The State Senate meets one last time tomorrow, March 15, before it adjourns for the current legislative session. The Assembly adjourned for the year on Friday, Feb. 19.
Among many other things, the Senate is expected to debate a “clean up” bill to remedy some glitches in the new Special Needs Scholarship Program. In addition, the bill has a provision added by the Assembly that attempts to fix an unrelated “problem” with school districts assessing local property taxes to make-up for the money that follows voucher students to private schools.
The Senate is not crazy about this provision. But, they have to pass the bill wholesale, as-is, because the Assembly is adjourned and can’t address any changes they would make.
You may hear some teeth gnashing and grinding about this “voucher-caused” funding fix; about the evil special needs scholarship program; about vouchers leading to bad legislative process; or folks complaining about these programs being an attack on public education.
When you hear from people bashing the expansion of parental choice programs, remind them what Assembly Speaker Robin Voss told the WCRIS Board of Directors when he met with them in May: The legislature is merely trying to have the money follow the child. We should be focused on whether the money is providing children with a good education, and not what pot is funding the education. The point of the money is to educate children, not sustain systems.
If the Senate concurs on the bill as it was passed by the Assembly, it will go to the Governor for approval. However, if the Senate makes any changes, the bill effectively dies because the Assembly is no longer in session to review the changes.
Never Say “Never”
There is an off-chance that the Assembly could be called back into session to vote on the Governor’s college affordability package, which they’ve already passed. This could happen if the Senate amends the Assembly version. If the Assembly doesn’t come back to review the changes, the bill dies.
There will be pressure to make sure the Governor’s college initiative does not die. So anything can happen. And, if the Assembly returns, additional bills could be acted on, as well.
What’s Next?
After the Senate adjourns, lawmakers will return to their districts to focus on running for office in the November election.
In the meantime, despite the legislative calendar running out, lawmakers will continue to propose and draft laws for introduction, which you’ll continue to hear about in the news. Just know that if it’s a new proposal, it won’t be going anywhere for now.
Legislators make these late-session efforts so that when they are on the campaign trail to the November election, they can show voters what they’ve been doing in Madison. It also provides lawmakers a foundation to return to in January, should they get re-elected. And, it gives the Governor ideas for what to include in his budget proposal for 2017-19.
Any bills introduced this year will have to be redrafted with a new number and go through the committee assignment process in January. Many bills may not return because lawmakers have found the ideas are no longer viable or situations have changed. But, if a bill is resurrected, it will be processed more quickly because it’s not starting from scratch.
