The Joint Finance Committee will be voting on many important items this week. On Tuesday, May 5, the Committee will take action on the Department of Public Instruction, including Student Achievement Guarantee in Education Program and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Grants. Also on Tuesday, the committee will be voting on FoodShare benefits for legal immigrants and income maintenance programs. These issues fall under the Department of Health Services (DHS) – Medical Assistance and FoodShare – Administration. WCCF has put out position papers on these DHS items. They are available at http://www.wccf.org/pdf/memo_income_maintenance_paper_444_050409.pdf and https://kidsforward.org/pdf/memo_food_share_paper_443_050409.pdf. They are also available via the Budget Essentials page of our website.

On Thursday, May 5, JFC will be voting on funding for the Homestead Tax Credit Program. This can be found under Shared Revenue and Tax Relief – Property Tax Credits. All of the JFC Papers can be accessed online at http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/LFBPublications_ButtonPages/Budget_Papers.htm.

In addition to JFC action, Tuesday the Senate Health Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 181, statewide smoking ban. Here is the hearing notice.