Good News on State Finances
For weeks, Capitol sources have suggested that updated estimates of state revenues that would take into account the impact of the COVID pandemic might be available by mid-to late-August. Those estimates of the state’s fiscal condition were released Aug 31. For more information, see a separate blog post on this topic.
Special Session and Other Related News
Lawmakers met briefly in a skeleton session format Aug 31 to begin a special legislative session called by Gov. Tony Evers to address police reform measures amid ongoing tensions in Kenosha over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. No action on any bills was taken.
As has often been the case when previous special sessions have been called, majority Republican lawmakers differ with the governor on what action they would like to see taken. However, what is different this time around is that lawmakers did not gavel in and then gavel out of the special session, thereby ending it. Instead, the Republican leaders convened, and then quickly recessed, giving themselves the option of reconvening the session later on.
Gov. Evers had wanted lawmakers to take up a package of largely Democratically-authored police accountability and transparency measures that were proposed in June. Majority Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), have been working on drafting their own package of police reform measures.
On the same day the governor called the special session, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced he would be creating a task force on racial disparities, public safety and police policies that would take some time to formulate a response to calls for police reform. Today, he tabbed state Rep Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) to head the task force, and added the topic of “educational opportunities” to the task force’s agenda. As a result, the task force will formally address “racial disparities, educational opportunities, public safety, and police policies and standards.”
We read the phrase “educational opportunities” to mean that alternatives to traditional public schools will be part of the discussion, including an exploration of parental choice options, including vouchers, open enrollment and an attempt to expand virtual learning options.
