Capitol capsules
Finance committee may remove policy items
The co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee have released a list of non-fiscal policy items included in the governor’s 2001-03 budget bill, as identified by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The bureau identified 189 such provisions, the largest number in state history. The JFC co-chairs will meet in the next few weeks to determine which initiatives will be pulled from the budget and considered as separate legislation. All pulled items will be reviewed by a standing committee and receive a public hearing.
Policy items relating to UW–Madison include measures that would modify membership of State Laboratory of Hygiene Board; require 15 percent of course offerings to be offered during evenings, weekends or by electronic means; grant tuition remissions for state science fair champions; and repeal the Medical Education Review Committee.
Budget hearings begin
The Joint Finance Committee began public budget hearings last week, meeting in Superior March 27 and Eau Claire March 28. Members heard from hundreds of people on a variety of issues, including support for the UW System budget and more financial aid for UW students. A Madison hearing is scheduled Wednesday, April 11, in the Capitol at 10 a.m. The committee will complete its public hearings in Milwaukee Friday, April 20.
Legislation introduced
Selective service: Rep. Sheldon Wasserman, D-Milwaukee, introduced a measure (AB 243) that would prohibit the Board of Regents and the Higher Educational Aids Board from providing any state financial assistance to a person who is required to register with the selective service and has not done so.
College textbooks: Rep. Judy Kraczyk, R-Green Bay, introduced legislation (AB 263) that provides a sales tax exemption for college textbooks. The bill was referred to the Committee on Colleges and Universities.