Republicans who control the Legislature’s powerful finance committee are now saying they expect to vote on the University of Wisconsin System budget later this week.
The Latest: GOP expects to vote on UW budget Thursday
Madison.com
Category: State budget
UW-Madison leadership center will be named for former Gov. Tommy Thompson
Capital Times
A new leadership center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will be named for Republican former Gov. Tommy Thompson, the longest serving governor in the state of Wisconsin.
New policy center at University of Wisconsin raises alarms
Madison.com
Gov. Scott Walker and fellow Wisconsin Republicans on Tuesday announced the formation of a new public policy center at the state’s flagship university, which liberals said would be nothing more than a taxpayer-funded conservative think tank.
GOP leaders propose policy center named for Tommy Thompson at UW-Madison
Wisconsin State Journal
A proposed new research center at UW-Madison named for former Gov. Tommy Thompson would connect academic experts with lawmakers to improve public policy and inspire the next generation of political leaders, according to Republican and university leaders who announced the initiative Tuesday.
Republicans divided on University of Wisconsin tuition cut
Wisconsin State Journal
Assembly and Senate Republicans are clashing over whether to cut University of Wisconsin System tuition in the next biennial budget, though they said Tuesday there won’t be a tuition increase.
Budget committee delays vote on University of Wisconsin System as GOP tensions simmer
Capital Times
The Republican-led Joint Finance Committee will delay a scheduled vote on the University of Wisconsin System’s budget amid a disagreement over Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to cut tuition by 5 percent.
Wisconsin Democrats, Republicans differ on how best to alleviate student loan debt
Capital Times
Democrats on the Wisconsin Legislature’s budget committee on Tuesday reintroduced an oft-rejected proposal that would allow student loans to be refinanced at lower interest rates. It was met with resistance once again by the committee’s Republican majority.
Budget panel delays votes on UW tuition cut, funding
AP
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Legislature’s powerful finance committee postponed votes Tuesday on the University of Wisconsin System’s budget until later this week as Republican lawmakers quarreled behind closed doors over whether to adopt Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to reduce tuition.
Committee to act on UW budget later this week
Associated Press
Republicans who control the Legislature’s powerful finance committee are now saying they expect to vote on the University of Wisconsin System budget later this week.
GOP Lawmakers Delay Vote On UW Budget
Wisconsin Public Radio
Republicans who run state government revealed a new fissure over the state budget Tuesday, this one involving Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to cut tuition for in-state students at University of Wisconsin System campuses.
Lawmakers to consider UW tuition cut, W-2 drug testing today
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Legislature’s budget committee is to decide Tuesday whether to go along with Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to cut college tuition – an idea key lawmakers have been reluctant to embrace.
Walker issues budget veto threat among talk of tax hikes
Madison.com
Gov. Scott Walker, in another sign of escalating tension with fellow Republicans who control the Legislature, vowed Monday to take the unprecedented step of vetoing the entire $76 billion state budget if it raises property taxes on homeowners.
Budget panel to consider UW tuition cut, performance funding
Madison.com
University of Wisconsin System students would save hundreds of dollars on tuition and campuses would have to compete for additional state dollars under provisions in Gov. Scott Walker’s budget up for votes Tuesday in the Legislature’s powerful finance committee.
Budget Panel to Consider UW Tuition Cut, Performance Funding
U.S. News and World Report
The Joint Finance Committee is in the midst of rewriting Walker’s budget before sending it on to the full Senate and Assembly for votes. The committee’s work is key because the panel essentially finalizes the spending plan. Rarely does the Senate or Assembly make further changes to the document before sending it back to the governor, who signs it into law. Walker can use his partial-veto power to make changes to whatever lands on his desk.
Lawmakers To Vote On Walker’s UW System Budget
Wisconsin Public Radio
The Legislature’s finance committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on pieces of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget for the University of Wisconsin System, including his plan to cut tuition across all UW campuses.
Budget panel to consider UW tuition cut, performance funding
Beloit Daily News
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — University of Wisconsin System students would save hundreds of dollars on tuition and campuses would have to compete for additional state dollars under provisions in Gov. Scott Walker’s budget up for votes Tuesday in the Legislature’s powerful finance committee.
Budget committee keeps labor commission, dumps tech college tuition freeze
Wisconsin State Journal
The Legislature’s Republican-controlled budget committee ditched Gov. Scott Walker’s proposals to cut a century-old labor review commission and freeze technical college tuition.
Wisconsin budget committee rejects proposed technical school tuition freeze
Capital Times
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed tuition freeze for technical college students was rejected on Thursday by the Legislature’s Republican-led budget committee.
The committee instead opted to set aside $5 million over the course of the two-year budget for the need-based Wisconsin Grants financial aid program.
The move frees up $2.5 million per year to be spent elsewhere in the budget.
UW-Parkside seeks funding support
Kenosha News
“The metrics that might work for UW-Madison or UW-Eau Claire or UW-La Crosse are not the metrics that are going to work at UW-Parkside,” Ford said. “We want to make sure all students are counted and we feel like we’ve been heard. Every time we go into a legislature’s office, they say they know one size doesn’t fit all.”
Lubar: Reinvest in Wisconsin’s world-class university system
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
My wife, Marianne, and I are proud investors in Wisconsin’s largest economic engine: the world-class University of Wisconsin System.
Wisconsin Republicans no closer to road-funding deal
Madison.com
Walker has said he’d be willing to look at more spending from the state’s main account — which also pays for K-12 schools, the University of Wisconsin, prisons, Medicaid and other government operations — to help pay for roads. The transportation fund currently is mostly made up of money from the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.
Scott Walker’s self-insurance proposal appears to be dead
Wisconsin State Journal
The Republican leaders of the Legislature’s budget committee plan to reject Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to self-insure state employees, but find other ways to try to save money under the existing system.
Proposed scholarship program could help retain ‘best and brightest.’
Wisconsin Radio Network
A new scholarship program could help retain Wisconsin’s “best and brightest,” at University of Wisconsin System campuses.
Walker calls on lawmakers to approve self-insurance plan
Wisconsin Radio Network
Governor Scott Walker is calling on lawmakers to approve a self-insurance model for state employees.
Kim Krautkramer: How ‘Badger Promise’ would have helped me as a first-generation Wisconsin student
Capital Times
Column: Kim Krautkramer is now a third-year medical student at UW-Madison, pursuing a dual doctorate (M.D.-Ph.D.) in the medical scientist training program.
Wisconsin budget battle enters voting stage
Madison.com
With a K-12 school aid increase on solid ground, a University of Wisconsin tuition cut in serious jeopardy and a solution to road funding still elusive, the Legislature’s budget-writing committee will come together Monday to begin voting on the two-year spending plan.
Scott Walker backs using more general fund taxes for transportation
Wisconsin State Journal
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau is expected to provide updated revenue projections in May. That could provide additional revenue without having to reduce Walker’s proposed increases in K-12 and college funding.
Fate of 5 percent tuition cut in doubt
Daily Cardinal
A key UW-related budget proposal may be in danger, as several Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to Gov. Scott Walker’s five percent tuition cut proposal for the state’s public universities.
Lawmakers open to ending University of Wisconsin tuition freeze as cut faces opposition
Wisconsin State Journal
The co-chairman of the Legislature’s powerful budget-writing committee says he is open to ending the freeze on University of Wisconsin System tuition in the next two years.
School funding takes center stage at JFC budget hearing in Ellsworth
WQOW
“We’ve made difficult budget reductions at UW-Eau Claire, while doing our up most to try and protect the student experience,” said UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt.
Schmidt was one of dozens of education leaders who made a plea to legislators to keep education a top priority in the state budget.
“There is no doubt that the three UW system campuses, including the three universities in this part of the state, Eau Claire, River Falls and Stout, are key to the future success of the State of Wisconsin,” Schmidt said.
State budget hearing in Ellsworth
Eau Claire Leader Telegram
UW-Stout Provost Patrick Guilfoile told the committee there is a need to raise the salaries of university faculty and staff to “attract new hires and to stop the exodus of valued employees from UW-Stout.”
“I hope this committee will find a way to support a pay increase for our employees because the quality of our faculty and staff make all the difference in the quality of education that we can offer our students, and competitive salaries help ensure we recruit and retain outstanding faculty and staff,” he said.
Lawmakers open to ending University of Wisconsin tuition freeze as cut faces opposition
Wisconsin State Journal
“We can’t freeze tuition forever,” Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, told the Wisconsin State Journal, making him the second member of the Joint Finance Committee to indicate interest in allowing limited UW tuition increases.
Eric Wendorff: Scott Walker’s budget shorts education
Capital Times
Letter to the editor: The University of Wisconsin is a vital resource for all Wisconsinites. Through educating our citizens and conducting important research, the university lays the foundation for a bright future for Wisconsin. While doing so, it creates thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of income. But because of budget cuts over the past decades, it has become increasingly difficult for young people to afford a UW education, and the university has slipped out of the top five research institutions in the country. To secure Wisconsin’s future, more money must be allocated to the University of Wisconsin.
UW System President Wants Board Of Regents To Set Performance Standards
Wisconsin Public Radio
University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross is asking legislators to allow the Board of Regents to set system performance standards.
Self-insurance might not save state $60 million, UW panelists say
Wisconsin State Journal
Shifting state worker health benefits to a self-insurance model may not save $60 million as planned, and could increase costs by reducing competition, a UW-Madison business professor said Thursday.
UW officials: Give Regents greater say in performance funding plan
Wisconsin State Journal
System President Ray Cross and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said Thursday that letting the Board of Regents decide how to measure UW institutions would be more effective.
Extension dean: Budget cuts won’t result in big changes
Portage Daily Register
Don’t expect major changes any time soon for the University of Wisconsin-Extension – not in programming, not in personnel, and not in the amount of money that counties will need to contribute to keep their Extension offices operating.
GOP allies Scott Walker, Robin Vos have heated Twitter, text exchange on Wisconsin budget
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
After years of going to work on their adversaries, Gov. Scott Walker and fellow Republican Robin Vos have gone to work on each other — both in public and in private.
Study: Budget Cuts Is A Top Factor In Declining Faculty Morale At UW-Madison
Wisconsin Public Radio
A survey looking to track workplace experiences and satisfaction for faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows budget cuts have affected faculty’s enthusiasm.
UW proposals removed from Scott Walker’s budget as part of policy purge
Capital Times
The items removed include several controversial items affecting the University of Wisconsin.
Budget committee removes 83 Walker proposals
Madison.com
The Legislature’s Republican-controlled budget committee has removed 83 items from Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal. That means they will have to take the more difficult path of passing as separate bills, rather than as part of the $76 billion budget.
Student government praises end of fee opt-out provision
Madison.com
University of Wisconsin-Madison student government is praising Republican leaders for removing provisions from Gov. Scott Walker’s budget that would have allowed students to opt out paying some fees.
Committee strikes proposal allowing students to opt out of segregated fees
Daily Cardinal
The state’s powerful Joint Finance Committee eliminated Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal Thursday that would have allowed UW System students to opt out of paying segregated fees.
Student government praises end of fee opt-out provision
WISC-TV 3
University of Wisconsin-Madison student government is praising Republican leaders for removing provisions from Gov. Scott Walker’s budget that would have allowed students to opt out paying some fees.
Legislature’s budget committee removes Walker proposals
AP
MADISON, Wis. — In another sign of trouble for Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to borrow more and delay road construction projects, the Legislature’s Republican-controlled budget committee announced Thursday it was scrapping the governor’s road-funding proposal and starting from scratch.
Student government praises end of fee opt-out provision
AP
University of Wisconsin-Madison student government is praising Republican leaders for removing provisions from Gov. Scott Walker’s budget that would have allowed students to opt out paying some fees.
Jobs, Transportation Issues Top Discussion At State Budget Hearing
Wisconsin Public Radio
The state Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee held a hearing Wednesday in West Allis on the state budget, and it was an eight-hour smorgasbord of citizen praise and concern.
Health Care a Top Concern at Milwaukee Public Hearing on Wisconsin’s Budget
WUWM
People came armed with numbers, to the hearing the Joint Finance committee conducted on Gov. Walker’s proposed budget for the state, for the next two years. And many wanted to testify about health care issues.
Walker moves to fix technical errors in Wisconsin budget
Madison.com
Gov. Scott Walker is making clear that his budget proposal would not result in seven people who were domestic partners of deceased government workers losing state health care coverage.
Wisconsin lawmakers hit the road for state budget hearings
Wisconsin Radio Network
Many University of Wisconsin students also stepped up to advocated against a budget provision that would allow them to opt out of paying some segregated fees that help fund student organizations. The move could result in funding cuts to campus services, such as crisis rape centers.
UW System schools stand together against fee opt-out
Daily Cardinal
Students traveled from across the UW System Monday to testify before the Joint Finance Committee against portions of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal before the committee submits its final recommendations.
Scott Walker, public urge lawmakers to approve funding increase for schools
Wisconsin State Journal
The hearing also drew opponents of a gas tax, supporters of the Department of Natural Resources magazine that Walker has slated for elimination and college students who described how they used mandatory fees to spark intellectual inquiry and mutual understanding on the UW-Madison campus.
Gov. Scott Walker: Invest in student success and a strong workforce
Capital Times
Column by Wisconsin governor on his budget proposal, touting “More money into our technical college system than ever before” and “Over $100 million more into our University of Wisconsin System.”
State Legislature’s finance committee discusses pros, cons of segregated fees opt-out proposal
Badger Herald
As students at the University of Wisconsin continue to express their concerns with Gov. Walker’s proposal to let students opt out of allocable segregated fees, the state Legislature’s joint finance committee met Thursday to address the contentious idea, among other items, in the state budget.
Dividing lines clear on budget as public gets to weigh in
AP
MADISON — Any doubts that key parts of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget face significant hurdles among fellow Republicans who control the Legislature have been erased after three days of hearings that exposed rare bipartisan opposition to the spending plan.
Wisconsin lawmakers push Department of Natural Resources chief to keep popular magazine
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: In separate testimony, University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross praised Walker’s budget, which provides $100 million in new money to the university as well as $35 million in additional state tax dollars to fund a 5% tuition cut.
GOP leader: UW-Oshkosh allegations could hurt UW budget aid
Madison.com
Questions about the relationships between University of Wisconsin System schools and their private foundations could mean less aid for the system when the state budget is completed, the state Senate’s top Republican signaled Thursday.
Questions about UW System foundations loom over budget deliberations
Wisconsin State Journal
Questions about the relationships between University of Wisconsin System institutions and dozens of private foundations could loom over a proposed increase in state funding for UW, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Thursday.
UW System President Ray Cross: Walker proposal the ‘best budget’ for system in 10 years
Capital Times
Gov. Scott Walker’s spending plan for the 2017-19 biennium is the “best budget” the University of Wisconsin System has seen in 10 years, System President Ray Cross told lawmakers on Thursday.
State Legislators Plan To Order Audit Of UW System Foundations
Wisconsin Public Radio
State legislators are hoping to order an audit of the relationship between University of Wisconsin System schools and their private foundations.