In this update:

• Budget Updates
• Administration Updates
• Legislative Updates
• Election Updates
• A Look at the Week Ahead
• Fundraising Opportunities

Budget Updates

JFC holds exec session on PSC, Tourism, and State Building Program

On Thursday, the Joint Finance Committee held an executive session where it took action on the following sections of the budget: Public Service Commission, Tourism, Building Commission and Building Program.

Public Service Commission

Gov. Evers had requested $750 million to expand broadband internet service, but Republicans chose to forgo any spending on broadband, saying federal funds would be coming to the state to pay for the expansion. Democrats opposed the decision to not include spending for broadband, calling it important for emerging technologies and the economy, and also pointing out the federal funds could take several years to arrive and the state would have to meet certain eligibility requirements first. Republicans on the other hand said the $700 million to $1.1 billion in federal broadband grants expected from the federal government would already stress the state’s capacity to lay the fiber network and additional state funds could not be utilized because there are not enough workers to lay the broadband.

Tourism

In a 12-4 vote, JFC approved spending $45.5 million on the state’s tourism budget. Notable investments include:

• $10 million for Visit Milwaukee to help promote and support the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee;
• $2 million for Discover Green Bay to help Green Bay host the 2025 NFL draft;
• $10 million for a supplemental appropriation that could be used at a later date to support the state’s tourism events or land another major event over the next two years.

Building Commission and Building Program

In a 12-4 vote, JFC approved $2.3 billion in capital spending with half coming from the state’s nearly $7 billion surplus. At a press conference prior to Thursday’s executive session, JFC co-chair Rep. Mark Born called the $2.3 billion proposal “historic” and noted it was the largest increase in capital spending in at least two decades. Gov. Tony Evers had requested $3.8 billion in capital spending. One of the projects that did not make it into the JFC budget motion was $347 million for UW-Madison’s Engineering building. Altogether, Gov. Evers had requested $1.8 billion in university capital projects, but the JFC approved $953.2 million instead. Notable projects included in the GOP motion that was approved include:

• $231 million for UW-Eau Claire’s Science Building;
• $285.2 million for a football practice facility for the Badgers;
• $10.7 million for upgrading the Marquette University School of Dentistry;
• $4.8 million for expanding Children’s Wisconsin hospital’s dental clinic;
• $10 million for expanding the Versiti Blood Research Institute in Milwaukee;
• $60 million for the construction of a new state history museum in Madison;
• $78.4 million to cover additional costs to build a new type 1 juvenile justice facility.

Fiscal Bureau Papers for Next Week

The Joint Finance Committee will meet next week on Thursday, June 8th at 1:00 p.m.. The committee will cover the following items during their executive session:

• Transportation — Transportation Finance
• Transportation — Local Transportation Aid
• Transportation — Local Transportation Assistance
• Transportation — State Highway Program
• Transportation — Division of Motor Vehicles
• Transportation — State Patrol
• Transportation — Departmentwide
• Corrections — Departmentwide
• Corrections — Adult Institution
• Corrections — Community Corrections
• Corrections — Adult Sentencing
• Corrections — Juvenile Corrections
• Justice — Departmentwide
• Justice — Law Enforcement Services
• Justice — Legal Services
• Justice — Treatment Alternatives and Diversions
• Justice — Forensic Science
• Justice — Victim and Witness Services
• Safety and Professional Services — Departmentwide
• Safety and Professional Services — Regulation of Professions
• Safety and Professional Services — Safety and Buildings Programs
• Administration — General Agency Provisions
• Administration — Housing
• Administration — Energy and Environment
• Administration — Personnel Management
• Administration — Information Technology
• Administration — Facilities
• Administration — Procurement and Risk Management
• Administration — Division of Gaming

Administration Updates

While visiting Milwaukee as a part of his statewide tour to help repair potholes, Gov. Evers commented on the shared revenue bill currently working its way through the Legislature. In his speech, Gov. Evers shared that his preference for the bill is to allow the Milwaukee Common Council and County Board to approve the sales tax component, known as “enabling legislation,” rather than having it require a referendum vote. “They represent the people that put them in office, so I think that’s a reasonable thing,” Governor Evers said. While he previously stated he would veto a bill if it came to his desk without sufficient funding or too many restrictions, he did not reiterate the sentiment on Tuesday. When asked about a potential veto, the Governor stated, “I’m not sure about that. The money’s important. We should be able to get to an agreement on this, and I think we will.”

The Governor went on to tell reporters that he’s asked to meet with GOP legislative leaders on the issue and believed they would get together this week. He noted that the Assembly and Senate are in a “bit of a stalemate, so we’re waiting to hear from them.”

Legislative Updates

Assembly floor session planned for next week

In a letter to members of the Rules Committee, the office of Majority Leader Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) announced the Assembly has tentative plans to be on the floor June 7, 14, and 20. During the June 7th session, the Assembly will take up 15 bills, including a package of seven bills recommended by the study committee on occupational licenses to reform how the Department of Safety and Professional Services administers its occupational licensing system. The Assembly plans to also take up a Senate bill which would up the current class C felony for manufacturing, distributing, or delivering drugs that caused a death to a class B felony which includes a penalty of 60 years in prison. Another bill, AB 109, would require one-half credit of personal financial literacy to graduate from high school.

See the full list of bills that will be considered on June 7th by the Assembly here.

Republicans introduce “Embrace Them Both,” Dems re-introduce Pregnancy Protection Act

Republicans and Democrats have each put forward their own pieces of legislation to address maternal healthcare in Wisconsin. Republicans introduced “Embrace Them Both,” a package of bills that clarify parts of the state’s 1849 abortion ban. Democrats on the other hand, have re-introduced the “Pregnancy Protection Act,” a bill that would require all health insurance plans to cover the essential health benefit of maternity and newborn care, as defined by the commissioner of insurance.

Embrace Them Both

Introduced by Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron) and Republican Representatives Magnafici, Snyder, Nedweski, and Rozar, “Embrace Them Both,” would do the following:

• LRB-2792: Adds clarifying language to the statutes explicitly stating that a medical procedure designed to prevent the death of a pregnant woman, such as the removal of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, is not an abortion.

• LRB 2486: Increases the dollar amount taxpayers can claim as an exemption for every dependent from $700 to $1000. and extends that coverage to include unborn children for whom a fetal heartbeat has been detected.

• LRB-2445: Funds Pregnancy Resource Centers with a dedicated grant of $1,000,000 per year.

• LRB 2918: Creates and funds an Adoption Financial Assistance Grant Program to make adoption a more affordable option.

On the bill package, Senator Quinn stated, “I will always champion the sanctity of life that begins with the miracle of pregnancy. Today, alongside my legislative colleagues, I am proud to offer these bills that clarify support for both the mother and the child. We have put together a series of bills that build upon each other to provide protection and assistance to pregnant women and their children at all stages of life.” Representative Rozar shared that, “These reasonable bills should move through the legislative process with bipartisan support and be signed by the Governor.”

In contrast, the President of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin told WisPolitics, “These bills are not a reflection of what the people of Wisconsin want and deserve. It is past time that people in positions of power reflect the values of Wisconsinites and act in ways that protect and promote the health, safety and bodily autonomy of all people.” Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) agreed saying “the legislature should be focused on restoring access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.”

The bill package comes about two months after Senate Majority Leader LeMahieu said he would not let a bill that called for exceptions for rape and incest on the Senate floor, despite Assembly Speaker Vos’s support for the bill. When that bill was introduced, Governor Evers said he would not sign legislation that leaves Wisconsinites with fewer rights than they had before Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Pregnancy Protection Act

The Pregnancy Protection Act is sponsored by Rep. Robyn Vining, Rep. Dora Drake, Sen. Kelda Roys, and Sen. LaTonya Johnson with the goal of decreasing maternal mortality rates in Wisconsin. To reach that goal, the bill “puts into state law that maternity and newborn care are essential health benefits, and individual and small group health insurance plans must cover them.” The authors of the bill point to increasing maternal mortality rates, particularly among minorities, and increasing maternal mortality rates across the U.S. as examples of why the bill is necessary. “It is considered more dangerous today for a woman in her 30s to have a baby than it was for her mother,” said Rep. Vining. “We are trending in the wrong direction, and we need to turn it around.”

The bill’s lead sponsor in the Senate, Sen. Roys, said maternal and infant healthcare are priorities for Democrats and that more bills to address those issues will be forthcoming. “We’re looking at every possible angle where we could do something to try to make things better for moms and babies,” Sen. Roys said. “That includes repealing the criminal abortion ban, that includes access to health care, no matter who you are or how you’re insured, that includes working for paid family leave, so it doesn’t matter who your employer is, you’re not going to lose your apartment or your job because you have a baby or you have a pregnancy complication.”

Election Updates

DPW, RPW to hold conventions in coming weeks

Both the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (DPW) and the Republican Party of Wisconsin (RPW) will be hosting their annual conventions in the coming weeks.

• The DPW will hold its convention on June 10-11 in Green Bay;
• The RPW convention will be on June 16-18 in La Crosse.

The upcoming 2024 U.S. Senate race featuring Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin, as well as the presidential election will likely feature prominently in both conventions.

For more details on attending the DPW or RPW convention, please follow the links below.

Democratic Party of Wisconsin convention: https://wisdems.org/wisdems-2023-convention/

Republican Party of Wisconsin convention: https://wisgop.org./

Fundraising Opportunities

A list of all upcoming fundraiser opportunities can be found by clicking the button below. For any questions or more information, please do not hesitate to contact your Michael Best Strategies contact.

Wisconsin Campaign Fundraisers