WisPolitics Budget Blog

Multiple people have testified in support of the expansion of BadgerCare and FamilyCare as proposed in the governor's budget, and for the governor's proposed increase to Youth Aids funding for counties.

The district court administrator for western Wisconsin called for support of reimbursement increases for counties to provide court interpreter services.

The administrator of the Dunn County Health Care Center asked for a 5 percent increase per year in MA funding for nursing homes. Gov. Doyle's budget includes a 2 percent increase. The administrator also voiced his opposition for bed tax increases for nursing homes.

Rep. Kitty Rhoades, co-chair of the committee, gave the originality award to a woman who testified in support of funding for managed intensive grazing, a method of farming that emphasizes sustainable practices.

Bart Appleton, a 7th grade teacher from Prescott, testified in favor of Doyle's proposal to repeal the QEO.

Mark Tyler, president of steel fabricators OEM, urged support for the state's technical colleges. He said his company's "growth is only limited by our ability to find highly skilled workers."

Labels: BadgerCare, Bed tax, FamilyCare, Health Care, Medicaid, QEO, UW System

The JFC has heard testimony from two pastors who would like to see full funding for Gov. Jim Doyle's $22 million proposal for Treatment Alternative and Diversion program in the Department of Corrections.

Five individuals banded together to support Doyle's proposal for early intervention funding for children with autism and for his proposal to mandate insurance companies cover people with autism.

A UW-Eau Claire student stepped up to ask for a tuition freeze in the UW System, and a tech school student asked for more financial aid for the WTCS.

The superintendent from the Pepin Area School District said his board opposes the governor's proposal to repeal the QEO unless it is accompanied by the rescinding of revenue limits and an overhaul of the school funding formula.

Labels: Chippewa_Falls_Meeting, Corrections, Joint Committee on Finance, QEO, UW Tuition

Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, said that local officials and members of school boards are "begging to keep the QEO."

Olsen then asked Burmaster why she and Dem Gov. Jim Doyle believe that eliminating the QEO is best for schools.

Burmaster said that it just shows the schools are struggling financially, and eliminating the QEO is the only way she can see to get "out of a quagmire."

Olsen went on to express concerns that Doyle's budget proposal also falls $100 million short of the complete two-thirds funding of public schools.

"If we pass this budget...education in my mind would be in worse shape (than now)," Olsen said.

"You have every opportunity to shape that budget," Burmaster responded.

Olsen continued that line of questioning, asking if the committee should be concerned that the budget doesn't include two-thirds.

"The governor's budget goes a long way in helping students and it's on the table right now," said Burmaster.

With further prompting from Olsen she said, "Take a look at my budget and see what I proposed," she said, referring to the proposal she handed in that included two-thirds funding. "But like I said, I don't have as hard a job as the governor - I'm the advocate."

Labels: Burmaster, QEO, Two-Thirds Funding