Nicholson Formally Announces Bid for Governor
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 27, 2022
From WisPolitics.com …Republican Kevin Nicholson today formally launched his bid for guv, promising to be a “fighter whose sole focus is getting things done.”Nicholson’s entry into the race sets up the potential for a bruising GOP primary with former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who formally announced her run last fall.In recent weeks, Nicholson has made clear he will run as an outsider and took a veiled shot at Kleefisch in his announcement. Kleefisch spent eight years as lieutenant governor and has been the favorite of many Republicans in the state’s professional political class.“We can’t take Wisconsin to new heights if we elect a governor from the same, tired political class that lacks the vision, ability, and will to fight for the future of our state,” Nicholson said.Businessman Jonathan Wichmann, of Franklin, has also filed to run for the GOP nomination to take on Gov. Tony Evers. Madison businessman Eric Hovde also has been weighing a bid.See the release here.
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Senate Approves AB 411, the So-Called CRT Bill
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 25, 2022
From WisPolitics.com …
The state Senate today signed off on legislation that backers say would ban the teaching of critical race theory in Wisconsin K-12 schools.
The bill, which cleared the chamber 20-13, next heads to Gov. Tony Evers, who’s expected to veto the legislation.
Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, was the only Republican who joined Dems in voting against the bill. He didn’t speak during the debate.
But he said in a statement from his office, “I am opposed to CRT, but our local school boards are in the best position to oppose CRT and monitor their curricula to make sure CRT isn’t taught in my districts. This is a local control issue.”
AB 411 would prohibit K-12 schools and independent charter schools from teaching race or sex stereotyping. It also would ban teaching one race or sex is inherently superior; that someone by the virtue of their race or sex is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive; that someone’s moral character is determined by their race or sex; and that someone should feel guilt, anguish or other form of distress because of their race or sex.
Sen. André Jacque, R-DePere, pointed to Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech in which he talked about his dream that one day children would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.
Jacque argued it was inherently racist and sexist to say anyone is racist or sexist simply because of the color of their skin or their gender.
Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, countered Blacks face a different standard than whites in the criminal justice system and “driving while Black” is real.
She recounted her son being detained by police while he was trying to deliver a turkey to a neighbor. Taylor said he was mistaken for someone else and had done nothing wrong, “his content thrown to the ground.”
“It hurts me to know my son wasn’t seen by the content of his character but by the color of his skin,” she said.
In an addendum to his committee testimony, co-author Rep. Chuck Wichgers, R-Muskego, submitted a list of additional terms and concepts he argued would violate the language in the bill. That list includes: anti-racism, cultural awareness, diversity training, multiculturalism, racial healing and social justice.
See Wichgers’ full testimony here.
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LFB Projects $3.8 Billion Surplus for 2021-23 Budget
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 25, 2022
From WisPolitics.com …The Legislative Fiscal Bureau today projected the state will finish the 2021-23 budget with a $3.8 billion surplus, nearly $2.9 billion more than was expected just several months ago.The LFB said the revised estimate was due to $2.5 billion more in expected tax collections by the end of the two-year period, an increase of $33.1 million in departmental revenues and a drop of $339.4 million in appropriations.LFB noted the state’s budget stabilization fund balance is more than $1.7 billion. That exceeds the automatic trigger that directs the state to divert some surplus state revenues to the fund, meaning the state Capitol will have that money available for new spending, tax cuts or to leave it in the general fund.Joint Finance Co-chairs Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, said the increased revenue projections are partly due to “all of the federal funding and stimulus money that is pouring into our state” and argued the state must “continue to be vigilant.”“We are well positioned for the future when all of the one-time federal funding will end,” they said. “We must prepare for the future and continue to use the massive federal funding for one-time expenses in order to maintain our extraordinary financial position.”See the memo here.
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Executive Action by the Senate Committee on Education
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 24, 2022
From The Wheeler Report . . .
EXECUTIVE ACTION BY SENATE EDUCATION (Friday, January 21st – SAA Positions Added in Bold)
SB-597 Kindergarten (Wanggaard, Van) Early admission to kindergarten and first grade at a private school participating in a parental choice program. Passage recommended, 4-3. SAA no position.
SB-695 Charter Schools (Kooyenga, Dale) The number of independent charter schools authorized by the College of Menominee Nation or the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College. Am.1 adopted, 4-3. Passage as amended recommended, 4-3. SAA opposes.
SB-833 Teaching Grants (Kooyenga, Dale) Grants to support the teaching of college courses in high schools and making an appropriation. Passage recommended, 7-0. SAA supports.
SB-828 Early Learning (Darling, Alberta) Administration of the online early learning pilot program in the 2022-23 school year. Passage recommended, 4-3. SAA no position.
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Evers Administration Predicts Higher Revenues Than Expected
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 21, 2022
From WisPolitics.com …The Evers administration yesterday predicted revenues for the 2021-22 fiscal year will come in higher than expected with collections from income, corporate and sales taxes all running ahead of projections so far.Department of Revenue economist Emily Camfield noted income tax collections will be impacted significantly in the coming months as the tax cuts and changes in withholding tables kick in.Even with that, she predicted the Legislative Fiscal Bureau will revise upward the overall tax collection picture for 2021-22. Camfield didn’t give reporters on a conference call today a ballpark of how much the administration believes overall revenue projections will exceed previous expectations.LFB Director Bob Lang said he expects to have new revenue projections next week.The news comes as the state’s unemployment rate dropped to a record low 2.8 percent in December; the departments of Revenue and Workforce Development gave reporters an overview of the developments.Sales tax collections were projected to grow 4.2 percent in fiscal year 2021-22 compared to the previous year. But through December, they were up 13.2 percent.Meanwhile, corporate tax collections were expected to drop more than 25 percent after a record run of growth. So far this year, those collections are actually up 6.8 percent over 2020-21.Income tax collections are also up 13 percent. But that’s before taking into account the impact of the tax cuts and changes to withholding tables. Updating withholding tables is expected to drop revenues by nearly $710 million, and Camfield said that will be reflected in the coming months as tax refunds start to go out.“I don’t think anyone should be alarmed by those” coming revenue reports, she said.Camfield added inflation is playing a part by pushing up revenue numbers.“That’s good for the state. We’re able to bring in a little bit extra” she said. “The flip side is that limits what their income can go to purchase for the consumer.”
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