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TO: Concerned Citizens
FROM: Tom Frazier
DATE: August 1, 1997
SUBJECT: The State Budget
ACTION ALERT!!!
Our priority issues in the state budget are somewhat "up in the air" (as is the whole budget process).The Senate version of the budget is very much up in the air as the Democrats have put forth a budget package but do not, as yet, have the 17 votes needed to pass it. The Assembly, on the other hand, has the 52 Republican votes to pass its version but has not brought it to the Assembly floor for a vote.
Once the budget does pass both houses, there will be a conference committee made up of some or all of the following persons:
ASSEMBLY Rep. Ben Brancel, Speaker 266-3387 Rep. Scott Jensen, Co-Chair JFC 264-6970 Rep. Steve Foti, Majority Leader 266-2401 Rep. Wally Kunicki, Minority Leader
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708267-7669 SENATE Sen. Chuck Chvala, Majority Leader 266-9170 Sen. Brian Burke, Co-Chair JFC 266-8535 Sen Fred Risser, President 266-1627 Sen. Mike Ellis, Minority Leader
119 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Madison, WI 53703266-0718
ACTION NEEDED
We need to get phone calls and letters to the above legislators as soon as possible on our issues. The message should be:
Another idea would be to call or write your own legislators and ask them to lobby the members of the Conference Committee on our priority issues.
- Fund the maximum number of COP slots (i.e., 500 in the Senate plus 500 in the Assembly for a total of 1,000 instead of 500).
- Increase E&D Transportation to the JFC level -- a 12% increase.
- Maintain JFC funding levels for Ombudsman, Benefit Specialists and Elder Abuse services.
- Restore MA transfer to COP -- it does not increase budget costs.
- Restore Spousal Impoverishment protections.
- Eliminate MA co-payments.
As always, give me a call if you have any questions or need additional information. This is our last chance to help expand these programs in the budget -- do not miss the opportunity. We need a lot of letters and phone calls.
Last updated: August 8, 1997
By: Gail Schwersenska