Category: State news

For someone who generates headlines by vigorously attacking the UW every chance he gets, state Rep. Steve Nass is a remarkably quiet man. During long conversations about the UW, the Republican lawmaker from Whitewater sits mostly silent, hands folded, nodding his head as his research assistant, Mike Mikalsen, does the talking.

Mikalsen, who has worked in the Legislature for 16 years, including 12 with Nass, behaves like Nass’ critics might expect him to. He sputters and growls and waves his arms. His tone ranges from mild disgust to infinite disdain as he describes the UW’s various transgressions.

The State Budget is now 90 days overdue…with no immediate fix in sight. The President of the U-W System says in these uncertain times, Universities are brainstorming for new ways to bring students in. Seve Roisum Reports. (Audio.)

The state is withholding money from seven Milwaukee voucher schools that have failed to comply with one of the most ambitious studies ever to look at vouchers, and it appears that will prompt some of them to hand over their test scores. John Witte, a UW-Madison professor, is one of the lead researchers.

MADISON, Wis. — The leader of state Senate Republicans said that there’s “no way” the budget will be done any time soon.

State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said that he doesn’t think negotiations have been going well at the governor’s residence. He said that the budget will not be wrapped up by Friday and possibly not until later than mid-October.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor John Wiley has warned legislators that the Assembly’s version of the budget could force the school to make millions of dollars of midyear budget cuts, eliminating thousands of course sections, lengthening the time it takes students to earn degrees and delaying the admissions process.

Smokers, public workers, UW alumni and business groups are making a last-ditch effort to protect their interests as lawmakers and Gov. Jim Doyle try to hammer out a new state budget.

All of the groups have been blanketing elected officials with phone calls, form letters, postcards, office visits and even radio ads in recent weeks.

But legislative leaders say there have been relatively few messages from ordinary constituents demanding that lawmakers get to work on the budget, which was supposed to take effect July 1.

University of Wisconsin Chancellor John Wiley warned the Joint Finance Committee Tuesday that if the university does not receive necessary funding in the new budget, serious midyear cuts will be made.

As legislators continue to wrangle over a state biennial budget, UW System and UW-Madison officials reiterated Wednesday that they are not just crying wolf over what they say would be dire effects on the System if state funding is not increased enough.

MADISON — Behind a locked gate, a handful of politicians are meeting in secret.

Their decisions will affect everything from how much workers pay in taxes, whether families can get health insurance, how much it costs to drive a car and tuition at the University of Wisconsin.

UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley warned Tuesday that proposed budget cuts would devastate the Madison campus, as lawmakers and Gov. Jim Doyle’s aides continued to
negotiate a new state budget.

The state Legislatureâ??s current delay in passing a budget has wasted $17.2 million since the July 1 deadline, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

The state Senate and Assembly have been unable to reach an agreement on a new 2007-09 budget for the past several months.

Better late than even later.
It appeared Monday that top state leaders were finally getting serious about doing their most important job — passing a state budget.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, and Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit, stood side by side Monday morning at the governor ‘s mansion in Maple Bluff, expressing optimism that a budget deal can be reached by the end of this week.

A provision in the Senateâ??s version of the Wisconsin budget that would allow University of Wisconsin System professors to unionize is being hotly contested by state Republicans.

Here is the list of states that have a budget.

MILWAUKEE â?? When he gives lectures on how alcohol harms Wisconsin communities, Dr. Paul Moberg starts by showing an editorial cartoon he calls “sobering.”

Residents across the state cheered as Tyler Donovanâ??s fourth quarter heroics secured another Badger victory over the University of Nevada-Las Vegas last weekend.

That sense of pride for UW athletics can be felt throughout the state on any given autumn Saturday. Yet when it comes to showing pride in academic and research achievements of our top-notch public university system, many leaders in the Capitol are nowhere to be seen.

Gov. Jim Doyle’s administration is recruiting Waukesha high schoolers today to join thousands across Wisconsin in a program offering guaranteed college admission, although it is uncertain whether the governor will be able to deliver on the promise.

For some legislators, there is no sense of urgency with regard to the unfinished state budget.

Despite the fact that the budget is the blueprint for state government, state Sen. Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, actually went so far as to release a press release hailing the benefits of not having enacted a budget. Kedzie claims that taxpayers should celebrate because “more delay means more money in their pocket.”

That’s a little like someone who fails to make necessary repairs on their home and then brags about all the money they are saving as the house crumbles into disrepair.

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is holding its breath as it waits to see if the Wisconsin State Legislature will approve its 2007-09 biennial budget request and Governor Jim Doyle’s Wisconsin Growth Agenda.

Attention, students of modern American politics: The University of Wisconsin Press has a new book that’s perfect for you.

It’s written by one of Wisconsin’s own, David Obey, who has represented the northwestern part of the state in Congress since 1969, and it’s nothing short of a winner.

“Raising Hell for Justice” is a must read for anyone who wants to get a better grasp of the ways of Washington and understand what makes the political process tick.

MADISON, Wis. â?? An alumni group is sending mailings across the state and starting a Web site as part of a lobbying campaign to get lawmakers to give more money to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Wisconsin Alumni Association recently sent the mailing warning â??Bucky needs your help!â? to all 130,000 UW-Madison alumni who live in the state, spokeswoman Kate Dixon said Wednesday.