We have been anxiously awaiting the Joint Finance Committee’s review of the Governor’s proposal to centralize and privatize the income maintenance (IM) system, which is responsible for intake and related services for the Medicaid and FoodShare programs. That issue will be part of the committee’s lengthy agenda for June 2 and 3. The Walker administration has had to substantially scale back the privatization aspect of the IM plan, after USDA officials informed DHS that the proposal would violate federal food stamp regulations. A 22-page Fiscal Bureau paper compares the recently revised DHS plan with a somewhat similar plan developed by the counties, which has roughly the same total cost but retains more of the IM functions and funding at the county level.

Other items on the agenda for June 2 and 3 include UW issues, local aid (Shared Revenue) for counties and municipalities, the Commerce agency (including the proposal to convert the recycling surcharge to an economic development surcharge), issues relating to choice and charter schools, the state’s building program, debt restructuring, and elimination of FoodShare Benefits for qualified legal immigrants.

The JFC co-chairs have said that they plan to wrap up work on the biennial budget bill this week, working into the weekend if necessary.

Jon Peacock