The Joint Finance Committee’s budget briefings with the heads of state agencies have been scheduled. Tuesday, March 19 – 10:00a.m.Department of AdministrationDepartment of RevenueDepartment of Workforce DevelopmentDepartment of JusticeOffice of the State Public Defender Wednesday, March 20 – 9:00a.m.Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer ProtectionDepartment of Health ServicesDepartment of Veterans AffairsDepartment of TransportationWisconsin Economic Development […]
Press Corps Comments on Capitol Climate
Date Tue, Mar. 12, 2013 - 9:51am By Hamilton
Steve Walters hosted a Capitol Roundtable discussion with members of the Capitol Press Corps on March 8, 2013 at the WisconsinEye studio in Madison on the recent mining bill passed by the legislature, Governor Walker’s budget and the upcoming Supreme Court race between incumbent Justice Pat Roggensack and challenger Ed Fallone. Panelists included: WisPolitics.com editor, […]
Next Steps for the Budget
Date Thu, Mar. 7, 2013 - 10:44am By Hamilton
Now that the budget has been introduced, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau will take 3-4 weeks to prepare a comprehensive analysis of the bill for the Joint Finance Committee (JFC). Starting in mid-March, JFC will schedule committee hearings and invite selected agency heads to appear and testify before the committee on their respective agency budgets. Public […]
The Legislative Response
Date Thu, Feb. 21, 2013 - 3:32pm By Hamilton
After Gov. Walker’s budget address, members from both parties and both houses were eager to share their opinions on the governor’s proposals. Wisconsin Eye collected responses from legislators on the floor immediately following the address. Both parties held press conferences following the address. Written statements from legislators, and others, are available in […]
Walker Delivers Budget Address
Date Thu, Feb. 21, 2013 - 3:02pm By Hamilton
On February 20, 2013, Gov. Scott Walker delivered the 2013 Budget Address titled “More Prosperity, Better Performance, and True Independence.” Speaker Vos, Speaker Pro Tem Kramer, President Ellis, Majority Leader Fitzgerald, Minority Leader Larson, Minority Leader Barca, members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Constitutional Officers, tribal leaders, members of the Cabinet, distinguished guests, members of […]
Budget Bill Introduced
Date Thu, Feb. 21, 2013 - 2:47pm By Hamilton
Gov. Walker’s 2013-15 budget bill was introduced to a joint session of the Assembly and Senate on February 20th. Walker’s budget, which focuses on growing the economy, developing the workforce, transforming education, reforming government, and investing in infrastructure, proposes an operating budget of $33.652 billion in FY2013-14 and $34.347 billion in FY2014-15. Highlights Walker has […]
Walker Budget to Include Investments in Infrastructure
Date Fri, Feb. 15, 2013 - 5:00pm By Hamilton
Gov. Walker has announced his budget will include an investment of $6.4 billion in Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure, including $824 million in new state funds. Walker’s plan will prioritize existing revenue streams, replace the raids of the past with state taxpayer funds, and make operational reforms so Wisconsin can continue to maintain and develop existing infrastructure […]
Walker’s Medicaid Plan
Date Wed, Feb. 13, 2013 - 5:00pm By Hamilton
Gov. Walker has announced several plans for entitlement reforms in his upcoming budget, including requiring worker training for food stamp eligibility, increasing required work searches for unemployment insurance eligibility, and reducing the number of individuals dependent on government-run health care. The Governor’s Medicaid proposal will: reduce the number of uninsured individuals in the state by […]
Medicaid Expansion a Hot Topic
Date Mon, Feb. 11, 2013 - 12:43pm By Hamilton
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) provides incentives for states to expand their Medicaid programs. Gov. Walker has said he will decide whether Wisconsin will expand its program by the time he delivers his budget address on February 20. In states like Wisconsin, that had a relatively expansive Medicaid Program prior to PPACA, […]
Walker’s $132 Million Workforce Development Agenda
Date Sun, Feb. 10, 2013 - 4:52pm By Hamilton
Over the weekend, Gov. Walker announced the details of his workforce development agenda. In total, the plan invests $132 million in programs aimed at equipping workers with the skills they need to find jobs in the modern workforce. “Our goal is to help our state and our workers become among the most prosperous and innovative […]