Joint Finance Committee Strips QEO Repeal From Budget Bill

Republican leaders of the Joint Finance Committee on Tuesday (April 12, 2005) removed from the state budget bill Governor Jim Doyle's proposal to repeal the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) law.

Rep. Dean Kaufert and Sen. Scott Fitzgerald said the QEO is not fiscal policy, and therefore does not belong in the budget bill. The QEO became law when it was passed as part of a budget in 1993.

This is the second time the committee has refused to consider removal of the QEO without first holding a public hearing or taking a vote on the record. It took similar action when considering Doyle's 2003-05 state budget proposal.

WEAC President Stan Johnson said he is very disappointed at the committee's action. "The QEO is putting Wisconsin's great schools in jeopardy," he said. "It unfairly singles out educators by limiting their collective bargaining rights, and has caused teacher salaries to stagnate and lose pace with inflation. The best and brightest are leaving the profession, and our children will ultimately pay the price."

The governor criticized Republicans for taking up the issue in secret. "Apparently, Republicans decided in a conference call to dump this issue instead of having the courage to take an open vote," he said.

Doyle added, "The most important investment we can make as a state is in our kids. Keeping the QEO in place will invariably hinder our ability to provide our kids with the best education possible."

The QEO repeal was one of many proposals in the governor's budget bill aimed at improving public education. The bill calls for an additional $850 million investment so that the state lives up to its commitment to fully fund two-thirds of the cost of public education, and includes additional aid for the SAGE class size reduction program, 4-year-old kindergarten, and teacher mentoring.

After the Joint Finance Committee completes its work on the governor's budget proposal, it will go before the Legislature, and then back to Doyle for veto considerations before it becomes law.

Johnson called on members to visit the OnWEAC Cyberlobby and tell their legislators that the QEO was passed as part of budget, and its repeal should be considered in the state budget process as well. He also called on members to tell legislators how the QEO is affecting them, their families, their schools, and the children they teach.

Governor's statement on JFC’s elimination of QEO from the budget bill
Resource page on the QEO
Resource page on the 2005-07 state budget

Posted April 13, 2005