Testimony by Margaret Guertler

Joint Finance Committee
April 11, 2001
Margaret Guertler
Madison

My name is Margaret Guertler. I am the Secretary Treasurer of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC). Thank you co-chairpersons Burke and Gard and members of the Joint Finance Committee for this opportunity to speak to you today.

In the past, the Wisconsin Education Association Council has supported the removal of non-fiscal policy from the state budget. This year, once again, the Joint Finance Committee has received a list from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau highlighting non-fiscal items in Governor McCallum's proposed budget. WEAC is particularly concerned with several items listed in the Fiscal Bureau document under sections entitled Elections Board, Employment Relations, Employment Relations Commission, TEACH Board, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and all sections listed under Public Instruction. Many of these items are very complex and sometimes controversial.

WEAC believes that each non-fiscal policy item should be reintroduced as separate legislation where it may be given a full and fair public hearing before an appropriate standing committee of the Legislature. Only then can we determine whether each policy initiative truly places students in classrooms that work, promotes the recruitment and retention of great staff in our schools and maintains a public school system that benefits everyone in the community. Removal of these items will also allow the Joint Finance Committee to focus its efforts on the important task of examining the fiscal policy remaining in the 2001-2003 state budget.

WEAC has applauded efforts to remove all non-fiscal policy from the budget in the past, and hopes co-chairpersons Burke and Gard and the members of the Joint Finance Committee will decide to do so again this year. Thank you again for this opportunity to speak today.

Article on April 11, 2001, budget hearing
Resource page on 2001-2003 state budget