The U.S. Senate dealt a a very worrisome blow Thursday to the nation’s wobbly economic recovery, when it failed to advance a comprehensive jobs bill that would extend assistance to cash-strapped states, laid-off workers and struggling families.
By failing to end the filibuster and extend key Recovery Act provisions, the Senate closed its eyes to the fiscal crisis gripping Wisconsin and the nation. The Great Recession has severely reduced state revenue at the same time that it substantially increased the number of people turning to the states for help.
Without an extension of federal aid, thousands of unemployed Wisconsin residents will lose benefits, and state-level budget cuts made across the country could cost the economy 900,000 jobs in the public and private sectors. See WCCF’s June 25 press release to read more about how failure to pass the bill will affect unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and TANF-related programs in Wisconsin.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
YoungStar Passes Joint Finance Unanimously
YoungStar was passed by the Joint Finance Committee today by a resounding and unanimous, bipartisan 16-0 vote. The committee’s action approves $10 million for the fiscal year July 2010 – June 2011 to launch the Department of Children and Families (DCF) YoungStar program.
This legislative victory comes after many years of efforts to start a quality rating and improvement system in Wisconsin, dating back to a Governor’s Task Force in 2004. YoungStar finally came to fruition by extensive work by DCF and support of a wide range of allies, including the Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition, business and civic leaders, and early care and education advocates.
This legislative victory comes after many years of efforts to start a quality rating and improvement system in Wisconsin, dating back to a Governor’s Task Force in 2004. YoungStar finally came to fruition by extensive work by DCF and support of a wide range of allies, including the Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition, business and civic leaders, and early care and education advocates.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wisconsin Governmental Units Take Advantage of Build America Bonds
De Pere. Tomah. Superior. Sheboygan County. La Crosse School District. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. What do these entities have in common?
They and dozens of other Wisconsin cities, counties, villages, towns, school districts, and technical college districts, along with the state, will save approximately $29 million through the Build America Bonds program.
Build America Bonds, part of the federal economic stimulus plan, are aimed at helping state and local units of government finance capital expenditures. The federal government provides a subsidy of 35 percent of the interest costs on these taxable governmental bonds, decreasing borrowing costs. Governmental entities can use the bonds to finance building projects that might otherwise be unaffordable, thereby putting people to work and saving money at the same time.
Through the end of May 2010, issuers in the state of Wisconsin have issued $1.32 billion in Build America Bonds in 95 separate issues, for improvements to sewer and utility facilities, telecommunication infrastructure, highways, and other projects. (Here’s a link to the U.S. Treasury Report with more details.)
Since the program was launched in April 2009, $106 billion in Build America Bonds has been issued nationally. The program is currently set to expire at the end of 2010, although the Obama administration has proposed making the program permanent with a reduced subsidy rate of 28 percent.
They and dozens of other Wisconsin cities, counties, villages, towns, school districts, and technical college districts, along with the state, will save approximately $29 million through the Build America Bonds program.
Build America Bonds, part of the federal economic stimulus plan, are aimed at helping state and local units of government finance capital expenditures. The federal government provides a subsidy of 35 percent of the interest costs on these taxable governmental bonds, decreasing borrowing costs. Governmental entities can use the bonds to finance building projects that might otherwise be unaffordable, thereby putting people to work and saving money at the same time.
Through the end of May 2010, issuers in the state of Wisconsin have issued $1.32 billion in Build America Bonds in 95 separate issues, for improvements to sewer and utility facilities, telecommunication infrastructure, highways, and other projects. (Here’s a link to the U.S. Treasury Report with more details.)
Since the program was launched in April 2009, $106 billion in Build America Bonds has been issued nationally. The program is currently set to expire at the end of 2010, although the Obama administration has proposed making the program permanent with a reduced subsidy rate of 28 percent.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Early Learning Coalition Urges Approval of Funding for YoungStar
The Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition has issued a position paper declaring its support for full funding of the YoungStar child care quality rating and improvement system proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. The Coaltion —a 14-member alliance of organizations promoting education and child well-being across the state—calls on members of the Joint Committee on Finance to approve sufficient funding for a full, statewide launch of the program. Joint Finance is expected to decide on funding for YoungStar on June 23. YoungStar would establish statewide quality standards for early care and education; provide incentives to providers for improving quality; and provide parents reliable information on which to base their decisions about where to enroll their young children. The Coalition’s brief position paper is available online at http://www.greatstartwi.org/pdf/young_star_elc_position_June2010.pdf. WCCF's press release outlining the issue is at http://www.wccf.org/pdf/youngstar_%20joint_finance_061610pr.pdf.
WCCF - WCTF Report That Pace Matters on Prevention Services
Recent research affirming the importance of early relationships and experiences has raised our awareness of the consequences of child abuse and neglect, and the importance of preventing child maltreatment whenever possible. Collaboration between the Wisconsin Children’s Trust Fund and the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families has resulted in a comprehensive survey of county prevention programs and services designed to keep kids safe. The survey shows that place matters when it comes to prevention services. Results show wide variation across counties in the types and amounts of investments in prevention efforts. Depending on where a family lives, they have very different access to services and programs that are intended to support them and prevent maltreatment. The survey also revealed a low implementation rate of evidence-based programs; fewer than 5% of the prevention programs reported on in the survey are based on models that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to be effective. Check out the whole series: What It Will Take: Investing in Wisconsin's Future by Keeping Kids Safe Today.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Implications of AZ Immigration Law for the Rest of Us
The new immigration law in Arizona Immigration Policy Center released a helpful guide on the contents of the new Arizona
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
House Rejection of Medicaid Relief Leaves Wisconsin with at Least a $273 Million GPR Problem
Commentators often use a “good news, bad news” format. I wish this report had that balance, but it is a developing story of bad news, worse news, some recent worrisome political news, and the distinct possibility of even more bad news in the near future. That said, there is still hope that Congressional relief will materialize, but first let's look at the bad and worrisome news:
• The bad news is that Wisconsin has a projected deficit of $273 million GPR in its Medicaid budget.
• The worse news is the $273 million figure is merely the state portion of the Medicaid shortfall. If the state decided to close that deficit by Medicaid cuts alone (which doesn’t seem to be a very realistic option), policymakers would have to cut at least $750 million in combined state and federal funds.
• The recent worrisome news is that the House dropped Medicaid fiscal relief for the states from the jobs bill passed in late May, which appeared to be the best hope for approving the long-anticipated 6-month extension of federal relief for the states. (The ball is now in the Senate’s court.)
• The possibility of even worse news is that the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule in the next few weeks on the State Medical Society’s challenge to the measure transferring $200 million from the patients compensation fund to the General Fund, where it was used to help balance the Medicaid budget.
• The bad news is that Wisconsin has a projected deficit of $273 million GPR in its Medicaid budget.
• The worse news is the $273 million figure is merely the state portion of the Medicaid shortfall. If the state decided to close that deficit by Medicaid cuts alone (which doesn’t seem to be a very realistic option), policymakers would have to cut at least $750 million in combined state and federal funds.
• The recent worrisome news is that the House dropped Medicaid fiscal relief for the states from the jobs bill passed in late May, which appeared to be the best hope for approving the long-anticipated 6-month extension of federal relief for the states. (The ball is now in the Senate’s court.)
• The possibility of even worse news is that the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule in the next few weeks on the State Medical Society’s challenge to the measure transferring $200 million from the patients compensation fund to the General Fund, where it was used to help balance the Medicaid budget.
It's Easy to Comment on Proposed SORNA Changes for Juvenile Sex Offenders
Following up on an earlier posting, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued proposed supplemental guidelines related to SORNA (Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act). Of particular note, the new guidelines would give jurisdictions discretion to exempt some offenses committed as a juvenile from public website posting. Comments related to this and other modifications proposed can be submitted, by July 13, to the Department of Justice, electronically or view an electronic version of these proposed guidelines.
This modification would allow Wisconsin to create a common-sense approach to creating rules that will help ensure community safety and not expose some youthful offenders to the public registry unnecessarily. If you are interested in ensuring that the federal guidelines do not tie Wisconsin's hands in how we develop our state proposal, you should go to the site to comment on the new proposal - it's easy!!
This modification would allow Wisconsin to create a common-sense approach to creating rules that will help ensure community safety and not expose some youthful offenders to the public registry unnecessarily. If you are interested in ensuring that the federal guidelines do not tie Wisconsin's hands in how we develop our state proposal, you should go to the site to comment on the new proposal - it's easy!!
New "Budget Bob" Episode is now online
Check out the latest episode of the Budget Bob Show, our series of short, ultra low-fi videos covering issues related to Wisconsin's state budget. In this episode, called "Keep It Real," Budget Bob looks at myths and realities regarding how Wisconsin compares to other states on taxes and spending.
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