State budget update

Updates/media coverage

Feb. 15, 2012

The Joint Finance Committee met Feb. 15 to consider a Department of Administration budget lapse plan for the 2011-12 fiscal year that includes $123.3 million in budget cuts and other belt-tightening measures, including $46 million in cuts to the UW System. The committee approved the DOA recommendation on a 12-4 vote. See Wisconsin Eye coverage (1 hr. 24 min.) and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage of the lapse meeting.

Nov. 2, 2011

Chancellor to host budget update information sessions

Oct. 28, 2011

UW System President Kevin Reilly issues message regarding budget lapse to system faculty, staff and students.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial signed by UW System President Kevin Reilly and chancellors calls state leaders to redress inequities in state's midyear budget lapse.

Oct. 19, 2011

UW System chancellors comment on the latest cuts faced by system universities. Read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

UW System reports that the system's colleges, universities, and extension networks could lose another $46 million in state taxpayer support during fiscal 2011-12, and take an additional loss of $19.6 million next fiscal year. Read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram articles.

Oct. 18, 2011

UW System issues statement about 2011-13 budget lapse.

Oct. 14, 2011

Wisconsin Department of Administration sends 2011-13 budget lapse allocation letter.

June 17, 2011

UW System issues statement on Legislative budget action after Senate vote.

State budget bill passes Senate in 19-14 vote with no changes. Budget awaits signature by Gov. Walker. Read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage.

June 16, 2011

State Assembly passes 2011-13 budget bill including preservation of broadband Internet program. Bill moves on to Senate. Read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal coverage, and watch proceedings live at WisconsinEye.

June 15, 2011

State Supreme Court orders reinstatement of Gov. Scott Walker's collective bargaining law. If published by June 28, law will go into effect June 29. Read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

June 7, 2011

Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich is quoted in an Eau Claire Leader-Telegram article about the impact on UW-Eau Claire of the state budget cuts proposed June 3 by the Joint Finance Committee.

June 6, 2011

The Wisconsin Supreme Court hears arguments today on whether it should decide if Republicans violated Wisconsin's open meetings law as they passed Gov. Scott Walker's collective bargaining law. Read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal coverage, and watch the hearing live on WisconsinEye.

June 3, 2011

The state Legislature's Joint Finance Committee finishes its work on Gov. Scott Walker's 2011-13 biennial budget, which includes $250 million in cuts for the UW System. Read the UW System omnibus budget motion, a UW System statement on the committee's action as well as Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal coverage.

May 26, 2011

A Dane County judge issues a permanent injunction against  Gov. Scott Walker's legislation repealing most collective bargaining for public employees. Read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal coverage.

April 20, 2011

Legislators discuss dropping UW-Madison public authority proposal from 2011-13 state biennial budget. Read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal coverage.

March 31, 2011

Judge Maryann Sumi ordered this morning that Wisconsin's new collective bargaining law has not been published and is not in effect. Read Wisconsin State Journal coverage. 

March 18, 2011

A Dane County judge has issued a temporary order blocking implementation of a new state law limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees. Read Wisconsin State Journal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage.

March 16, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker will discuss the impact of the state budget on education during a 3 p.m. press conference today. The event will be broadcast live on wisconsineye.org.

March 14, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker has released his proposed 2011-13 capital budget, which includes $44 million for an education building at UW-Eau Claire. Read complete list of capital budget recommendations.

March 11, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker this morning signed into law the budget repair bill passed by the State Senate March 9 and the State Assembly March 10.  Read The Capital Times, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage.

Gov. Walker also rescinded layoff notices to 1,500 state employees that had been sent to state unions last week. Read WisPolitics.com coverage.

Facing more than $250 million in budget cuts over the next two years, on March 10 the UW System Board of Regents endorsed the "Wisconsin Idea Partnership," which would provide managerial flexibilities to all UW campuses and preserve a unified UW System. Read press release.

March 10, 2011

State Assembly passes budget repair bill, 53-42. Bill heads to Gov. Scott Walker's desk for his signature. Media coverage: Wisconsin State Journal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, New York Times, The Washington Post

State Assembly to convene at 11 today to take action on amended budget repair bill: Watch session live on www.wiseye.org.

Media coverage of State Senate's passage of budget repair bill: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times

Scott Walker column in The Wall Street Journal

March 9, 2011

This evening the State Senate, without debate, passed all the nonfiscal provisions of the budget adjustment bill. The substitute amendment passed 18-1, with no Democrats present. Tomorrow, the Assembly will convene at 11 to take action on the amended bill.

Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich to host forum for UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff on the impact of proposed state budget legislation on the university and its employees. View archived video broadcast.

March 2, 2011

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal reporting on impact of governor's budget proposal on UW System

March 1, 2011

UW System response to biennial budget address

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel early reporting on Gov. Walker's proposed 2011-13 budget.

Gov. Scott Walker will announce his proposed 2011-13 state budget today at 4 p.m. Live coverage can be viewed online at www.wiseye.org/, www.wqow.com and www.weau.com.

Feb. 28, 2011

See WEAU TV, WQOW TV and Eau Claire Leader-Telegram coverage of Gov. Walker's Feb. 28 press conference in Eau Claire.

Gov. Scott Walker will hold a press conference today at 1:10 p.m. at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. More information.

Feb. 26, 2011

Associated Press article: "Facts in short supply in debate over union bill"

Feb. 25, 2011

The State Senate has given preliminary approval to the budget repair bill passed earlier today by the Assembly, putting the bill in a state where it can no longer be amended. See Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  coverage.

The State Assembly passed Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill 51-17 at 1:07 a.m. Feb. 25. See Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage.

Also see the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Q&A, "Answers to common questions on budget-repair bill."

Feb. 22, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker will address the people of Wisconsin tonight at 6 p.m. WEAU-TV will carry the address live during its 6 p.m. newscast.

The State Assembly at 11 a.m. today is scheduled to take up debate on Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill. Democrats are expected to offer more than 100 amendments to the bill: See Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal reporting. Live coverage can be viewed online at www.wiseye.org.

Feb. 20, 2011

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrats consider staying out past refinance deadline; GOP plans action on other bills

Feb. 18, 2011

Wisconsin State Journal: Unions offer concessions as Capitol stalemate, protests continue

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Republicans rescind vote on budget-repair bill

Governor Walker’s office announced this afternoon that the Governor’s 2011-13 budget address has been rescheduled to March 1 and will now be held in the state Assembly chambers. It was previously scheduled for Feb. 22 at Vita Plus in Fitchburg.

Feb. 17, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker press conference, 4:45 p.m.: live coverage on WisconsinEye.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Senate Democrats boycott Thursday vote on Walker's budget planFeb.

Wisconsin State Journal: Senate Dems leaving city to avoid participating in budget vote

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Legislature could act Thursday on budget plan, Joint Finance Committee approves package late Wednesday

Wisconsin State Journal: Controversial budget bill passes committee, moves to Senate

Feb. 16, 2011

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Walker says his budget bill could change in response to GOP lawmakers

Joint Committee on Finance executive session to take action on budget repair bill, initially scheduled for 11:30 a.m. today, now will not convene prior to 4 p.m. One-half hour notice will be provided when the committee is preparing to start. Watch The Wheeler Report website for updates.

UW System FAQs re: Potential Impact of Budget Repair Bill on UW System Employee Benefits

Feb. 15, 2011

The Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance is holding a public hearing on Gov. Scott Walker's recently announced budget repair bill and is expected to vote on the bill today or Feb. 16. See the live webstream of the hearing at www.wiseye.org.

Feb. 14, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker will answer media questions about his budget repair bill at 2 p.m. Feb. 14. Live coverage of the news conference can be viewed online at www.wiseye.org.

Board of Regents February meeting summary: UW System, Board of Regents call for increased management flexibilities for UW campuses

Feb. 11, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker unveils budget repair bill: Wisconsin State Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage.