rate for foster care and his proposed $5.8 million in support of the Milwaukee foster care system. The panel instead voted to earmark $770,000 for domestic abuse workers and sliced the reimbursement increase request to 2.5 percent.

"I'm trying to get a little bit more help to the people who are carrying just an enormous burden. We should all thank the Lord every day for the work that they do. They have not had an increase in many years," Doyle said.

For the JFC to decide 5 percent is too much for foster parents "really shows where people's values are," he said.

See a related Budget Blog entry: http://blogs.wispolitics.com/2005/05/eye-of-beholder.html

Quotable

“God is raining down on us - he's crying because we're just doing an assault on the poor today.”
--Sen. Lena Taylor, commenting on the TANF omnibus funding bill as a thunderstorm rolled through downtown Madison.

Parties Bicker Over Welfare Cuts

The committee is considering a 24-part omnibus motion regarding Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. (Budget papers 850-864). The total impact of the proposed cuts on the general fund is $15.3 million in the first year of the biennium and $5.3 million in the second year.

Among the motions are many cuts in programs and outright elimination of programs like Children First, Early Childhood Excellence Program, and the governor's Quality Rating and Tiered Reimbursement Systems proposal.

An emotional Sen. Lena Taylor was the first to attack the cut package. She said Republicans on the committee have declared war on the needy.

“Strip child welfare and now kick the needy in the teeth while they're down,” she said. She added she wished former Gov. Tommy Thompson was here today to see what those in his party are doing to his W-2 program.

Sen. Alberta Darling, listed as a co-author of the omnibus motion with Kaufert, said the TANF bill forced a lot of tough decisions. She said Gov. Doyle left a $25 million hole in TANF, and underfunded childcare subsidies by $22 million. “This paper is not easy for me either,” she said. “Priorities had to be set that we are not going to spend more than we have. When the governor gives us a budget with holes like this, we have to make tough decisions.”

Sen. Russ Decker attacked the piece of the package that would reduce funding for women in their third trimester of pregnancy who can no longer work per doctors orders. (Budget Paper 853) The proposal would reduce funding by $685,800 in 2005-06 and $1,371,600 in 2006-07. “What good is government if it doesn't provide a ladder up for people that don't have it?” Decker asked.

Rep. Pedro Colón said the omnibus motion is an example of misplaced priorities. He said the committee refused to transfer $180 million from the Injured Patients Compensation Fund, which could have been used for worthwhile expenditures on these programs that support childcare and job training.

Rep. Mark Pocan said the committee has no problem handing over money to corporations through loopholes proposed by “John 'I Hate SpongeBob' Gard," but, he continued, "we're saying we don't put a lot of value in children and the working poor in Wisconsin,” he said.

Kaufert pointed out that the budget still includes $1.2 billion in TANF funding, and more than $607 million in childcare subsidies. Kaufert recalled his own childhood, when his mother received money from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (W-2's predecessor). “They weren't easy times,” he said. But, he said, the package, “brings some fiscal responsibility back to W-2.”

“We're staying at the same level as we were in the previous two years overall,” Kaufert said. “We're just shuffling the deck a little.”

As for the new programs the omnibus motion cuts, Kaufert said, “they may or not be good ideas.” If it's a good program, he suggested, someone should write a bill and take it through the committee process.

A Messy Start

The meeting was finally gavelled to order at about 2:55. It got off to a messy start when Rep. Pedro Colón spilled a pitcher of water onto his desk and the desk of neighboring Rep. Mark Pocan.

Pocan, Colón and his aide worked quickly to wipe up the spill, which had spread over Pocan's paperwork.

“Well, hopefully those were Rep. Pocan's motions,” quipped Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert.

“Don't worry chairman, I've got a few more,” Pocan replied.

Kaufert: “That will save us some time.”

Pocan: “But one of those was the 'All Sums' bill.”

Still Waiting...

The two-minute warning is now more than a half-hour expired. But Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert did let some spectators off the hook, announcing that the committee will not be taking up the remaining budget papers they have regarding the DNR and DHFS. In addition, a decision on the transfer of $35 million from the Public Benefits Fund, a closely-watched issue, won't be resolved today.

According to inside sources, committee members spent the morning and early afternoon struggling over motions concerning W-2. Rumors are circulating that some in the committee were mulling a cut of the Childrens First program, but were talked out of it.

Also, expect some deep cuts in the UW System budget today.

Observers are expecting a marathon session. Kaufert promises the meeting will be underway shortly.

Schultz Pushes to Remove 'Fair Claims Act' from Budget Process

Saying the bill had impeded work on the state budget, Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz announced he’s prepared to give legislation regarding insurance settlements for the Fox River clean-up consideration in the Senate.

“It’s become clear over the last couple of weeks this issue, while extremely important to folks in the Fox River Valley, was beginning to impede progress on the state budget,” Schultz said in a press release. “Policy of this magnitude should be considered in the normal legislative process not in the state budget.”

Schultz said if the bill is sent to the Senate from the Assembly, he’ll allow the proposal to have a hearing in committee, and a vote on the Senate floor, if it passes out of committee. The intent of this action is to remove the provision from budget consideration.

See Schultz' release.

See more in a Budget Blog posting from Wednesday: Kaufert Plays Coy with Fair Claims

Meeting Start Delayed

The beginning of today's Joint Finance Committee meeting has been delayed until 1:30 p.m. Committee members are working on motions for today's action.

Nass Slams UW System's Budget Request

If the Joint Finance Committee takes up the UW budget today, one Republican critic wants the panel to follow the lead of Dem Gov. Jim Doyle. Says Rep. Steve Nass: "While the UW System is without question an important institution for the future of state, it is no longer acceptable for UW System leadership to hide behind the prestige of the system when dealing with wasteful and unnecessary expenditures. The Governor has taken one huge step in proposing the elimination of 200 administrative positions. Now, it’s time for the Republican legislature to also take decisive action in forcing fiscal reforms within the UW System.''

See Nass' letter.
See UW System Pres. Reilly's letter from Wednesday.

See Ya Bright and Early

The JFC called it a night at about 7:45 p.m., concluding a productive day. But there will be many long sessions in the committee's future if they want to meet their stated goal of finishing the budget before the end of May.

The committee is scheduled to reconvene at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The Senate Republicans will have a pre-meeting meeting at 8:30 a.m.

Kaufert Plays Coy with Fair Claims

So far, there has been no motion to bring the Fair Claims Act legislation into the budget process, as has been rumored. But Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert, the co-author of the bill, is hinting that might be the route he'll take.

The Fair Claims bill attempts to find a legislative conclusion to a years-old dispute between paper and insurance companies over the cleanup of PCBs from the Fox River. It is opposed by pro-business and insurance groups, but supported by the paper industry.

As the JFC was completing votes on the budget section for DNR water quality, Kaufert said he'd like to reserve the right to bring a motion back into the section later in the process.

“I know what that's all about,” Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said knowingly, drawing laughs from the panel.

Asked during a break in committee action whether that was his intent, Kaufert said only, “I'm concerned with water quality issues.”

Of incorporating the legislation into the budget, Kaufert will only say, “It's an option.”

Eye of the Beholder

Despite slashing a number of Gov. Doyle's DHFS recommendations, JFC Republicans still feel like they've been generous today considering the state's fiscal reality.

Rep. Scott Jensen proclaimed after the committee finished voting on a list of items concerning the DHFS Children and Families division that they added 7.5 million to the base. “I think you're hard-pressed to say the committee has been stingy today with people in vulnerable situations,” Jensen said.

But Rep. Mark Pocan pretty much did call them stingy. “Generosity is in the eye of the beholder,” he said, after Legislative Fiscal Bureau director Bob Lang informed him that the committee approved 7.2 million less than Doyle had requested.

Particularly hard hit were Milwaukee Child Welfare programs, which Sen. Lena Taylor estimates will get about 2 million less than base.

We'll Be Right Back

Committee has taken a short break, but will reconvene “shortly” to take up some DNR issues.

Funds for Refugee Family Strengthening Project Saved

Sometimes it helps to make an appearance. A couple dozen Hmong residents attended today's meeting to show their support for the Refugee Family Strengthening Project, and their presence may have saved the program from the chopping block.

A motion to eliminate funding for the Refugee Family Strengthening Program (Budget Paper 433) was defeated 11-5. Killing the program would have put more than $1.1 million back in GPR.

A second motion to fully fund the program per Gov. Doyle's recommendation passed 13-3.

Republicans Take Home Visits Out of Budget

One of Gov. Doyle's biggest initiatives in the budget, the Family Foundations program to provide home visits to first-time parents, was gutted from the budget by GOP members. (See more in Budget Paper 432).

Eliminating the fledgling program returns $1,251,100 to the GPR, and also forces the state to forgo $203,400 in federal funds. The program was cut on a partisan 12-4 vote without discussion.

Oh That's Right, We Don't Get Along

The Republicans and Dems have gotten along fairly well so far, with few moments of partisan sniping and runaway rhetoric. Today's meeting seemed especially amiable until the committee got bogged down. The topic: DHFS spending in Budget Paper 427, which prompted the most heated exchange of the deliberations thus far.

“Welcome to the governor's cruelest hoax - it's called his budget,” blasted Sen. Scott Fitzgerald. He railed against the guv's plan to fund part of the Milwaukee child welfare program with revenue bonds. “What this committee's decided to do is come up with a real budget. The governor punted, we all know this now. The document is bogus.”

He also accused Doyle of turning in a budget crafted to help his re-election campaign, but ended by saying, “I'd appreciate it if the rhetoric would kind of cool down.”

Rep. Mark Pocan, who has been the boldest Dem on the panel, shot back: “I think the rhetoric is pretty heavy from the other way too.” He referenced a newspaper article from last weekend in which Fitzgerald said the budget was “90 percent done” and that there are gubernatorial aspects to consider through this budget process. He also repeated the Democratic refrain that the budget was being put together behind closed doors.

Fitzgerald explained the comments, saying he was referring to areas of bipartisan agreement. “I do believe there is common ground, and I hope we can continue to build on that common ground,” he said.

Strength in Numbers?

Though saddled with a 12-4 minority on the JFC, the Democats are getting some props today.

Rep. Pedro Colón authored a motion to require DHFS to mail health insurance verification forms to employers of BadgerCare applicants. The employers must fill out the forms and return them within 30 days or face a $100 forfeiture per worker. The motion passed 16-0.

Meanwhile, the GOP members have had a difficult time passing anything, with motions on how to allocate birth certificate fee increases shot down when Assembly members voted opposite their Republican Senate brethren.

After the Colón motion passed, Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert remarked, “I'd just like to point out the Democrats have passed more motions than we have today.”

“Move to adjourn,” quipped Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald.

Voting by Proxy

Will Photo ID soon be required to vote in the Joint Finance Committee? It might if Sen. Russ Decker isn't careful.

When the JFC was voting on a motion to block the WHEDA transfer, Sen. Lena Taylor had stepped out of the room momentarily. Roll call came down the line, and Taylor's vote was cast with a deep “No.” The voice was from Decker, who sits next to the Milwaukee senator.

Laughter broke out, as did an impish grin on Decker's mug. Taylor, unaware of her proxy, entered moments later and got to cast her own “No.”

Next time, Russ, it might help to disguise your voice.

WHEDA Transfer Gets Through JFC Gauntlet

JFC senators continue to hang tight to their no-transfers stance, although they lost the fight over a $5 million transfer from WHEDA's “Dividends for Wisconsin.” (Budget Paper 825) The cash will be funneled into the general fund.

First, a motion to eliminate the transfer was defeated 10-6, with Assembly Republicans voting with the committee's four Democrats. Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert led the charge. “I buy into (Gov. Doyle's) argument once in a while that we really have to make tough decisions,” he said.

Sen. Robert Cowles argued that any time the state relies on one-time money, it's asking for trouble.

A motion to allow the transfer then passed 16-0.

Starting as Promised

The meeting was called to order at about 2:40 p.m. Today's meeting will start with WHEDA, Budget Paper 825.

Listen in live

See today's agenda.

See the other budget papers up for consideration today.

Five Minutes and Counting?

Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert popped out of the conference room clutching a hot dog on a white bun. “Breakfast of champions,” he said with a smile as he walked past the press table.

The committee clerk gave the room a reason to chuckle a few minutes later. “Joint Finance Committee will meet in five minutes,” she said into the microphone, unable to contain her giggles.

Those in the auduence snickered. “Five minutes could be two hours,” one lobbyist said.

Delay of Game

It's now an hour past the scheduled 1 p.m. meeting time for the Joint Finance Committee, and still no official announcement when the show will begin. Insiders speculate it may be underway within a half hour. Sounds optimistic.

Among the items expected to be taken up today are WHEDA, Ethics Board, the Employee Relations Commission, Child Abuse Neglect and Prevention Board and DHFS.

Papers covering the UW System, DWD, the DNR and the much-anticipated transfer from the Public Benefits Fund are expected to be put off until tomorrow.

Revised Calendar Sent Out

Changes have been made to the Joint Finance Committee's calendar for today and tomorrow.

Check the new calendar to see if your issue is on the agenda.

Decker Wants Daily Reports on Progress

The JFC adjourned at about 4:50 p.m. Sen. Russ Decker asked Legislative Fiscal Bureau chief Bob Lang if he could start telling the committee at the end of the day whether they had saved or spent money, a practice he had employed in years past.

The JFC will reconvene at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Committee Room Clears Quickly

The JFC hearing room, nearly full at the beginning of action today, emptied out quickly after the Injured Patients Compensation Fund transfer was put to rest.

Arts Board Gets Funding Cut

The state Arts Board lost 5 percent of its budget, or $242,000, through a motion by Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert.

The Arts Board turned in a budget with a 1.5 percent increase, which is tough to justify in the tight budget times, Kaufert said. He said the cut could have been worse, noting that other members to slash it more.

The motion passed 11-5, with Rep. Jeff Stone voting with the four Democrats on the committee. “I think we need to keep this (funding) commitment and I think it will pay dividends,” he said.

No Moves on Cigarette Tax

The committee took no action on budget paper 332, which presents alternative cigarette tax plans. No motions were offered, but Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert reminded members motions can be brought when the committee gets to the section on excise taxes.

Patients Compensation Fund Transfer Eliminated

The JFC knocked out another $190 million in fund transfers recommended by Gov. Doyle.

First, the committee voted 13-3 to eliminate a $10 million transfer from a fund for health care grants and loans. (Budget paper 106). Sen. Russ Decker was the only Democrat to vote with the Republicans.

Then, the committee killed another $169 million in transfers in 2005-06 and nearly $10 million in '06-'07 from the Injured Patients Compensation Fund. It passed 14-2, with Dem Senators Decker and Lena Taylor voting with the Republicans.

Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said legislators are tired of defending the fund from raids and encouraged the Medical Society of Wisconsin to work with lawmakers on a plan to privatize the fund. “I think we should privatize the fund and better control the fund and move it out of consideration whenever someone wants to do a cash-grab to balance the budget,” he said.

Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert said the malpractice system is one of the best functioning elements of the health care system, and a transfer like this would jeopardize that. The low malpractice rates are an enticement to doctors to come to the state, he said.

Rep. Pedro Colon said with a $700 million hole in Medicaid threatening to throw low income residents off medical assistance rolls, it's hard to justify protecting the malpractice rates of doctors. “We're going to attract doctors to a health care system that's too difficult for anyone to afford,” he said.

Committee Overturns Transfer from Veterans Affairs

The first set of budget papers taken on by the JFC today dealt with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. The committee voted unanimously to overturn a $25 million program revenue lapse to the general fund. (Budget paper 810) Republicans on the committee wagged their fingers at Gov. Jim Doyle for “taking the veterans' money.” “I just don't know why anyone would want to do that,” Rep. Dan Meyer said incredulously. The motion to kill the lapse passed 16-0.

See a press release from Meyer and Co-Chair Dean Kaufert:Joint Finance Committee Secures Future of State Vets and one from Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald: Finance Committee Rejects Attempt to Raid Vets' Funds

Also approved was a motion from Meyer and Sen. Scott Fitzgerald to provide $200,000 to veterans homes in King and Union Grove to hire a consultant to determine how the homes can operate more efficiently. It passed on a party line vote of 12-4.

Plus, $371,800 in program revenue and 21.5 positions was approved in 2005-06 to support food service operations at the Union Grove home. The vote was 16-0.

JFC Meeting Begins

The meeting opened with a bit of levity from Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert. “I thought we'd get things started a little earlier today,” he said, gaveling the meeting to order about an hour and 10 minutes later than its posted 1 p.m. start. “Well, a little earlier than normal.”

Listen live to the proceedings.

See today's agenda.

See the budget papers to be considered today.

Shared Revenue and Tax Relief Budget Papers Released

The budget papers on shared revenue and tax relief have been issued by the Legislative Reference Bureau. The budget papers are not on this week's agendas for the Joint Finance Committee.

See the shared revenue and tax relief papers

Budget Papers Posted for Wednesday and Thursday

Among the budget papers for Wednesday and Thursday are Wisconsin Housing and Development Authority Reserve Funds, the UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System, the Dept. of Workforce Development and Department of Health and Family Services.

See the budget papers

JFC Planning to Clean Most of Their Plate Today

Word from the office of Joint Finance Co-Chair Sen. Scott Fitzgerald is that the committee will handle all the business on its calendar today with the exception of the Department of Natural Resources budget papers on air and water quality and Higher Educational Aids Board.

Fitzgerald said last week that the DNR issues were delayed by jurisdiction questions between the DNR and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Fitzgerald spokesman Mike Prentiss said the last pieces of the DNR puzzle are coming together and should be taken care of in time for a vote Thursday. The HEAB issue may be dealt with at the same time as the UW System budget papersm, he said.

See today's calendar

New Revenue Estimates Released

A new report released today by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau show state revenues by the end of the 2005-07 biennium up $350 million over previous projections.

Because of a review of tax collections data and the new national economic forecast by Global Insight, Inc., revenues are expected to be higher than estimated in January, LFB Director Bob Lang wrote. The new estimates show revenues exceeding the previous estimates by $129 million in 2004-05, by $137.6 million in '05-06, and $82.4 million in '06-07.

See the LFB release

Gov. Jim Doyle released an optimistic statement on the new estimates. "Today's news is a clear sign that the budget I signed almost two years ago put Wisconsin on the right track. It's a strong turnaround for a state that faced a $3.2 billion deficit two years ago - and we did it without a tax increase.

"These numbers are improving because our economy is growing again - a clear sign that not raising taxes was the right choice two years ago, and is the right choice today. For the past two years, my Administration has streamlined regulations, invested in manufacturing and other key industries, and made job training a major priority. Today's news is one more sign these efforts are beginning to pay dividends," Doyle said.

In a joint statement, Co-Chairs Sen. Scott Fitzgerald and Rep. Dean Kaufert said now Medicaid hole can be filled by "real dollars."

"When the Finance Committee voted to eliminate this irresponsible plan from the governor's budget, we said we were committed to using real money to pay for the costs of Medical Assistance," Fitzgerald said. "With today's announcement, we are able to deliver on that promise."

"It's reason to be optimistic about the economy but it does not give government the green light to go on a spending spree," said Kaufert. "The numbers are still predicated on receiving payments from the casinos that simply have not materialized, yet."

See more reaction in the WisPolitics "In the News" box

Kreuser: Republicans "Playing Musical Chairs"

Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser and the state Dem party are again bashing Joint Finance Committee Republicans, particularly Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald, for surreptitious budget-building. "Obviously, doing the people's work in the light of day is not the GOP's first concern, seeing as they've already come out and said that they're playing election-cycle politics with the Legislature's most important responsibility," Kreuser commented in a press release.

Kreuser was responding to remarks that Fitzgerald made to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Fitzgerald said the budget was "90 percent done" and that this budget was very important going into the election cycle.

"Twelve Republicans playing musical chairs sounds harmless enough, but not when it's Joint Finance Committee members trying to avoid a quorum while drafting a $50 billion budget in secret. That's poor form and it's not good for the state," Kreuser said.

Read the Kreuser release

Fitzgerald spokesman Mike Prentiss fired back, calling the Kenosha rep's allegations of open meetings violations "ridiculous."

"It's too bad that the minority leader's only contribution to the budget process so far is carrying water for Jim Doyle's plan, then throwing partisan attacks at the Republican leaders who are trying to fix the governor's budget," Prentiss said. "It's interesting that someone who seems to care so much about the state budget hasn't been seen or heard in the finance room."

Republican members have worked well with Kreuser's appointees, Democratic Reps. Mark Pocan and Pedro Colón, Prentiss said, adding if Kreuser was so concerned about process he should have appointed himself to the committee. "We understand his frustration at presiding over the smallest Democratic Assembly minority since Eisenhower was president," he said.

Finance is planning to meet Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. Tomorrow's session is due to start at 1 p.m.

Kreuser, Kaufert Spar Over Jensen's Spot on JFC

After Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser today said Rep. Scott Jensen was casting a shadow over the budget proceedings, Joint Finance Committtee Co-Chair Dean Kaufert defended his Republican colleague and criticized Kreuser.

"It is the job of a leader to lead, not to take pot shots against members that have been overwhelmingly elected by their constituents. This kind of tactic is not only an attack on every member of this body, but also on the democratic process that we are elected to uphold," Kaufert said in a statement. "So while Representative Kreuser continues to enjoy his nights and weekends at home dreaming up bad press releases, every member of the Finance committee is going to be busy working to put forward a budget document that will put Wisconsin back on a financially sound path."

Kreuser responded a short while later.

“I respect the honorable co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee’s attempt to stand up for one of his fellow Republicans. However, I hope he understands that I did nothing but point out the facts. If the co-chair of Finance and other Assembly Republicans want to turn a blind eye to this shadow being cast over the Assembly then that is their right. However, the rest of the state can see clearly what is going on when they connect the dots.”

In order, take a look at Kreuser's original release, then Kaufert's response and finally Kreuser's retort.

Calling It Quits

After about an hour break, JFC members have decided to call it a day. The committee had gone into recess to talk about DNR issues and were planning to come back out. But at 4:30 p.m., Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald announced the committee would not reconvene today and will meet next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Among the topics JFC will tackle Tuesday are DNR Water Quality and Air, Waste and Contaminated Lands, which were held over from this week, and the DHFS department-wide budget.

See the agenda

See the budget papers up for consideration

Break Time

The committee has taken a break to see if they can join hands on the DNR issues they're taking up today. Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said the break would take about an hour.

Stewardship Program to Get 78,000 More Acres

Rep. Scott Jensen's motion to direct the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to sell its land holdings to the DNR's stewardship program and give the proceeds to schools, libraries and local governments caused lengthy debate in the committee.

The BCPL's trust fund owns nearly 78,000 acres in 34 counties, with about 69,000 acres concentrated in nine northern counties. (The motion was presented in lieu of Budget Paper 165).

Representatives from the Fiscal Bureau said a valuation has never been done on the land and refused to give an estimate of how much the land would cost.

Jensen said passing the motion, tantamount to a major policy shift, would end the debate between the JFC and the governor over the state's stewardship program. The motion also directs the DNR to explore selling the properties to private interests, with the exception of some environmentally sensitive holdings that would remain in the stewardship program. Jensen said the sale makes good environmental and fiscal sense for the state.

Democrats pointed out that under the Constitution, the agency could ignore the directive. But Jensen said if the directive is ignored, the agencies would have to answer to the Legislature and taxpayers for its inaction. He said the directive "represents property tax relief." The reason: the BCPL doesn't pay local property taxes while the stewardship program would.

Rep. Mark Pocan said shifting the land ownership would tie up stewardship funds, limit hunting and fishing money, and merely add red tape. "For people who say they don't like bureaucracy, they sure seem to like bureaucracy when it comes to raiding the stewardship fund," Pocan said.

By way of brokering a deal on the issue, Jensen and Rep. Dean Kaufert said they promise not alter the governor's stewardship funding request.

"We will leave stewardship alone," Kaufert pledged.

The motion passed 10-6, with GOP Sens. Robert Cowles and Joe Liebham voting with the Dems.

Lobbyists Anxious for Vote On Public Benefits Fund

The hearing room is filled with lobbyists waiting for a vote on the Public Benefits Fund transfer. Staffers say this issue has brought more lobbying attention than any other during these budget hearings, from a broad array of interest groups, and they say all the lobbying efforts have been opposed to the transfer proposed by Doyle. See the details in Budget Paper 100.

The lobbyists may leave disappointed today, because word is that there is still division among Republican members on this transfer, and a decision may be delayed until next week. While the program is unpopular among GOP legislators, they have made a show of opposing other, similar transfers by Doyle.

Motion Tabled for Fear of 'Fancy' Lawyers

A motion by Rep. Pedro Colón to fine employers “not less than” $500 for failing to supply employees with BadgerCare coverage information. The free-standing motion was tabled because members thought it was too broad.

Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert said people could go out and get a “fancy lawyer” like Colón and try to exploit employers with deep pockets.

“I've heard Rep. Colón described many ways before, but never as 'fancy,'” Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said.

And They're Off...

The committee clerk is now calling the roll.

Listen live to the proceedings.

See the budget papers that could be voted on today.

Waiting to Begin...

Senate Republicans were meeting in the committee conference room until about 12:45 p.m. while most Assembly Republicans and their staff waited in the hearing room. Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert, a normally affable guy, looks frustrated by the delays.

Senate Session Delays Start of JFC

Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs Scott Fitzgerald and Dean Kaufert sounded serious when they said the panel would be called to order around 10 a.m. But a lengthy Senate debate on Voter ID has postponed the start.

Republican senators are now meeting in the conference room (or the "illegal quorum room" as one Dem staffer jokingly labeled it) adjacent to the hearing room.

Ready for an Early Start Tomorrow

The committee adjourned at about 7:10 p.m. They will reconvene at 10 a.m. tomorrow, and Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert said he expects the committee to begin on time because the items that are being carried over until tomorrow have been roundly discussed.

The committee doesn't expect to be derailed by an 8 a.m. Senate session either. Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said he has word from Majority Leader Dale Schultz that Senate action will be suspended tomorrow at 10 a.m. for Finance Committee to begin.

Unfair Sales Act Enforcers Stay In Budget

Score one for “mom and pop.”

Rep. Scott Jensen authored a motion to eliminate two positions from DATCP. According to the Fiscal Bureau, the jobs perform educational and investigative duties related to the Unfair Sales Act.

The motion failed 13-3.

The Unfair Sales Act prohibits retailers from selling gasoline at less than the cost to drive competitors out of business.

Jensen said the two are known as the “price police.” “Their job is to go around and make sure people don't get bargains.” In the last four years, he said, the “two bureaucrats” have referred only five cases to district attorneys.

Cutting the jobs would have removed $311,800 from the budget over the biennium.

Rep. Mark Pocan said Jensen has been consistent on the issue, and persistent in his attempts to “remove the teeth” from this law. He said Jensen's motion would spell doom for neighborhood, “mom and pop” stores who have a hard enough time competing with the Wal-Marts of the world.

Rep. David Ward said the low number of referrals show the DATCP employees are doing their job in educating store owners on the law.

Planning for Tomorrow

Here's how tomorrow should go according to a Senate source: The floor session will begin at 8 a.m. If the Senate hasn't finished its business by the JFC start time of 10 a.m., they will go into recess until the conclusion of the JFC meeting. They will resume the floor session following JFC adjournment.

No Funding for New Indigent Legal Fund

Committee Republicans chose not to provide half a million dollars in '06-'07 for an indigent civil legal services program in the Dept. of Administration's Office of Justice Assistance. Gov. Jim Doyle had recommended the establishment of the fund.

The motion to delete Doyle's recommendation passed on a party line 12-4 vote. The recommendation is detailed in Budget Paper 121.

JFC Cuts 'Smart Growth' Funding

The committee voted to eliminate funding for a major component of the state's "Smart Growth" initiative.

The motion, authored by Rep. Dan Meyer, removes the requirement for counties to have a comprehensive plan in place by 2010, shifting $2 million to the general fund.

The motion passed 10-6.

Meyer said he has nothing against planning, but “counties should be able to plan as they wish at the local level instead of being told how to plan.”

Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald agreed its time to shift to local control. “There was a time at its beginning when Smart Growth seemed like a good idea, but it's time to move forward,” he said.

Rep. Mark Pocan said the popularity of grant requests is evidence of the popularity of the program with counties. “I think this would be the worst motion we've done yet,” Pocan said.

Sen. Luther Olsen agreed the state needs organized growth. He said Smart Growth is a popular program in district, and this motion is coming from “people who say, 'I don't want anyone telling me what to do with my property.' And the farther north I go, I hear that more and more.” He said the program encourages local people to set their own plan. “Not that Madison tells them what to do - they decide.”

Smart Growth funding is in Budget Paper 102.

JFC, Supreme Court Compromise on Funding

A compromise has been brokered between Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and the JFC regarding the court interpreter manager position.

The motion deletes the position and more than $100,000 from the biennial budget, and funds the position from funding transferred from the circuit court's court interpreter reimbursement appropriation.

Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said Abrahamson can come back over the biennium and request additional money if the need arises.

“We found a middle ground with the chief justice,” Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald said.

“You must be right because I don't see her coming through the door,” said Sen. Lena Taylor, referring to the chief justice's dramatic entrance two weeks ago.

One Item Off the Agenda

The committee will not address the Public Benefits Fund transfer, Budget Paper 100, today.

Committee Agrees With Doyle's Cut of 16 PSC Employees

The committee decided to adopt Gov. Jim Doyle's call to cut 16 positions from the Public Service Commission despite a motion by Sen. Robert Cowles to retain five of them. Cowles motion failed 11-4.

Cowles argued that the five jobs were needed to sufficiently staff the commission. Restoring the five jobs would have come at a cost of $651,200.

Rep. Scott Jensen said he talked to PSC Chair Dan Ebert and he was for the full job cut to change the culture of the agency. Cowles charged that Ebert was “carrying water for a body count” for Doyle.

The Waiting Is the Hardest Part

No sign of committee senators as 3:30 p.m. approaches. Most of the Assembly members have been in the chamber for a half hour or more.

The Senate session ran later than expected today, not wrapping up until 1 o'clock. That put the whole process behind, as the Republican senators usually have a cram session before the committee meets.

Some staffers are frustrated with the late start and are expecting a late night. "I can't believe the leadership thought Jonathan Ela was more important than the budget," one moaned.

Staffers are also wary the scheduled 10 a.m. start tomorrow could be in jeopardy due to a special 8 a.m. Senate sessionto deal with the minimum wage pre-emption issue.

Committee Still Delayed

Today's JFC meeting, originally scheduled for 1 p.m., has yet to begin.

See the budget papers that could come up for consideration once the meeting starts.

WUA to JFC: Keep Hands off PBF

A representative from the Wisconsin Utilities Association was in the Joint Finance room early to pass out a memo to committee members urging them against diverting Public Benefits funds to the general fund.

“The governor's proposed budget would transfer $53 million from the Public Benefit Fund to the General Fund, apparently from the energy conservation and efficiency, renewable resources accounts, according to the summary by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau,” said the memo from the desk of WUA Executive Director Bill Skewes.

“While recognizing the challenge of balancing the state budget with limited revenues, the Wisconsin Utilities Association does not support the diversion of these funds from Public Benefits.”

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, in association with some prominent consumer groups, also issued a press release this morning urging the committee to dump Gov. Jim Doyle's plan to transfer Public Benefit funds.

See the release

A Tradition Continues ...

The Joint Finance Committee continued their tradition of late starts. At about 1:30 p.m., Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert, looking a little annoyed, came into the chamber, sat at his seat and announced that the committee wouldn't convene until 2:30 p.m.

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Next Meetings to Come Wed. and Thurs.

The Joint Finance Committee is planning to meet next week on Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m.

Among the items on the agenda: Medical Assistance, BadgerCare and SeniorCare.

See the agenda.

JFC Establishes Cemetery Board

The committee's last piece of business before adjourning at 4:35 p.m. was to create a six-member cemetery board that will serve under the Dept. of Regulation and Licensing.

By way of selling the new board, Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert said there are 5,000 cemeteries in the state but only 75 are regulated. He pointed out financial difficulties in cemeteries across the state, and said representatives from the state Cemetery Association have come forward seeking a self-run board that can investigate and impose disciplinary actions.

The board will oversee for-profit cemeteries, and its oversight will not include religious cemeteries or small cemeteries.

The committee is planning to meet next week on Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m.

Reed Act Funding Reduced By $3 Million

The committee cut nearly $3 million from federal Reed Act funding recommended by Gov. Doyle for apprenticeship programs and the Grow Wisconsin Initiative in budget papers 842 and 843. The cuts passed on party-line 12-4 votes. The unspent money will remain in the unemployment compensation fund.

The motion to amend budget paper 842 removed 975,000 over the biennium and deleted 1.2 FED positions. The motion to amend budget paper 843 removes 2 million in federal funding.

Rep. Scott Jensen said "overspending" on Reed Act programs is drawing down the unemployment compensation fund and could lead to the need to raise taxes on businesses.

Rep. Mark Pocan said the Reed Act funding is an integral part of Gov. Doyle's Grow Wisconsin, which he said is obviously doing something right because job growth here is outpacing much of the country.

Jensen was amazed the Dems can complain about the poor economy under President Bush but praise the economic renaissance brought about by Doyle. “How they're able to pull those two thing off at the same time is impressive to me,” he said.

Pocan offered to get Jensen some Doyle campaign materials. “I agree
Gov. Doyle has done a great job and should be re-elected,” Pocan said.

$3 Million Cut from Bio-Industry Grant Program

The committee removed $2 million in GPR and 1 million in SEG funding over the biennium from the bio-industry grant program outlined in budget paper 143.

The motion by Rep. David Ward also creates a biennial grant program in DATCP funded by the agrichemical management fund and provide 1 million SEG in 05-06. The motion, which passed 14-2, also included $150,000 for an implementation grant under the bio-industry grant program for the Cashton Greens Renewable Energy Park, which is researching using cattle waste for an alternative fuel source.

Another Ward motion to amend budget paper 143 to include forestry waste with agricultural waste under the bio-industry grant program. The motion also gives DATCP the power to make grants for the research and development of bio-diesel technologies.

Committee Rejects Moving Consumer Protection to DOJ

The committee voted 12-3 (Democrat Pedro Colon, the fourth Dem on the panel, missed the first couple minutes of the meeting) to reject Gov. Jim Doyle's proposal to shift consumer protection from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to the Department of Justice. There was no discussion on the item, contained in Budget Paper 140.

Quotable

“I probably should start by telling members to be careful when their mics are on.” --Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald, referring to the inadvertent S-bomb he dropped on the committee last week.

JFC Members Ready to Take On DATCP, EdVest

As of 2:20 p.m. Joint Finance members continued to file in and out of the hearing room as they line up the ducks for the day's session. Despite the gorgeous weather in Madison today, the hearing room is more crowded than usual with lobbyists prevalent among the crowd.

Word is the committee will handle many of the major items on their agenda today, like DATCP and EdVest, but the budget items regarding DHFS may be put on hold until next week.

A source inside the committee said the start of the session is being delayed as senators struggle to get on the same page. “They've all got to be singing 'Kumbaya.'”

The committee is looking at Wednesday and Thursday sessions next week. The Assembly has a floor session scheduled for Tuesday.

Most of the GOP contingent from the Assembly were in the hearing room between 1:30 and 2 p.m., but the only Republican senators visible were Joe Liebham and Alberta Darling until Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald emerged at about 2:40 p.m. and announced the meeting would be called to order in two minutes.

Ten minutes later, the meeting was called to order.

GOP Caucuses Plan Budget Strategy

The Joint Committee on Finance will gather at 1 p.m. Thursday, following floor sessions in the Legislature. The Senate Republicans are holding caucus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today to talk over the budget, and Assembly Republicans caucused late yesterday. Despite the slow pace of deliberations lately, Senate Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald assures the committee is on schedule. "We're OK," Fitzgerald told WisPolitics. "We're into May so obviously we're at the point where people are starting to get very serious about these items."

The Assembly and Senate GOP caucuses are working well together, Fitzgerald said, although there are some differences of philosophy on issues like Medicaid and education. "There always is on what the endgame will be on Medicaid or education, but there isn't on what you do as far as overall reductions to make sure the budget we come out with is a fiscally sound document," he said. In moments of impasse, caucus leadership is consulted, but he said the power ultimately lies in the JFC. "The process still very much in the committee, and still very much in the open," Fitzgerald said.

Among the budget papers on Thursday's agenda are items from the Department of Workforce Development, from Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and from Health and Family Services. An item that could draw prolonged discussion is Gov. Doyle's proposed transfer of the Consumer Protection agency to the Department of Justice. A source close to the committee says there are strong philosophical feelings on both sides of the issue, even among Republicans.

Not on the agenda are papers regarding shared revenue and transportation aids, which were on last week's docket but not taken up. As Assembly Co-Chair Dean Kaufert indicated last week to WisPolitics, Fitzgerald said the committee may take up all shared revenue and transpo issues at once. "We are definitely working on trying to pull together some positions of compromise with the Assembly on those items," he said.

Fitzgerald confirmed the Senate has a goal of carving $500 million in spending from Doyle's proposal, a topic that will come up in the caucus. "I know that will be part of the discussion (at caucus Wednesday), what cuts are acceptable," he said. "We're talking about real reductions in specific programs, which is what we need to balance this thing out. If we fall short of that we will need to have a real discussion about whether you're willing to accept some kind of structural deficit going into the next budget."

Meanwhile, Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser is voicing concern about the delays, which he says may indicate that the budget is being put together behind closed doors. “For once I sincerely hope the Joint Finance is simply disorganized and not ready to get to work. Because if the Republicans are crafting a budget in secret, without providing the public or Democrats a voice, it would be politics-as-usual,” says Kreuser in a press release.

See the Kreuser press release

No JFC Tomorrow; Committee Will Meet Thursday

The Joint Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday at 1 p.m. following the conclusion of floor sessions in the Legislature. New budget papers are posted below. Check back with the blog for updates.

See the agenda

May 5 Budget Papers

The URL for the Budget Blog has changed as of Feb. 13, 2009. Click here to visit the new home page

WisPolitics Budget Blog

JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE

Senate Members

Assembly Members

BUDGET LINKS

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Kaufert Pulls the Plug on Today's JFC Meeting

OSER Director Timberlake: Hands Off Comp Reserve

Quotable

Still Waiting

Assembly GOP to Caucus Tonight

JFC Delay of Game

Friday, May 27, 2005

Berceau, Grigsby Weigh in on Budget

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Gov. Doyle: "Today Is a Great Day for Seniors and People with Disabilities in Wisconsin"

JFC Serves Full Plate Next Week

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

UW System Close but No Cigar

Insurers Avoid Paying More for Fires

Commerce Pork Grab Slows Deliberations

Commerce Cuts Bring Quick Rebuke from Doyle

They Deserve a Break

Gentlemen, Start Your Bonding

LFB Staffer Gets Moment in the Spotlight

Doyle's Plan to Relocate Nursing Home Residents to Community Approved

Committee Approves Money for Vets

Committee Gets Started

2:30 p.m. New Projected Start Time

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Blogger Mea Culpa

Late Night Segues to Noon Start Tomorrow

Transfers from DNR to General Fund Approved

Medical Coverage for Outgoing Foster Kids Nixed

Pizza Quorum Narrowly Averted

Cig Tax Up in Smoke

“iPod Tax” Goes Down

Quotable

Committee Zaps Streamlined Sales Tax Proposal

Committee Bogs Down from GOP Infighting

Students Make Scene at JFC

2:30? Yeah right.

Foster Parents and Kids Flex Muscles

Meeting Start Delayed

Revised Calendar for Today's Hearing

Monday, May 23, 2005

Meeting Adjourned

Tommy Park Funding Nixed by GOP Panel

Meyer Gets Restriction on Land Sales to DNR

State Juvenile Facilities on the Chopping Block

Can-Can Breaks the Monotony

A Day of Cats and Dogs

Pocan: Associating with Alliance Defense Fund Makes State Look Like "North Mississippi"

Pocan, Jensen Battle Over Domestic Partnership Benefits

JFC Gets Late Start - Early Dig at Lawton

Calendar Released for Wednesday Meeting

Thursday, May 19, 2005

New Batch of Budget Papers

UW, Techs Will Wait 'Til Next Week

Pocan Bid to Extend Newborn Grants Fails

Tidbits from the TANF Discussion

Doyle Says JFC Taking Out Anger on Foster Parents

Quotable

Parties Bicker Over Welfare Cuts

A Messy Start

Still Waiting...

Schultz Pushes to Remove 'Fair Claims Act' from Budget Process

Meeting Start Delayed

Nass Slams UW System's Budget Request

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

See Ya Bright and Early

Kaufert Plays Coy with Fair Claims

Eye of the Beholder

We'll Be Right Back

Funds for Refugee Family Strengthening Project Saved

Republicans Take Home Visits Out of Budget

Oh That's Right, We Don't Get Along

Strength in Numbers?

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