Legeslative Agenda | Legislative Archive

WEEKLY LONG-TERM CARE UPDATE Update October 22, 2004

DHFS Announces New Director of the Office of Strategic Finance - Fredi-Ellen Bove
Department of Health and Family Services’ Secretary Helene Nelson announced last week that Fredi-Ellen Bove will be the new Director of the Office of Strategic Finance (OSF).  As director of OSF, her office will manage the development of the Department's budgets, provide analysis on key policy issues, and facilitate the development of strategic plans. The office is also responsible for evaluation and audit of programs and operations throughout the Department, and manages DHFS’ county and tribal relations.  Over the past 10 years, Fredi has been a Budget Director for DHFS.  Prior to joining the Department in 1994, Fredi worked for the UW Board of Regents and earlier with the Federal government in international policy and economics. She has a master’s degree of public policy from Harvard.

Update: Battle on the Minimum Wage Increase Rules
The Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) met on Wednesday to vote on recommending two committee bills that would remove the authority of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to increase Wisconsin’s minimum wage by administrative rule.  Since the bills have committee approval, both bills will be introduced in the Senate and Assembly in January.  The administrative rules process is complicated, but basically these bills must pass the legislature and be signed into law by the Governor during the 2005-07 session to stop the proposed minimum wage increases from going into effect.  At this time, the Governor would most likely veto these bills.
 
This means that if the legislature and the Governor do not agree to a compromise during the next biennial session the minimum wage increases will go into effect when the bills are vetoed by the Governor, or when the session ends in 2006 (whichever occurs first). Therefore, if no compromise can be reached, the legislature has two years to stall minimum wage increases – but eventually the minimum wage increases will be enacted.  The current proposal by DWD would raise the current minimum wage rate of $5.15 to $5.70 this year and $6.50 per hour in October 2005.


IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

RSA
October 27, 2004 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM RSA Regional Meeting (Agape of Appleton)
November 4-5, 2004 RSA Annual Board Retreat (American Club in Kohler)
November 5, 2004 at 10:00 AM Board Meeting (American Club in Kohler)
 
Save Medicaid Coalition
November 16, 2004 3:00PM – 5:00PM DHFS\Legislative & Strategy Briefing Session (Madison Club, Madison)

Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
November & December Meetings are Cancelled
January 14, 2005

Wisconsin Council on Long-Term Care
Residential Options Task Force
October 29, 2004 (rescheduled from October 15th)
November 19, 2004
December TBA, 2004

Medicaid\Healthcare Candidate Forums
Candidates will discuss their positions on Wisconsin’s most pressing health-related issues: Tobacco Control; Funding Medicaid; and, Healthcare for our seniors and citizens with disabilities.
   
October 27: Eau Claire
Chippewa Valley Technical College Gateway Campus, 620 W. Clairemont Ave., 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

2004 Wisconsin Elections
November 2, 2004: Presidential and General Elections (federal and state-wide elections)


LONG-TERM CARE IN THE NEWS
 
Pioneer Press (October 22, 2004)
Minimum wage hike in jeopardy
Legislative panel proposes bill suspending measure
A legislative committee approved a bill Thursday that would block a proposed increase in Wisconsin’s minimum wage and prohibit a state agency from implementing future hikes.
http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_18321676.shtml
 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (October 22, 2004)
Lawmakers' aides are cashing in
Many get big raises even as economy leaves some hurting
Working for a high-profile state senator has been good for John Wayne Hogan.  The 28-year-old has gotten the biggest boost in pay - 70.6% - of all full-time legislative aides since 2002, records show. Hogan was one of about 60 full-time aides to lawmakers who received raises of more than 10% over the past two years - a period when inflation nationally was 4.9%.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/oct04/268690.asp <http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/oct04/268690.asp>