Senate Members


Co-Chair: Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona

Democratic members Republican members

Assembly Members


Co-Chair: Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson

Republican members Democratic members

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Sparks Fly Over School Choice

Rep. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, said Milwaukee Democrats need to step up and support the school choice program in their city. She said Republicans are "tired of doing the work Milwaukee Democrats refuse to do."

She said Rep. Pedro Colon, D-Milwaukee, failed to introduce a funding fix for the program in the Joint Finance Committee, which results in higher taxes for Milwaukee residents. She also blasted Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who she said doesn't receive the respect his predecessor John Norquist did in the Capitol. "He shows up looking for more money and a hand-out," she said of Barrett.

Colon responded sarcastically that he wasn't aware that he was only member of the JFC who could propose amendments, and pointed out that not only did Republican JFC members fail to offer a fix in the committee, but the Republican budget being debated today also fails to provide a fix.

"Just to be frank, I don't think you care about the taxpayers of Milwaukee," Colon said. "You don't give a damn about those taxpayers."

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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Current Law Maintained on Milwaukee-Racine Charter School Funding

Meaning that the charter schools appropriation will be $44.2 million for 2007-08 and $48.4 million for 2008-09. (Budget paper 653)

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Milwaukee Residential Charter School Removed from Budget

Sen. Decker's motion to delete the provision to establish a residential charter school in Milwaukee prevailed. (Budget paper 652)

GOP Sens. Olsen and Darling, and GOP Rep. Vos and Dem Reps. Pocan and Colon voted against eliminating the provision.

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Doyle's Choice Proposal Adopted

On a party-line vote, the JFC rejects the GOP motion to adopt alternative 5 on budget paper 650, dealing with the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. The motion would have deleted the provision and resulted in a general school aids reduction to MPS of about $21 million over the biennium.

Failing other motions, the governor's proposal on paper 650 was adopted.

Ditto budget paper 651.

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School Choice Debate Rages

Rep. Rhoades said the school choice funding "mess" was started by the Democrats in 2001 who voted against two-thirds, and she said Republicans have been working diligently to fix it since. Now she sounds fed up. (Budget paper 650)

"If no one's willing to help, we'll just step aside and let you figure it out," she said.

Sen. Decker responded that it was a split Legislature in 2001 with a Republican governor who instigated school choice, and that when both houses of the Legislature turned Republican the program "expanded dramatically."

Decker said some of the choice schools "have no credibility," and listed scandals that have befallen some of the institutions.

Rep. Vos said choice is "the one program in Milwaukee I believe is actually doing a great job," and said Dems were on the "same old diatribe."

"Parents want this program," he said.

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School Choice Cap Motion Fails

A motion from Sen. Taylor to limit the number of students under the Milwaukee parental choice program to 15,000 beginning in 2007-08 and specify that total family income cannot exceed 1.75 times the federal poverty level failed on a 7-9 vote, with Rep. Pocan voting with committee Republicans.

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Greg Bump

Contact: bump@wispolitics.com

Updates on Joint Finance Committee action on the 2007-09 Wisconsin state budget, from the first JFC meetings through the governor's final vetoes.

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