The Assembly’s proposed constitutional amendment to limit state spending could force University of Wisconsin officials to choose between books and Badger sports, according to UW Board of Regents President David Walsh.
Under the Assembly version of the spending limit passed last week, every dollar of outside “program” revenue the UW picks up – including federal research grants, multimillion-dollar alumni gifts, and lucrative radio and TV contracts for Badger sports – would mean a dollar less of state taxpayer support for educational programs.
“It’s a disaster,” Walsh said in an interview. “It’s a very serious blow.”