Governor Walker Signs Budget Bill into Law, Issues Vetoes

Governor Walker signed the 2015-17 state budget into law Sunday afternoon.

Before signing the budget into law, Governor Walker spoke to a crowd full of supporters in Waukesha. Walker emphasized that his budget again cuts property taxes, expands educational opportunities for Wisconsin families, adds more money to Medicaid and takes efforts to reduce government dependence. He also made references to his presidential run, saying that unlike Washington, he gets things done.

The full list of vetoes can be found here. Unfortunately, he did not veto the changes to the Wisconsin Media Lab. 

Vetoes of interest include:

Read to Lead Fund

Sections 65b, 568b, 720d, 723d, 1007b, 1031b, 1678m, 1678r, 1678s and 9406 (1q)

These sections sunset the Read to Lead segregated fund and related appropriations, effective June 30, 2017. I am vetoing the sunset of the segregated fund and related appropriations because it unnecessarily limits the availability of potential resources to improve childhood reading in future biennia. With this veto, the Department of Children and Families and Department of Public Instruction would be able to continue to distribute reading funds, if they become available, beyond the 2015-17 biennium.

Virtual Marketplace for Digital Educational Resources

Sections 481 [as it relates to s. 20.255 (1) (dt)], 560m and 3193s

These provisions create a virtual marketplace for digital educational resources and appropriate funding for a contract with a vendor or multiple vendors to develop and add educational content to a digital textbook marketplace and resource center. The marketplace would allow authorized personnel from public school districts, independent charter schools, private schools and home based private educational programs to purchase or license digital educational resources, including the following: (a) electronic textbooks; (b) individual sections or chapters from electronic textbooks; (c) supplemental resources, including worksheets, chapter reviews, quizzes or study sheets; and (d) other digital offerings, including videos, available from content providers or publishers. The Department of Public Instruction is required to host the marketplace, and content must be accessible to a range of computing and mobile devices and operating systems. Districts may license the content at a tiered rate for one year, three years or six years, or purchase content under a permanent license.

I am vetoing sections 560m and 3193s and partially vetoing section 481 [as it relates to s. 20.255 (1) (dt)] because I object to duplicative avenues for the provision of electronic educational materials. The digital learning portal being developed and hosted by the department provides access to digital content. In addition, the bill creates and provides funding for a new digital learning collaborative for the delivery of digital content. I believe the provisions under current law and the new digital learning collaborative can be leveraged to adequately address the need for digital resources for schools and educational programs.

Universal Service Fund Revenues Report

Section 9136 (2u)

This section requires the Public Service Commission to report to the Joint Committee on Finance on causes of unencumbered balances in the universal service fund and changes that could be adopted to reduce future universal service fund balances. The report would be submitted to the Committee for its third quarterly meeting in 2015, and the commission could not revise provider contribution rates unless the report has been approved by the Committee.

I am vetoing this section in its entirety because it is unnecessary. The commission already has the ability to utilize universal service fund revenues when determining telecommunication provider rates for the coming year, as demonstrated in 2012. In addition, this section hinders the commission's statutorily-required duty to establish contribution rates by delaying the revision of rates until after the report is approved the Committee.

State Broadband Office Funding

Section 9136 (2q)

This section limits expenditure authority provided to the Public Service Commission for operations of the State Broadband Office to the 2015-17 biennium only. Funding would not be included in the base year for purposes of developing the 2017-19 biennial budget.

I am vetoing this section because I object to providing this funding on a one-time basis. The work of the State Broadband Office is ongoing; therefore, its funding should be as well. The office continues to perform duties vital to broadband expansion in this state, including maintenance of the state's broadband map, coordination with telecommunications providers, and outreach to communities and other stakeholders. With this veto, the office can continue to perform these important duties.