One-Hundred and Fifth Regular Session
11:44 A.M. TUESDAY, May 11, 2021
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senate President Kapenga.
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Call of Roll
The roll was called, disclosing the presence of a quorum.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 15, the official attendance for session was: Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bernier, Bewley, Bradley, Carpenter, Cowles, Darling, Erpenbach, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Jagler, Johnson, Kapenga, Kooyenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roth, Roys, Smith, Stafsholt, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 33.
Absent with leave – None - 0.
The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison.
The Senate remained standing and Senator Jacque led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 17 (6), the Chief Clerk made the following entries under the above date. _____________
Chief Clerk's Entries
Amendments Offered
hist133506Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 117 offered by Senators Larson, L. Taylor, Carpenter and Johnson. hist133507Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 117 offered by Senators Larson, Carpenter, L. Taylor and Johnson. hist133452Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 254 offered by Senator Feyen. hist133855Senate Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 18 offered by Senator Carpenter. _____________
Report of Committees
Report of Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges
On May 7, 2021, the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges held an executive session on the following item:
Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges Report on Informational Hearings
The report summarizes testimony received in the committee’s informational hearings and proposes recommendations for higher education and programs.
The committee voted by paper ballot to recommend approval of the report. The result is as follows:
Ayes: (5) Senators Roth, Nass, Stafsholt, Feyen, Darling
Noes: (4): Senators Larson, Erpenbach, Roys, Pfaff
Please record the actions of the committee and the committee report in the Senate Journal. Attached is a copy of the full report.
Sincerely,
ROGER ROTH
Chair, Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges
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Minority Report
On May 10, 2021, Senators Larson, Erpenbach, Roys, and Pfaff offered the following minority report, pursuant to Senate Rule 28, to the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges’ Report on Informational Hearings: Democratic Senators on the Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges Unanimously Object to Committee Report
Democratic members on the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges issued this statement objecting to passage of the so-called ‘committee repot’ entitled “A Wisconsin Roadmap to Success in Higher Education for the Twenty-First Century.”
This ‘report’ was crafted without the input of committee members and does not reflect any collaborative work done between committee members or the public. Most egregiously, our shared values of accessible and affordable higher education throughout our state are directly threatened by this report’s self-declared recommendations. The report elevates the very un-Wisconsin idea of consolidating programs ad shuttering UW campuses around the state, limiting access for students throughout the state.
This unusual document was drafted by the committee chair and apparently derived from “invite-only” informational hearings. The chair did not communicate his intention to produce a report to those he invited to testify. Furthermore, committee members were only afforded 48 hours to review a 93-page report, with no notice it is coming-demonstrating contempt for ordinary professional communications and courtesy.
The Wisconsin Idea teaches us that our UW System is meant to propel the entire state forward, reaching far beyond the confines of the classroom and improving our communities. The unique local relationships between campuses and their communities spur economic growth, local innovation, and provide strong relationships of reliance and resilience.
Should the legislature act on these ill-advices recommendations, it will lead to a reduction in educational access, a loss of campus identity, and well as significant economic and cultural loss for many communities across the state. It is the wrong path forward.
This report has been offered by:
CHRIS LARSON
Senator
JON ERPENBACH
Senator
KELDA HELEN ROYS
Senator
BRAD PFAFF
Senator
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Delivery of Committee Reports
Pursuant to Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, Sec. 666, Senate President Kapenga allowed Senator Roth, chair of the Senate committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, 5 minutes to deliver the May 7, 2021 Report on Informational Hearings.
Senate President Kapenga allowed Senator Larson, ranking member of the Senate committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, 5 minutes to deliver the May 10, 2021, minority report to the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges’ Report on Informational Hearings.
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Petitions and Communications
hist133742Pursuant to Senate Rule 17 (5), Senator Carpenter added as a cosponsor of Assembly Bill 143.
