At least two politically minded groups have made extensive open records requests for emails sent and received by state legislators, two of the groups confirmed Thursday. A third group has made at least one such request.
Story refers to the request by the state GOP for some of UW-Madison professor Bill Cronon’s email.
Though its regulatory powers have been watered down over the past few decades, the Public Service Commission is still the body that provides a check on basic telephone rate increases and, among other things, makes sure that people?s heat is not turned off during cold Wisconsin winters because of unpaid utility bills. That?s why some find former state lawmaker Phil Montgomery?s appointment to chair the Public Service Commission hard to swallow.
Quoted: UW-Madison telecommunications professor Barry Orton
Having declared that Wisconsin?s divisive union law isn?t really a law yet, a judge was set to return to one of the underlying questions dogging the measure _ whether Republicans violated the state?s open meetings law during the frenzied run-up to passage.
Republican Gov. Scott Walker?s administration reluctantly suspended efforts to enact the law Thursday after Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi unexpectedly declared the measure hadn?t been properly published. The move marked another round in a messy legal fight over the law, which requires most public workers to pay more for their benefits and strips away most of their collective bargaining rights.
A Wisconsin judge on Thursday did what thousands of pro-union protesters and boycotting Democratic lawmakers couldn?t, forcing Republican Gov. Scott Walker to halt plans to implement a law that would strip most public workers of their collective bargaining rights and cut their pay.
The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus urged state lawmakers Thursday to support Gov. Scott Walker?s proposal spinning it off from the university system. The future of the university system is one of the largest and most divisive issues in Walker?s budget. UW System President Kevin Reilly argued for giving the other campuses more autonomy but keeping the system intact. “I will be the first to agree that these flexibilities are important for UW-Madison,” Reilly said. “They are, but they are equally important to all other UW campuses.” Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin, who has pushed more than a year to get more freedom for Madison, said the campus needs a model that will allow it to thrive. “We?re in a race and were tired of listening to words and we?re tired of the same structures that aren?t getting us to where we need to go,” Martin said.
Wisconsin college students would have to pay more to attend the University of Minnesota under a proposal backed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker that his administration announced Thursday. Walker is asking the Legislature?s Joint Finance Committee to approve a change to the two states? 43-year-old tuition reciprocity program that would save Wisconsin money by making students who go to Minnesota pay more. The reciprocity program allows Wisconsin and Minnesota college-bound students to pay instate tuition even if they attend public universities in the other state. This year it costs about $3,000 more in tuition and fees to attend the University of Minnesota than it does to go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Under the deal, the state of Wisconsin makes up the difference for students who decide to go to Minnesota. That subsidy would end under Walker?s proposal, which means Wisconsin students would have to pay all of the higher Minnesota resident tuition.
?Yesterday was among the craziest of my entire life,? UW-Madison history professor William Cronon wrote on his blog last week, describing how news of the Wisconsin Republican Party records request seeking emails from his university account had ?gone viral in a very big way.?
A senator on the state?s powerful budget committee told university leaders to stop arguing over the fate of UW-Madison within the University of Wisconsin System. “Rather than fighting, sit down and work together so we can move this university system and UW-Madison campus forward,” said Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon. His comments came after some three hours of testimony from UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin and UW System President Kevin Reilly before the Joint Finance Committee.
Quoted: University of Wisconsin-Madison law professor Howard Schweber.
The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus urged state lawmakers Thursday to support Gov. Scott Walker?s proposal spinning it off from the university system. UW President Kevin Reilly argued for keeping the flagship campus under the umbrella of the larger system.
It?s safe to say when this editorial board initiated its support for UW Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin?s flexibility and accountability proposal for the Madison campus we did not foresee a UW separate from the rest of the UW System. We?re still not quite sure how the New Badger Partnership ended up as a stand alone authority.
University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly is trying to convince state lawmakers not to allow the flagship Madison campus to operate independently as Gov. Scott Walker has proposed.
More Wisconsin college students may stay in-state if the reciprocity agreement between Wisconsin and Minnesota changes.
MADISON (WKOW) — After another ruling by a Dane County Judge the Department of Administration stops implementing the collective bargaining law.
More authority for all schools in the UW System. That?s what system president Kevin Reilly called for Thursday morning.
MILWAUKEE — Gov. Scott Walker said he?ll comply with a Dane County circuit judge?s order halting enactment of a law that would strip most public workers of their collective bargaining rights.
Biddy Martin explained her plans to split the Madison campus from the UW System to state lawmakers at the Capitol on Thursday. The UW Madison chancellor made the pitch for her Badger Partnership plan to members of the legislature?s Joint Finance Committee. ?Let us adopt a model that allows us to thrive,? said Martin. ?Let the other campuses have the flexibilities that are appropriate their their revenue mix, their administrative capacities, their specific missions, so they to can thrive.? Martin suggested amending Governor Scott Walker?s budget, which incorporates the Badger Partnership, so the other UW campuses ?get what they need.?
In contrast to some other states (yes, that means you, Wisconsin), Oregon?s politicians and the leaders of its public colleges and universities are on the same page about changes the state should make in how it manages higher education. But don?t blink, or you might miss the moment.
A new report says that UW-Madison generates more than $12 billion a year in economic activity in Wisconsin and supports nearly 130,000 jobs across the state. The school?s chancellor says those numbers are a good reason for the campus to have more independence.
MADISON (WKOW) — More authority for all schools in the UW System. That?s what system president Kevin Reilly called for Thursday morning.
“This is not the time to break up a well-running UW System,” Reilly said. The UW System President renewed his call for greater control at the university level – proposed in the Wisconsin Ideas Partnership. Reilly is opposed to Walker?s plan — supported by UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin — to spin off the Madison campus from the rest of the system.
MILWAUKEE — Gov. Scott Walker said he?ll comply with a Dane County circuit judge?s order halting enactment of a law that would strip most public workers of their collective bargaining rights. Walker said in an appearance in Milwaukee Thursday the reason he?ll comply with Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi?s order is because it?s in writing.
The state?s new law to dramatically limit collective bargaining for public workers has not been published and is not in effect, a judge said Thursday. An official in Republican Gov. Scott Walker?s administration said he plans to comply with that order and to suspend preparations for deducting money from workers? paychecks.
University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly unveiled more details about the Wisconsin Idea Partnership proposal in a meeting with the Join Finance Committee Thursday morning.
Faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point voted Thursday to form a union with collective bargaining rights through AFT-Wisconsin, a statewide labor federation affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers. The vote was 283 to 15 in favor of union representation, AFT-Wisconsin said in a news release.
MILWAUKEE — Some members of the State Employees Union are warning businesses in Wisconsin to either support collective bargaining for public employees or face a boycott.A letter from Council 24 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees asks businesses to express support by displaying a sign in their window. The letter said failing to support the union will mean a public boycott of the business. It also said that neutral means ?no? to supporting the union.
UW-Madison and affiliated organizations contribute $12.4 billion annually to Wisconsin?s economy, according to a new study, the first of its kind in eight years. The report, conducted by Madison-based NorthStar Economics Inc., found that the university, UW Hospital and Clinics and related groups support 128,146 jobs. The results come as UW-Madison officials seek to affirm the university?s importance to the state in the face of a $125 million budget cut under Gov. Scott Walker?s proposed two-year state budget.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison released a report Wednesday claiming that the campus contributes $12.4 billion to the state economy, as officials argued for flexibility measures in the next state budget to preserve that impact. The NorthStar Economics study also credits the university for creating, directly or indirectly, some 128,000 jobs across the state.
Dear Editor: People of Wisconsin, stand strong. Millions of us outside Wisconsin are so proud to see the determination of the union workers. It is heartwarming to watch Wisconsin?s brave citizens stand up to Gov. Scott Walker and his administration as well as his benefactors, the Koch brothers. Not satisfied with giving tax cuts to large businesses on the backs of the working people, they also want to eliminate collective bargaining. They are counting on workers? energy eroding. Do not fold; wait them out. You have been an inspiration to many people.
Dear Editor: The Republican Party attack on Professor William Cronon is another dark chapter in the book of hardball politics being written by the Republicans. Attacking Professor Cronon in this manner is cowardly and unfair.
Quoted: University of Wisconsin law professor Howard Schweber.
What?s the hottest issue for local candidates as the April 5 election approaches?You guessed it. Gov. Scott Walker?s war on workers, education, BadgerCare, SeniorCare and the rule of law.
Rachel Maddow reacted incredulously to a report that a conservative think tank in Michigan has filed a Freedom of Information request to seek any emails that mention her from three state universities.
A Midland-based think tank?s demands for Michigan professors? e-mails about Wisconsin?s public employee labor strife is causing an uproar among some who suggest the Freedom of Information Act requests aim to intimidate pro-labor dissenters and stifle academic freedom.
This state produces a lot of organic waste on its many dairy farms (all that cow manure) and food processing plants. These waste products could be turned into methane biogas, a renewable fuel that replaces natural gas, says the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative at UW-Madison. According to a new report from the group, this state already has a burgeoning biogas industry, but it has room to grow.
A prominent Wisconsin Republican operative is seeking legal permission to search through selected e-mails of a University of Wisconsin professor who wrote a blog and a New York Times Op-Ed piece that were critical of Gov. Scott Walker.
Quoted: “It’s dangerous. Arguably they’re in contempt of court already,” UW-Madison law professor Howard Schweber said Wednesday, referring to preparations under way by Walker’s administration to begin deducting more money from most public employees’ paychecks for health and pension plan costs and to stop deducting union dues.
Also: The Republicans are walking a political fine line by moving ahead as if the law is in effect while apparently defying the court, said Charles Franklin, a UW-Madison political science professor.
MADISON ? The University of Wisconsin-Madison released a report Wednesday claiming that the campus contributes $12.4 billion to the state economy, as officials argued for flexibility measures in the next state budget to preserve that impact.
University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac Campus Executive Officer/Dean John Short has joined 14 other current and former UW Colleges CEO/deans in signing a letter to the Legislature?s Joint Finance Committee opposing the separation of UW-Madison from the UW System.
Despite a court order from Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi, state leaders continue to implement Wisconsin Act 10, otherwise known as the budget repair bill.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration said it?s still not sure how an amended restraining order issued Tuesday affects its implementation of the collective bargaining law.
University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Howard Schweber, an expert on constitutional law, explains the legal battle over the collective bargaining law. (Video.)
WASHINGTON — As a bill that would strip collective bargaining rights from public employees advanced in Ohio?s legislature, a U.S. senator from that state lambasted the measure as demonstrating misplaced priorities.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi blocked any further implementation of Gov. Scott Walker?s budget repair law for a second time Tuesday after her previous ruling was, as she said, “misunderstood or ignored.”
The Joint Finance Committee began hearings on Gov. Scott Walker?s biennial budget Tuesday by listening to testimony from heads of agencies on how the budget affects them and what changes they recommend.
A Dane County Circuit Court judge Tuesday reinforced her previous order prohibiting the publication of the governor?s bill that would curtail collective bargaining rights for public unions and said those who continue to implement the law could face sanctions.
Last week Stephan Thompson, deputy executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, filed an Open Records Law request asking the University of Wisconsin to turn over copies of e-mails from William J. Cronon, a tenured professor of environmental history. The request appears to have been prompted by Professor Cronon?s political activism. On March 15, Cronon published a long blog post titled ?Who?s Really Behind Recent Republican Legislation in Wisconsin and Elsewhere? (Hint: It Didn?t Start Here).?
If it wasn?t clear last time, Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi made it clear on Tuesday: Any further implementation of Gov. Scott Walker?s law limiting public employee unions is barred, and anyone who violates her order risks sanctions.Sumi made her ruling at the end of a day of testimony in the open meetings lawsuit brought by Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne. The hearing is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
Last week?s New York Times op-ed piece by UW-Madison professor William Cronon was one of several recent articles framing current politics against the McCarthy era. One thing the two periods have in common is that 60 years ago our most famous senator inspired a recall drive like the ones underway now. The recall campaign against Sen. Joseph McCarthy in 1954, however, was not launched by demonstrations in the streets, big labor unions, the Democratic Party, or university students. Instead, a small-town newspaper editor named Leroy Gore got the ball rolling.
Why hasn’t the Wisconsin State Journal covered the debate over Bill Cronon’s e-mail? Over the years, this newspaper has made hundreds of records requests, many of them unwelcome and unpleasant experiences for the recipient. It would be hypocritical for us to suggest ? and a story would suggest it ? that some records requests are beyond the pale. I just don?t believe that. Stories about records requests being denied, maybe. Stories about misconduct and hidden agendas when those turn up, absolutely. But exercising one?s right to find out what their government is up to? Thankfully, that?s business as usual.
Republicans broke from their party allegiance to Gov. Scott Walker in the first briefing on his budget plan Tuesday, joining Democrats in questioning the governor?s decisions to cut money for recycling and reshape the University of Wisconsin System. The meeting was a signal of how difficult it will be for Walker to get everything he wants in the two-year spending plan he delivered to the Legislature earlier this month. Rep. Pat Strachota, R-West Bend, asked Huebsch to explain why other University of Wisconsin campuses weren?t being given the same autonomy as the Madison campus under the governor?s budget. Walker is proposing spinning the flagship campus off from the UW-System and creating a new quasi-public entity giving it more autonomy to make its own spending decisions and set tuition rates. Huebsch said Walker considered giving the same authority to other campuses but they weren?t as ready as Madison to make the change. Madison?s experience will serve as a model for the other campuses, he said.
UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin promised that students from other University of Wisconsin System schools will still be able to transfer into UW-Madison through existing programs, even if the flagship university splits from the rest of the UW System. She sent a series of memos last week to chancellors of other UW System institutions reaffirming existing transfer agreements and other collaborations in response to concerns that those ties would be severed. Under a proposal in Gov. Scott Walker?s budget, UW-Madison would become a public authority with its own board of trustees.
Gov. Scott Walker?s top aide is defending the governor?s proposal to allow the University of Wisconsin-Madison to break off from the rest of the university system. Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch says the governor considered giving other four-year institutions the same possibility, but determined the other campuses weren?t as prepared as Madison for the change.
They start gathering just before noon: families touring the Capitol, downtown workers on their lunch hours, protestors of Gov. Scott Walker?s agenda who won?t say die. Some days the number gathered to raise their voices in song barely rings the rotunda, but on Tuesday, a social network call for a “Sing-In” day to object to the arrest of protesters brandishing signs in violation of new restrictions brought in a crowd.
The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has released its summary of the 2011-2013 state budget which includes a detailed analysis of the proposed UW-Madison Authority. You can find the entire text of the summary here.
A conservative public policy center is seeking emails from labor professors at three Michigan state universities, looking for references to the Wisconsin union battle ? and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.
Gov. Scott Walker?s top aide is defending the governor?s proposal to allow the University of Wisconsin-Madison to break off from the rest of the university system and to remove the state mandate that communities provide recycling programs.
A Dane County judge has restated her order that implementation of the budget repair bill should be stopped. Judge Maryann Sumi amended her restraining order Tuesday evening, as a legal challenge that claims the bill?s passage violated the open meetings law continues.
Members of the University of Wisconsin student government said Monday they are deliberating the best procedure to appoint a student representative to the new governing board for the period after the campus becomes a public authority.
A free market-oriented think tank in Michigan has sent the state?s three largest public universities open-records requests for any e-mails from their labor-studies faculty members dealing with the debate over collective bargaining in Wisconsin.
Recent efforts by conservative-leaning groups to obtain the e-mails of Michigan and Wisconsin public-university professors have shed light on this much: Citing a need to protect “academic freedom” is, in itself, unlikely to help the universities avoid complying with requests for e-mails under state open-records laws.
