First an update on AB 183, the housing regulation bill. This bill moved remarkably fast, from introduction, public hearing, committee vote, and floor vote in less than three weeks. We had over 2,400 emails to state legislators in less than a week due to our digital advocacy arm. This, in conjunction with meeting a majority of committee Republicans here in Madison, we managed to get in a pro-tenant amendment. The final bill now will still require that landlords notify current and prospective tenants of safety code violations in the home. Still in the bill are provisions that automatically blame tenants for pest infestations, removing transparency on security deposit withholding, and banning local laws on housing altogether.

AB 183 was rushed to the floor. Democrats proposed many pro-renter amendments to the bill, all of which were tabled by the Republican majority. AB 183 now has a “companion bill” in the Senate, where it must also pass prior to heading to the Governor for his signature or veto. The Senate bill is SB179, sponsored by Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) and Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center), both of whom serve on the Senate Housing Committee.

Second, the UW Budget has been revised by the Governor, prior to its consideration by the state legislature’s budget committee, the Joint Committee on Finance. The Governor has put in a two year tuition freeze, the first of its kind in UW history. This is great news for UW students struggling to pay the already too high tuition in the UW System. The Governor has reduced the UW’s allocation to about 87 million dollars from the previous 181 million, and put in a budget lapse. A budget lapse is essentially the state government taking money directly from one of its agencies, usually used in cases such as this when reserves get too high for policymakers to tolerate.

We’re pushing for the Governor’s proposal to pass, as there are also state legislators who would rather the UW get “punished” even more for its reserves issue.

JFC Co-Chairs have indicated the UW budget will get voted on in the next two weeks.

Will keep you updated,
Dylan Jambrek
Government Relations Director
United Council of UW Students

It’s been just over a month since I’ve posted – apologies all, with the public budget hearings and the rapidly-changing situation with the UW surplus have kept me busy.

Many thanks to all the students who showed up at the public hearings of the Joint Committee on Finance. Students were visible and noticed with our “Fund the UW” and “Cap Tuition at UW” tshirts, and I’ve heard legislators of both parties thank us for our work, our presence, and our stories. Legislators heard stories about how affordability affects students and their families, and made a real impact. Our push for a tuition cap had a strong impact on the state’s response to the UW surplus.

In the ongoing audit of the UW System since an HR software issue, over $600 million dollars in reserve (savings) were found in the UW System. Over $400m was made up of tuition dollars, the math for which shows the tuition increases were unnecessary and were stored in reserve. This created a huge media whirlwind around UW System, and has now guaranteed a two-year tuition freeze, and a likely reduction in the allocation for UW System.

The Governor will soon release a revised recommended budget for the UW, likely for a tuition freeze and a reduced allocation. United Council has been pushing for keeping as much money for the UW as possible, supporting the tuition freeze, and still pushing the financial aid message.

A non-budget bill has come up which we have taken a significant position on – AB 183. This bill was introduced last Monday and already had a public hearing (last Thursday). This is remarkable speed for a piece of legislation. The bill would have a slew of effects for renters, including banning local laws regulating housing, no longer requiring landlords to disclose code violations, and placing the assumption of blame for insect infestations on tenants. Both Ryan Prestil, a student at UW-Madison, and myself spoke at the public hearing, urging changes in the law before it is passed to help protect student renters. I’m meeting with a majority of the committee this week to discuss student needs and push for amendments.

As always, continue to ask me questions if you have any at government@unitedcouncil.net.

Thanks,
Dylan

I spent most of this two weeks or so preparing for and participating in the LobbyCon/Lobby Day. On the 20th, I went to our Madison office where I had meetings with Executive Director Courtney Morse, Government Relations Director Dylan Jambrek, and other staff to firm up details of the convention and lobby day. Courtney and I mainly prepared for our workshop to be given at LobbyCon, and Dylan and I worked on the plans for the launch of United Council Lobby Corps. It was an extremely productive day and set us up well for the weekend. I apologize to Courtney and Dylan for having dragged them into the office early so that I could make it to Chicago in time to attend the opera with my father.

On Friday the 22nd I attended United Council’s first Biennial Budget Town Hall Listening Session at UW-Marathon County in the morning. Though there was a fairly significant snow storm, the turnout from students and community members was pretty good. We also had some press coverage following the town hall, and so that is clear success and sets us up for even better meetings moving forward.

Following that I attended the UW System Student Representatives meeting at UW-Madison that afternoon and evening. I presented our activities since the last convention and was followed by a great presentation on the United Council 2013-2014 budget by United Council Vice President Beth Huang. I chatted with the elected student leaders from campuses around the state and set up meetings and visits with as many as I could reach.

Saturday the 23rd began with the shortest UW System Student Representatives meeting in memory and then set off into the official kick off of LobbyCon. As I eluded to earlier I am extremely pleased with the convention and thank profusely all who attended. Our United Council staff are amazing and put on the best convention I have ever attended. The day ended with a contentious board meeting. I am pleased at the displays of passion that took place, it shows that folks really do care about our organization and the work we do. But I would ask that everyone try to follow the rule of assuming best intentions and not exclude or bully anyone for doing what they feel is right in representing their constituents. I am very pleased that the United Council Lobby Corps Bylaws were approved at this meeting. This allows us to move forward with that critical piece of the future of United Council.

Sunday of LobbyCon, I presented the workshop with Courtney on the necessity of both Lobbying and Direct Action tactics to achieve success in campaigns. I have received very positive feedback on the workshop and hope it will continue to be a staple in the United Council training curriculum. I also presented and formally launched the United Council Lobby Corps during lunch. I am looking forward to finding the first Campus Student Leads who will take United Council back to its grassroots. I also participated in the first ever United Council LobbyCon Trivia Contest. I apologize formally to anyone who was not comfortable in that space and will work to better directly address concerns of our members in the future. The team of Beth Huang, John Lease, Greg Hartman, Mackenzie Walters, and me emerged victorious. We are the Champions!

Lobby Day occurred the next day. I personally lobbied 5 legislative offices with a number of other students, but collectively we lobbied over 40. And the press conference was a tremendous success as well, as I mentioned earlier. This was a great step, but we need to follow up and ensure that we have students testifying at each and every Joint Committee on Finance budget hearing around the state, that we have successful student turnout at our Budget Town Halls on campuses across the System, and that we continue to participate in the upcoming email and phone-in days. There is much work to be done, but we can win this for the students of Wisconsin.

On Tuesday I did a phone interview with WTKM out of Hartford, Wisconsin. Other students and staff have also been doing interviews with radio and television stations, as well as newspapers. The media response to Lobby Day has been a huge success. Let’s keep that rolling too.

On Thursday the 28th I will be presenting the Lobby Corps to the UW-Stevens Point Student Senate in order to recruit potential members and to set us up as good partners moving forward.

Looking ahead just a bit, March should be an exciting month with Budget Town Halls, USSA LegCon, and JFC hearings. Lots of work coming up, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns, or just to talk.

Geoff Murray
President
United Council of UW Students
pres@unitedcouncil.net

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In addition to that, I have been working diligently on meeting members of the legislature and their staff concerning our budget asks of full funding for the UW, a tuition cap of 3-4%, and a $24m investment in the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant.

We have also been conducting call in days and digital advocacy pushes to ensure legislators are hearing from students on their issues.

At the Joint Committee on Finance’s agency briefings, students were in force wearing a clear message – Cap Tuition at UW. I have heard from legislators, the media, and UW System that even though students couldn’t talk at that meeting, they were heard loud and clear. Legislators of both parties mentioned and agreed with the students present. Good work, all.

Also in the works is student recruitment to the Joint Committee on Finance hearings that will be happening in Greendale, Green Bay, Wisconsin Dells, and Baldwin. United Council students will be in force at these opportunities to speak to all members of the legislature and state media.

More updates to come after the JFC public hearings.

With the expected confirmation of Rebecca Blank as the new University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor next week, some said they’re concerned about a tuition increase.

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Friday Morning Wisconsin News Headlines

A handful of people attended the budget committee’s meeting wearing red T-shirts that read, “Cap Tuition at UW.” Walker’s budget would lift a tuition cap that currently limits tuition hikes to 5.5 percent, and students have called on legislators to renew the cap.

Reilly said liberal arts graduates may not find jobs in their chosen fields, but can often find rewarding careers in other fields in which employers want graduates who can write well, are comfortable with numbers, have good problem-solving skills and can work well in teams.

He returned to the concept of affordability and a tuition cap, pointing to four people who sat silently in the audience wearing red T-shirts that read, “Cap Tuition at UW.”

“The kids behind you who are just screaming to cap tuition, they’re 100 percent right,” he said.

He returned to the concept of affordability and a tuition cap, pointing to four people who sat silently in the audience wearing red T-shirts that read, “Cap Tuition at UW.”

“The kids behind you who are just screaming to cap tuition, they’re 100 percent right,” he said.

Reilly said the difference in lifetime salary between somebody who has a high school diploma and someone with a college degree works out on average to between $750,000 and $1 million in a lifetime, making a college education a good investment for the vast majority of students.

Reilly says $153 million of the total is already committed to expenses such as leases, utilities and costs associated with previously approved construction and renovation projects.A handful of people attended the budget committee’s meeting wearing red T-shirts that read, “Cap Tuition at UW.” Walker’s budget would lift a tuition cap that currently limits tuition hikes to 5.5 percent, and students have called on legislators to renew the cap.

Reilly says $153 million of the total is already committed to expenses such as leases, utilities and costs associated with previously approved construction and renovation projects. A handful of people attended the budget committee’s meeting wearing red T-shirts that read, “Cap Tuition at UW.” Walker’s budget would lift a tuition cap that limits tuition hikes to 5.5 percent. Students have called on legislators to renew the cap.