Contact: [email protected] New estimate by LFB shows funding parity price tag is over $100M ALMA, WI – For many years, voucher and charter school advocates sought funding parity while rural schools struggle to stay open. Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) responded to a new analysis done by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau pegging the parity price tag at over $100M. Senator Kathleen Vinehout commented, “I cannot sit idly by while voucher and charter school advocates ask for more money when my rural public schools can barely afford the basics.” “Taking $100 million away from 867,000 public school students for 42,000 private voucher and

Contact: Jonathan Barry, (608) 266-8369 MADISON – The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) today approved slightly more than $12.25 in million State Trust Fund Loans to support eleven community projects in Wisconsin. The BCPL approved the following loans: City of Blair, Trempealeau County / Refinance BCPL loan #2009010.01 / $142,000 City of Blair, Trempealeau County / Refinance BCPL loan #2009010.02 / $50,000 City of Blair, Trempealeau County / Refinance BCPL loan #2009010.03 / $282,000 Village of Egg Harbor, Door County / Construct new library/community center / $1,507,500 Town of Ironton, Sauk County / Purchase truck and equipment / $159,000 City of

Contact: Rep. Katrina Shankland, (608) 267-9649 MADISON – Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point), a member of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance, released the following statement today in response to Governor Walker’s UW System budget plan: “Last year, state support for the UW System was the lowest it has been in state history when adjusted for inflation. Excluding debt service, the UW System has lost $795 million in state aid under Governor Walker and the Republican majority. And now, as the governor sets the stage for his reelection campaign, he is restoring a fraction of what he cut from our universities

Contact: Alderman Jim Bohl, (414) 286-2219 Today the Common Council voted 15-0 to ban the use and sale of coal tar sealants and other select high PAH level pavement sealant products in Milwaukee. In approving the measure, the Council puts Milwaukee among a growing list of cities and communities across the U.S. – and the states of Washington and Minnesota – in restricting deadly ingredients/additives present in coal tar and select sealant products. Authored by Alderman Jim Bohl, the ordinance was approved by the full Council this morning and is co-sponsored by Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Terry L. Witkowski, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Tony Zielinski, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Russell