The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents took a stand Thursday against pending legislation that would limit the revenue that state and local governments can collect. (Third item)
Pain and suffering awards to victims of medical malpractice will be capped at $750,000 under a new limit Gov. Jim Doyle signed late Wednesday.
Something has to change with the University of Wisconsinââ?¬â?¢s disciplinary process for faculty and academic staff ââ?¬â? and nobody seems to dispute that.
THEY CELEBRATED Earth Day out in Denver Monday. The mayor was on board, having announced two years ago that Earth Day in Denver is March 20. Last week, a camera crew from Los Angeles was in Denver to interview the founder of Earth Day, John McConnell. The video was to be shown Monday at a meeting of California environmentalists.
All this would seem to be at odds with what Madison and Wisconsin residents have long believed, that Earth Day is next month, April 22, and that it was founded by one of the state’s favorite sons, the late U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, in 1970.
(Tom Sinclair of the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, is quoted.)
Just five years ago, public colleges and universities enjoyed their highest per-student levels of state and local government support in at least 25 years. By 2005, thanks to stagnant budgets and exploding demand, that figure had plummeted to a 25-year low.
Today’s national report on public funding underscores that Wisconsin is sorely in need of more state support for higher education, area higher education advocates said
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents is buddying up with state legislators in an effort to stimulate and improve communication.
Wisconsin legislators opened their mailboxes Wednesday to find a letter signed by elected officials from across the state urging them to oppose the controversial Taxpayer Protection Amendment
The recently proposed Wisconsin Taxpayer Protection Amendment continues to spark debate, as some are comparing it to a similar Colorado state constitutional amendment which garnered mixed results.
A recent study by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported that had the proposed Taxpayer Protection Amendment been in effect for the past 20 years, the state would have collected $1.9 billion less in taxes in 2003-’04, a 14% cut. Taxpayers certainly could have used that money, and the state economy might have benefited substantially as a result. That’s good news, and the bureau’s analysis provides information necessary to furthering the debate on the amendment.
But the fiscal bureau analysis can only look at the “heads” side of the coin: Taxpayers would have had more money in their pockets. And, yes, that is a good thing. On the “tails” side, though, is this: State government would have had $1.9 billion less to provide the services that citizens demand. Maybe that’s a good thing; maybe state government does spend too much on too many programs. Certainly, that’s something citizens need to examine.
A new flu institute at UW-Madison and a new flu test at a state lab on campus are among Wisconsin’s expanding efforts to help the state and the country prepare for a flu pandemic, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Wednesday.
The establishment of a $9 million research institute will make Madison a national hub for genetic research studies on influenza viruses, information needed to fight the deadly strain of bird flu that’s circulating globally, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Wednesday.
Columnist criticizes says tax-limitation opponent and UW-Madison economist Andrew Reschovsky’s stand against the so-called Taxpayer Protection Amendment.
Mequon attorney Rick Esenberg says the proposed amendemtn will provide needed spending controls.
Another week, another study putting a price on tax limits. The verdict: $1.9 billion of more power to you.
The latest numbers come from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the gold standard of Wisconsin government data. The bureau reported this week that had the Taxpayer Protection Amendment been at work for the past 20 years, the state would have collected $1.9 billion less in taxes in 2003-’04 – a 14% cut. Had the amendment been in place for 10 years, the state’s take would have been 3.6% less in 2003-’04.
There was a more dramatic assessment last month when Andrew Reschovsky, an economist and public policy analyst at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said that state revenue would have been a third less in 2003 had the amendment’s revenue limits been running since the mid-1980s.
Madison will soon be home to a $9 million research institute dedicated to influenza viruses such as the one that causes avian flu, which public health officials fear could spark a global pandemic that would kill millions.
Gov. Jim Doyle plans to officially announce today that the Institute for Influenza Viral Research will be built in the University Research Park, on the far west side of Madison.
He is expected to make the announcement during a summit in Madison on pandemic flu preparedness. The meeting will include presentations by Alex Azar II, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a world-renowned flu researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is expected to play a pivotal role in the new institute. He was in Japan on Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.
Temperatures rise and snow disappears as we approach the Ides of March. In no time at all, graduation will be here for thousands of young people in our state from the UW System and our technical schools.
They are filled with hope for a bright future they richly deserve. They have studied hard, worked several jobs, borrowed lots of money, leaned on families for support, sweated through countless exams, remained alert through hundreds of lectures, worried about majors and minors, and crossed their fingers while they waited for their grades. After all that, they deserve to have a state welcoming them into the mainstream of activity.
So how are we preparing their welcoming party? Well, we have a few problems. While they should be able to look to us for inspiration and leadership, frankly, we need their ideas and leadership. We made lots of promises to their generation, but unfortunately we have had our gaze diverted.
State officials have reached agreement on a contract with negotiators for the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24, representing about 20,000 front-line workers in four bargaining units. The agreement, to be voted on by union members by the end of March, covers the period from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007.
It provides a 2 percent raise as of July 1, 2005 and another 2 percent as of July 1, 2006. An additional 1 percent would be added in April 2007 as well as a 1 percent “general wage adjustment” for all members and a 0.25 percent increase to mitigate the cost of health insurance.
Budget cuts, bad press and hurt feelings are taking a measurable toll on UW-Madison, Chancellor John Wiley said Monday, as other universities go after key faculty at a faster clip, and with more success in the last two years.
An analysis by the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau released Monday says taxpayers could have saved up to $1.9 billion in state taxes over 20 years if revenue limits had been in place.
The bureau report shows savings of about 4% annually, in both state and local taxes, if the so-called Taxpayer Protection Amendment were already law. The analysis was based on a new version of the measure under consideration by the Legislature.
The savings in state taxes came to about 4% in hypothetical snapshots taken by the bureau looking back 10, 15 and 20 years ago.
University of Wisconsin regents used their monthly meeting to rip a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit tax increases.
The Board of Regents heard from Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, and an aide to Rep. Jeff Wood, R-Chippewa Falls, on Friday. The authors of the Taxpayer Protection Amendment assured regents it would neither harm access to a higher education nor diminish the university’s role as an engine of the state’s economy.
Regents replied it would devastate the university’s ability to provide a quality education to the masses.
Rep. Scott Jensen, the former Assembly speaker convicted Saturday of illegal campaign activity, announced today that he will resign.
Jensen, a Waukesha Republican, said in a statement that he will resign as representative for the 98th Assembly District and intends to “wrap up my remaining constituent cases by March 21st.”
MADISON – A proposed amendment to the state constitution to limit government spending would result in massive tuition increases that would price out poor students at University of Wisconsin campuses, UW System regents told the plan’s author Friday.
MADISON – The University of Wisconsin has a reputation for being a national leader in technology transfer.
Now a bill is making its way through the Legislature that proponents say would make it easier for faculty and researchers to turn their ideas into start-up companies.
Story notes that former state Supreme Court Justice William Bablitch and University of Wisconsin-Madison law professor and constitutional scholar Gordon Baldwin have predicted that the court would uphold a $750,000 cap.
University of Wisconsin President Kevin Reilly has proposed a reasonable policy on holding Bible study classes in the rooms of dormitory resident assistants. UW Regents should approve the proposal at this week’s meeting.
Reilly’s plan was developed after Lance Steiger, a resident assistant at the UW-Eau Claire, was told in July to stop the study sessions.
Edward M. Johnson, who for 30 years championed the causes of Wisconsin cities and villages in the State Capitol, is dead at the age of 82.
Johnson was executive director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities in 1955-1984 and later lobbied for the University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty. He would have reached his 83rd birthday April 4.
He was found dead in his Madison apartment Monday. A memorial service is being planned for a later date.
“Ed gave lobbying a good name,” said Harvey Breuscher, former communications director for the University of Wisconsin System, who worked with Johnson on UW issues.
At its latest meeting, University of Wisconsin-Madison�s Faculty Senate formally expressed displeasure with a Board of Regents policy draft on faculty suspension. Specifically, the Senate opposed allowing faculty to be suspended without pay when charged with a felony.
State lawmakers debated and approved a bill Tuesday that would deny financial aid to students convicted of possessing controlled substances with the intent of distributing.
The Assembly College and Universities Committee rejected a bill Tuesday proposing to place temporary restrictions on the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.
MILWAUKEE – Producer and director Jerry Zucker would love to film a movie in his native Wisconsin, but it’s hard to persuade film production executives to do it when other states are offering tax incentives that help cut costs.
If a proposed law makes its way through the state Legislature, the Shorewood native won’t have to do as much to persuade them.
….A number of Hollywood heavyweights have written letters of support, including director David Koepp, who grew up in Pewaukee, and actors and Wisconsin natives Leslie Nielsen, Jane Kaczmarek and Brad Whitford.
The loss of one of UW-Madison�s world-known engineering centers has caused the University to lose millions of dollars in grants and exposed the obstacles researchers on campus endure to seek adequate funding for their projects. As a result, it may be difficult to attract researchers to campus.
“The region comes first.”
That was the message – and the secret to success – relayed to us by the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., a non-profit affiliate of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce that includes about 60 communities in seven counties.
An opinion column by Julia Taylor, president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and Jennifer Alexander, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.
A proposal to provide $2.5 million in state seed money to promote collaborative bio-medical research between the Medical College of Wisconsin and four other colleges in the region is in trouble because of concerns about what the money might be used for. Namely, embryonic stem cell research.
A state lawmaker announced plans Monday to introduce a bill allowing state colleges to refuse employment to convicted felons.
A proposal to provide $2.5 million in state seed money to promote collaborative bio-medical research between the Medical College of Wisconsin and four other colleges in the region is in trouble because of concerns about what the money might be used for. Namely, embryonic stem cell research.
A compromise proposal before the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents resolves a potential church-state problem in a positive and common-sense way.
At issue is whether resident assistants ââ?¬â? who serve as floor leaders in university dormitories throughout the state ââ?¬â? have the same rights as other students to be involved in political or religious activities.
A proposal that would allow the University of Wisconsin to suspend faculty members without pay if they are charged with a felony was met with strong criticism Monday by members of the UW faculty.
MILWAUKEE (AP) – The political battle over embryonic stem cells may keep the state from funding collaborative research between the Medical College of Wisconsin and four other colleges.
The Biomedical Technology Alliance, known as the BTA, has lobbied the state for $2.5 million that would be matched by private funds to promote shared research. But the Legislature is expected to wrap up most of its business Thursday.
Fondly recalling his Peace Corps experiences in Tunisia, Gov. Jim Doyle complimented returning Corps volunteers and congratulated newly nominated ones for their dedication and service at Agriculture Hall Friday.
After an introduction by UW-Madison Interim Provost Virginia Sapiro, the governor said he was delighted to speak about his experiences and personal insight gained through his Corps service. Remembering former President John F. Kennedy�s call for service, Doyle said the former president�s inspiration encouraged him to embark on the new service program back in 1967.
A University of Wisconsin-Madison employee who has handled donations, grants and credit card transactions was convicted last year on charges that she embezzled more than $30,000 from a previous employer, court records show. (Last item in briefs package).
In a 74 to 22 vote, the Wisconsin state Assembly approved legislation late Thursday night capping damages awarded in cases of medical malpractice.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and his wife Jessica visited the University of Wisconsin Friday to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Peace Corps ââ?¬â? an organization they said changed their lives.
MADISON – The Wisconsin Innocence Project pulled a photo from its Web site on Friday of a man the group helped free from prison — one day after gruesome details emerged about the death of a woman he is accused of killing.
The group’s action to distance itself from one of its best-known cases came after prosecutors alleged in graphic detail that Steven Avery and his 16-year-old nephew raped and murdered 25-year-old Teresa Halbach on Halloween.
The politically charged battle over embryonic stem cells is threatening to derail state funding for collaborative research between the Medical College of Wisconsin and four other southeastern Wisconsin colleges.
The Biomedical Technology Alliance, known as the BTA, has been lobbying the state for $2.5 million in seed money that would be matched by private funds to promote shared research.
How ironic is it that the University of Wisconsin System, home to UW-Madison, which prides itself on being one of the nation’s premier research sites for exploring the unknown, seems to be so clueless as to what’s going on inside its own halls?
This week, the Legislative Audit Bureau released a comprehensive report on the employment of felons in the UW System, conducted at the behest of state legislators.
MADISON – A University of Wisconsin-Madison employee who has handled donations, grants and credit card transactions was convicted last year on charges she embezzled more than $30,000 from a previous employer, court records show.
The Legislative Audit Bureau identified Jennifer K. Joas, a financial specialist in the university’s agronomy department, as one of 40 felons on the UW System payroll as of last fall in a list obtained by the Associated Press.
Madison film fans have quite a busy weekend ahead of them.
On Sunday, of course, they get to pop some popcorn, make their predictions and watch Jon Stewart host the Oscars, honoring some of the most-talked-about films of 2005.
But beginning at noon Saturday, they can start buying tickets for the eighth annual Wisconsin Film Festival and start mapping out which films they’ll see, films that could end up being some of the most-talked-about of 2006.
Gov. Jim Doyle plans to lead a delegation of more than 150 Wisconsin industry leaders to Chicago for BIO 2006, the world’s largest biotechnology conference, on April 9-12.
Doyle will join leading Wisconsin stem cell researchers Dr. James Thomson and Dr. Gabriela Cezar, as well as Wisconsin life science executives, economic developers, state government officials, lawyers, venture capitalists, researchers, technology licensing representatives and higher education professionals to promote Wisconsin’s life science resources.
The Democratic candidate for state treasurer has withdrawn from the race to continue his college studies. Robert Fyrst, 37, a three-term supervisor on the Dane County Board, announced his withdrawal today.
“Right now is not the time for me to serve as the Wisconsin state treasurer,” Fyrst said in a prepared statement. “I am not saying goodbye to politics.”
Fyrst will graduate from UW-Madison with degrees in sociology and political science this year, and has decided to apply to graduate school to continue his education.
Medical malpractice victims in Wisconsin would be limited to $750,000 in damages for pain and suffering under legislation the Assembly has passed after the governor vetoed an earlier proposal that would have set the cap much lower.
The Assembly’s 74-22 vote Thursday adds pressure on Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle to sign the bill this time because it passed with a veto-proof margin, with 16 Democrats voting in favor.
Supporters said the caps were urgently needed to ward off a potential medical liability crisis that would force doctors out of the state and drive up health care costs.
To help propel Minnesota into the biotech big leagues, the University of Minnesota announced Thursday it wants $366 million to build five new research facilities over the next decade.
WAUKESHA – David Simpson receives what he said is an inordinate amount of e-mails from his students.
The Carroll College professor of psychology said he once received an e-mail from a student who planned to miss class to attend something like a Beach Boys concert.
But he leaves himself open to this type of informal e-mail, he said, as he wants students to know he is a student-friendly professor.
Is anyone else surprised by the reaction of members of the State Legislature to the recently released audit of the UW System? I�m definitely not.
Letter writer says: I am the parent of a University of Wisconsin-Platteville student, and if I had been polled, I would be one of the 30% who believe that UW-Platteville is spending money wisely (“Survey scalds UW System,” Feb. 24). UW-Platteville has in fact been hurt by recent cost-cutting brought on by problems at some of the larger campuses.
The UW System should not be singled out for legislative retribution for hiring felons in compliance with state law.
What we need to avoid is creating unnecessary hardships for people whom our judicial system has decided have paid their debt to society. There are few good jobs for people once they have served their time for the felony crimes that they have committed. Let’s not mistakenly make life harder for those who are trying to build a life after prison ââ?¬â? and make our state’s corrections policy look hypocritical compared to its past.
Dear Editor: Madison Gas & Electric recently announced that it will end coal burning by 2011 at its Blount Street plant in downtown Madison, significantly reducing air pollution from the plant.
Students can learn more about dirty coal and all of the issues surrounding energy production and global warming by taking part in the first annual Midwest Student Energy Conference in Madison this weekend.
….Registration is free and open to students in any university across the Midwest.
Wisconsin’s four major college athletic departments received passing grades under a new NCAA initiative that threatens to take scholarships away from teams that don’t perform up to academic standards.
The NCAA recognized 16 teams at the University of Wisconsin, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay for high scores during the 2004-05 academic year.
However, scores for two high-profile teams, the UW’s football team and Marquette men’s basketball team, came in below NCAA requirements.
Gov. Jim Doyle announced plans Wednesday to lead 150 prominent Wisconsin biotechnology leaders to BIO 2006, a Chicago conference, according to a press statement from his office.
BIO 2006 is the largest biotechnology conference in the world and will be held April 9 through April 12, 2006.
In search of an alternative to fossil fuels, Wisconsin lawmakers heard testimony Wednesday on a proposed bill that would terminate the moratorium on new nuclear power plants.
Providing higher education access to its citizens ââ?¬â? for as little cost as possible ââ?¬â? has long been a top priority for the state of Wisconsin.
