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Category: State budget

Gov. Evers releases UW faculty, staff pay raises after nearly 6 month delay

Badger Herald

Vos said in October the raises would not be approved until the UW System made concessions on it’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, according to The Badger Herald. The Board of Regents voted to accept a deal in December exchanging pay raises and other funding for the “reimagining” of certain DEI positions, according to The Badger Herald’s previous coverage of the deal.

Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to take up Gov. Evers’s lawsuit against GOP lawmakers

Associated Press

One of the legislative vetoes blocked conservation projects selected by the Department of Natural Resources. Evers also challenged a veto that blocked already approved pay raises for 35,000 University of Wisconsin system employees, but after he filed the lawsuit, Republicans and the university system reached an agreement approving raises if the school cuts back on diversity initiatives.

Wisconsin’s budget surplus is shrinking but still large

Wisconsin Public Radio

This estimate from the bureau included spending that has passed since June, as well as bills currently working their way through the legislature. That includes $423 million for building projects on University of Wisconsin system campuses and other items.

Republican leaders said the new estimates show there is still enough of a surplus to deliver more tax cuts.

Tuition reciprocity changes, workforce plan would add millions to UW system’s coffers

Wisconsin State Journal

Millions in revenue and state aid dollars could bolster the Universities of Wisconsin’s budget as soon as February, if lawmakers take up two provisions of the deal struck between UW system officials and Republican legislative leadership that gave UW system about $800 million in exchange for changes to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Florida board bans use of state and federal funds on DEI programs at state universities

CNN

More than a dozen state legislatures have introduced or passed bills reining in DEI programs in colleges and universities, claiming the offices eat up valuable financial resources with little impact. Last month, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents voted to cut back diversity initiatives in exchange for state funding in a deal with GOP lawmakers.

Joint Finance holds public hearing on funding capital projects in DEI deal

Wisconsin Examiner

The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance held a public hearing Thursday on legislation to provide funding for the UW System capital projects that were used as bargaining chips in the system’s debate with legislative Republicans late last year over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The bill would provide more than $400 million from the state’s general fund to pay for new campus buildings, renovations, additions and the demolition of aging infrastructure. The marquee project included in the bill is funding for a new engineering building at UW-Madison.

Republicans propose bill to fund UW-Madison engineering building, UW facilities, a key part of DEI deal

Wisconsin State Journal

Lawmakers will bring forward a bill to fund the construction of UW-Madison’s new engineering building, among other projects, that was one of the most significant aspects of the deal struck last month between the Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman and Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester.

UW system is committed to DEI, despite deal with Republicans, UW-Madison diversity chief says

Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison’s chief diversity officer on Thursday tried to allay concerns that the Universities of Wisconsin is stepping back its support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, despite UW system President Jay Rothman and legislative Republicans brokering a deal that authorizes about $800 million for the UW system in exchange for DEI changes.

After Months of Political Pressure and a Failed Vote, Wisconsin’s Regents Approve Deal on DEI

Chronicle of Higher Ed

After a months-long standoff between the University of Wisconsin system and the Republican-controlled Legislature, the two parties brokered a deal to release $800 million in state funds — for long-delayed UW pay raises and key campus building projects — if the system agreed to realign dozens of diversity, equity, and inclusion positions and support several other Republican-backed priorities.

UW regents reverse position, accept GOP deal on funding and limits to DEI programs

Wisconsin Public Radio

The Universities of Wisconsin will have the opportunity to give pay raises to its 34,000 employees and build a new $347 million engineering building in Madison under a deal approved Wednesday by the Board of Regents. But the universities will also freeze DEI staffing through 2026 and eliminate or refocus about 40 positions focused on diversity.

What to know about UW Regents Amy Bogost, Karen Walsh and Jennifer Staton, who changed their votes on diversity, pay raises

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Three members of the UW Board of Regents changed their votes on a controverisal deal over diversity efforts and pay raises.

The vote-flipping by Regents Karen Walsh, Amy Bogost and Jennifer Staton solidifed a deal months in the making between the University of Wisconsin System and Republican legislative leaders.

UW President Jay Rothman speaks to media following vote that changed DEI

WKOW-TV 27

During a brief press conference following the UW Board of Regents vote that ultimately changed the role of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion positions at UW schools, President Jay Rothman stated multiple times that he understood this was a ‘difficult decision for the regents’ and he respects all the people who voted for it or against it.

UW Board of Regents to vote again on deal with Republicans over pay raises, UW-Madison engineering building

Wisconsin State Journal

The UW Board of Regents will meet again on Wednesday to reconsider a deal brokered between Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman and legislative Republicans to secure pay raises for UW system employees and funding for UW-Madison’s long-awaited engineering building in exchange for restructuring system diversity efforts.

UW regents to discuss legal options in battle over pay raises, DEI

Wisconsin Public Radio

Members of the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents will consult with attorneys Tuesday about a lawsuit challenging the power of the Legislature, a move that comes just days after the board rejected a deal with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos involving pay raises and limits on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Wisconsin GOP leaders say they’re done negotiating with university over pay raises, diversity deal

The Associated Press

Wisconsin’s top Republican lawmakers said Monday that they are done negotiating with the Universities of Wisconsin over a deal that would have given the university system’s employees a pay raise and paid for the construction of a new engineering building in exchange for reductions in staff positions focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.

UW Board of Regents rejects system deal struck with Republicans on DEI, UW-Madison engineering building

Wisconsin State Journal

A narrowly divided UW Board of Regents on Saturday rejected an agreement between Universities of Wisconsin system President Jay Rothman and legislative Republican leaders authorizing UW system funding and pay raises in exchange for changes to universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

UW and GOP reach deal to ‘reimagine’ DEI by restructuring jobs, freezing positions

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In a deal months in the making, the University of Wisconsin system will “reimagine” its diversity efforts, restructure dozens of staff into positions serving all students and freeze the total number of diversity and administrative positions for the next three years.

In exchange, the universities would receive $800 million to give pay raises for 35,000 employees and move forward on some building projects, including a new engineering building for UW-Madison.

UW inches closer to deal on pay raises, engineering building and DEI with Republicans

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On the table are pay raises for 35,000 employees, a new engineering building for UW-Madison and $32 million recouped back into UW’s budget after lawmakers cut it earlier this year. Also being discussed is millions of dollars for building projects at some other campuses and a change in how the state manages money from the tuition reciprocity agreement with Minnesota that would bring more money to campuses.

UW system, Republicans reportedly close to a deal on DEI, engineering building and pay raises

Wisconsin State Journal

Universities of Wisconsin leaders are said to be nearing a deal with Republican legislative leaders that would reclassify a third of the system’s diversity, equity and inclusion employees and put a yearslong moratorium on hiring more, in return for a new UW-Madison engineering building and moving ahead with employee pay raises already approved in the budget.

Top Wisconsin Senate Republican says a deal is near for university pay raises. UW officials disagree

The Associated Press

The leader of the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate said Wednesday that lawmakers are nearing a deal that would allow for long-blocked pay raises for Universities of Wisconsin employees to take effect and for funding to be released to pay for construction of a new engineering building.

Gov. Tony Evers vetoes Republicans’ $2 billion tax cut proposal, calling the plan ‘out of touch’

Wisconsin State Journal

Evers’ proposal would have allocated $365 million in new child care funding, increased spending for the Universities of Wisconsin by $65 million, devoted $200 million to paying for a new engineering building on the UW-Madison campus, established a 12-week family medical leave program costing $243 million, and created workforce education and grant programs.

OUR VIEW: If you thought Brewers stadium was a good deal, get a load of this

Wisconsin State Journal

The Legislature should quickly take up and approve funding for a new engineering building on the UW-Madison campus. If the Republican-run Legislature thought AmFam Field was a good proposal for Wisconsin — and it definitely was — then get a load of this offer: a $350 million engineering building that costs the public less and delivers the state economy far more.

Gov. Tony Evers signs wage increases for State Patrol troopers, trades employees

Wisconsin State Journal

Legislative committees controlled by Republicans have blocked the UW system pay increases even though Evers and the full Legislature have already authorized them. The inaction came after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said the UW system had to either eliminate its diversity, equity and inclusion programs or hand over its power to create university roles to the Legislature.

Evers has since sued the Legislature over the matter, alleging in a lawsuit filed directly with the liberal-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court that Republicans are violating the Constitution’s separation of powers by allowing legislative committees to “impede, usurp, or obstruct basic executive branch functions.”