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Senate Members


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

Democratic members Republican members

Assembly Members


Co-Chair: Mark Pocan, D-Madison

Democratic members Republican members

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Crex Meadows Motion Fails

The committee has returned from its break, with Rhoades telling Jauch that Republicans agree the Crex Meadows Youth Conservation Camp in Grantsburg is a good project, but he may not be pursuing the right funding source. She asks Jauch if he'd like to pull it back until a later time.

Jauch replied that the same case could be made with any motion down the line. He seemed to warn that defeating the motion would impact negotiations down the road.

"I've seen this committee work like a boxing match and I've seen this committee work in a very collegial way," Jauch said, explaining that the job of the committee is to get as much of the budget completed before it goes to the legislative houses.

"I understand that programs like this you want to fund without expending new GPR, there for it has to come from someplace. I've identified a funding source," he said.

Jauch's motion failed on a party-line 8-8 vote.

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Take A Break

The JFC is informal to discuss an amendment introduced by Sen. Bob Jauch to divert $80,000 from the Youth Apprenticeship Program in the second year of the biennium for the Crex Meadows Youth Conservation Camp. To receive the funds, the camp must raise $20,000.

The Burnett County camp serves at-risk students in Northern Wisconsin. About 60 students participate each year, and Jauch said students who attend the camp have an 86 percent high school graduation rate.

Assembly Republicans on the committee balked at the earmark, but Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, had a word withthe GOP Republicans just before they could take a vote. Co-chair Rep. Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson, then called for the committee to stand informal.

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First Healthy Debate

There is a sharp disagreement with what to do with Youth Apprenticeship Program funding in the Department of Workforce Development. (Budget paper 883.)

Co-chair Rep. Kitty Rhoades moved alternative four, which would keep funding for the program at the current level. Gov. Jim Doyle is recommending $1.6 million in funding over the biennium, including adding two new positions.

Democrats on the committee say the program is a success. Sen. Bob Jauch accused Republicans of "de-funding" it.

Rep. Robin Vos was exasperated. "Only in government is staying at the current level called de-funding," he said.

One of the positions is earmarked for Milwaukee, which fired up Rep. Scott Suder. "Why should one go to the great state of Milwaukee?" he asked. "I could not get a special project position for Abbottsford."

Rhoades' motion fails 6-10, with the two Republican Senators on the panel, Luther Olsen and Alberta Darling, voting with Democrats.

Co-chair Sen. Decker moves to adopt the governor's proposal, which passes 11-5, with GOP Rep. Steve Kestell voting with Olsen, Darling and the Dems.

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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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