….Effectively what is playing out here is an irresponsible game of chicken. The regents set a tuition rate that was too high, which was disappointing. Republicans in the Legislature countered with their own, somewhat lower, rate; but they provided no promise of new money to ensure that the UW System is adequately funded.
In the end, there is a distinct lack of adult behavior on display. It strikes us that some senior Republicans in the Legislature, such as state Sen. Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, need to start working with the more politically savvy regents, such as (Tom) Loftus, to develop a plan that holds down tuition rates while ensuring that the UW System has the money it needs to provide a first-class education to Wisconsinites who seek college degrees.