In a report sent to the Joint Finance Committee at the end of December, the Department of Health Services (DHS) projected a $39.8 million Medicaid shortfall over the next two years. DHS noted this shortfall is less than one percent of the $6.7 billion Medicaid general purpose revenue (GPR) budget for 2019-21. The letter from […]
Medicaid Budget Projected to End in the Red
Date Mon, Oct. 7, 2019 - 3:12pm By Hamilton
On Sept. 30, the Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted an updated projection for the state’s Medicaid budget to the Joint Finance Committee. DHS estimates the Medicaid expenditures will exceed the budget by $21.4 GPR at the end of the 2019-2021 biennium. The main reason cited for the negative projection is a decrease in the […]
Gov. Evers Signs 2019-21 Budget Bill
Date Wed, Jul. 3, 2019 - 2:36pm By Hamilton
On July 3, 2019, Gov. Tony Evers signed into law the 2019-21 state budget as 2019 Act 9. The governor used his partial-veto authority to change 78 provisions adopted by the Legislature. The final budget includes bipartisan priorities such as a middle class tax cut, water quality initiatives, expansions to dental care access, other health […]
Legislature Passes State Budget
Date Wed, Jun. 26, 2019 - 5:32pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislature passed its version of the 2019-21 state budget on Wednesday, June 26, sending the budget to Gov. Tony Evers for review. The budget largely adopts provisions approved by the Joint Finance Committee (JFC), along with an amendment that adjusts language to make it more difficult for Gov. Evers to use his line-item […]
JFC Finishes Budget Votes
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:25pm By Hamilton
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) has wrapped up its work on the 2019-21 state budget, rounding out the committee process with votes on Medicaid, taxes and transportation over the past few weeks. With an amended budget approved by JFC, the budget now goes to the full Legislature. Legislative leadership said in a post-JFC press conference […]
June 13 – JFC Wraps Up Budget Votes With Tax Cut Plan
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:20pm By Hamilton
JFC reconvened on June 13 for the last of its votes on the 2019-21 state budget: taxes. The JFC-approved tax plan includes a $322 million middle class tax cut, with the majority of the credit going to individuals with incomes of $150,000 or less. The motion (Motion #150), passed 12-4 along party lines, also includes […]
June 11 – JFC Takes Up CAFOs, Building Projects & More in Second-To-Last Exec
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:19pm By Hamilton
Under the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Democrats moved to adopt the governor’s proposals, including providing five positions to regulate CAFOs and increasing Wisconsin pollution discharge elimination system permit fees for CAFOs by over $300. However, the committee instead voted 12-4 along party lines to convert four vacant Department of Natural Resources […]
June 6 – Senate & Assembly Reach Compromise on Transportation; Other JFC Votes Include PSC, OCI, DOJ
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:18pm By Hamilton
The focus of the June 6 executive session was one of this session’s (and previous budgets’) most contentious issues: transportation. After deliberations between the Senate and Assembly Republican caucuses, JFC approved a $484 million transportation plan that increases fees but does not increase the gas tax, as proposed by Gov. Evers. The transportation motion, approved […]
June 4 – JFC Passes Medicaid Budget
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:15pm By Hamilton
JFC passed an omnibus motion on the Department of Health Services (DHS) budget, specifically addressing Medicaid, public health, FoodShare, behavioral health, and quality assurance. Overall, the motion spends: $187 million (in all funds) less than the governor’s proposal in 2019-20. $1.6 billion (in all funds) more in 2019-20 compared to the base year doubled. As […]
Marketplace Providers Tax Bill Advances in Committees
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:06pm By Hamilton
Legislation from Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) and Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) is advancing in the Wisconsin Legislature that would make clarifications related to the collection of online sales taxes from out-of-state retailers. The bill comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 in South Dakota v. Wayfair that states may collect online sales tax […]