On Last Day JFC Will Take Up Medical Assistance, K-12 Education & Taxes

The Joint Finance Committee will convene on Tuesday, June 4 at 10 a.m. to vote on the remaining budget items – medical assistance, K-12 education & taxes. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has prepared papers on the following budget items for JFC’s consideration: Health Services — Medical Assistance and Related ProgramsMA Cost-to-Continue Reestimate BadgerCare Plus — […]

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Finance Committee Votes on Controversial Issues

As the finance committee wades deeper into the budget mire, the issues become more complex and controversial. On Tuesday, JFC voted, mostly on party lines, on proposals related to public employee benefits, environmental fees, and food share. Double Dipping JFC voted to slightly change the governor’s proposal to limit the ability of retired public employees […]

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Upcoming Budget Action

The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will meet on May 23 at 10a.m. The committee has a full schedule for the day that includes transportation and higher education. Proposed Topics for May 23: Financial InstitutionsJustice–General Agency ProvisionsJustice–Victim and Witness ProgramsJustice–TransfersJustice–DNA CollectionTransportation–Transportation FinanceTransportation–Local Transportation AidTransportation–State Highway ProgramEducational Communications BoardHigher Educational Aids BoardUniversity of Wisconsin System Click here […]

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Budget Update

The Joint Finance Committee continues to vote on various parts of the budget. The committee has mostly voted on non-controversial items thus far, so this week’s session was a change of pace as the committee voted on some more weighty issues. Video of the JFC hearing from WisconsinEye. JFC covered the following items at its […]

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WEDC in the Hot Seat

In response to the Legislative Audit Bureau’s recent audit of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the public-private job-creation agency has faced increased scrutiny and its budget is in jeopardy. Budget Consequences On May 9, the Joint Finance Committee voted to make funding for WEDC conditional upon new compliance and reporting requirements in response to […]

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New Revenue Estimates Show $500M Increase

New revenue projections from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau show the state will take in $575 million more than expected over the next two years. A memo from the LFB says the general fund tax revenues are estimated to be higher by $215 million in 2012-13, $180 million in 2013-14, and $180 million in 2014-15. The […]

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Policy Items & Earmarks in the Budget

Each budget cycle, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB), releases an analysis of non-fiscal policy items in the draft budget. This year the LFB is also required to release a list of earmarks contained in the budget. Policy ItemsThe LFB identified 58 policy items in the budget bill. Criteria the LFB used to identify non-fiscal policy […]

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Joint Finance Committee Begins Voting on Budget

The Joint Finance Committee has begun taking votes on various parts of the budget. Prior to each JFC session the Legislative Fiscal Bureau publishes a budget paper detailing the various options the committee will vote on at a specific session. The next JFC session is scheduled for May 9. The committee is slated to cover […]

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Fiscal Bureau Explains Parental Choice Provisions Proposed in the Budget

In response to numerous legislative inquiries, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau has produced a memorandum discussing the potential effect of an expanded parental choice program on public school districts in the state. Additional information on the state budget can be found on Hamilton Consulting’s State Budget Issue Page. 

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Statewide Budget Hearings Draw Crowds

The Joint Finance Committee is traveling the state in an effort to give Wisconsinites a chance to comment on the state budget before the committee begins voting on specific items on April 25. Information and video from the four scheduled public hearings will be added as it becomes available: Thursday, April 4 at Greendale High […]

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