Wisconsin governor vows budget veto if GOP cuts diversity funds from university system
1 year, 6 months ago

Wisconsin governor vows budget veto if GOP cuts diversity funds from university system

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said Wednesday in a newspaper report that he won’t sign the state budget if Republican lawmakers follow through on their plan to cut funding for the state university system’s diversity officers, escalating a bitter fight over dollars for the state campuses. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he wants to cut $32 million from the UW System in the state’s 2023-25 budget, an amount he said is equal to what the system spends on diversity officers. Vos appeared unfazed at a second news conference Wednesday afternoon, saying he doesn’t believe Evers would veto the entire budget over one issue. Asked for comment on Evers’ stance, Pitsch said in an email: “We remain hopeful that the state will be an active partner in helping the UW System develop the talent Wisconsin’s workforce is counting on.” The Legislature’s Republican-controlled finance committee is in the midst of rewriting Evers’ executive budget before forwarding it to the full Assembly and Senate for approval.

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History of this topic

University of Wisconsin president wants $855 million in new funding to stave off higher tuition
4 months ago

University of Wisconsin president wants $855 million in new funding to stave off higher tuition

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Universities of Wisconsin officials are asking their regents to approve a request for $855 million in new state funding to stave off another round of tuition increases, cover raises, subsidize tuition and keep two-year branch campuses open in some form. President Jay Rothman said during a brief Zoom news conference Monday that his administration plans to ask …

Wisconsin Senate panel votes to fire regents who voted against limiting UW diversity initiatives
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Wisconsin Senate panel votes to fire regents who voted against limiting UW diversity initiatives

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A state Senate committee is recommending the full chamber fire two Universities of Wisconsin regents who voted against a deal that called for limiting campus diversity positions in exchange for state funding. The Republican-controlled Senate Committee on Universities and Revenue voted 5-3 along party lines Thursday to recommend the full body refuse to confirm regents Dana Wachs …

Wisconsin Assembly’s top Republican wants to review diversity positions across state agencies
1 year ago

Wisconsin Assembly’s top Republican wants to review diversity positions across state agencies

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican lawmaker who forced the Universities of Wisconsin to reduce diversity positions called Tuesday for an in-depth review of diversity initiatives across state government and repeated his claim that he has only begun to dismantle equity and inclusion efforts in the state. “We’re not done yet trying to look at how pervasive DEI is throughout the …

University of Wisconsin regents back GOP deal for funding in exchange for limiting diversity efforts
1 year ago

University of Wisconsin regents back GOP deal for funding in exchange for limiting diversity efforts

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — In a surprising about-face, the Universities of Wisconsin regents approved a deal Wednesday evening with Republican legislators to limit diversity positions at the system’s two dozen campuses in exchange for money to cover staff raises and construction projects. The deal the regents approved calls for lawmakers to release the money for the raises and various campus construction …

Wisconsin university regents reject deal with Republicans to reduce diversity positions
1 year ago

Wisconsin university regents reject deal with Republicans to reduce diversity positions

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Universities of Wisconsin regents narrowly rejected a deal Saturday reached with Republicans that would have given employees a pay raise and paid for construction of a new engineering building in exchange for reductions in staff positions focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. The deal would have frozen hiring for diversity positions, dropped an affirmative action faculty hiring …

Wisconsin university system reaches deal with Republicans that would scale back diversity positions
1 year ago

Wisconsin university system reaches deal with Republicans that would scale back diversity positions

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Faced with a demand from Republican lawmakers to axe diversity initiatives or go without raises and other funding, Universities of Wisconsin officials announced Friday that they’ve agreed to freeze hiring for diversity positions, drop an affirmative action faculty hiring program at UW-Madison and create a position at the flagship campus focused on conservative thought. “Our caucus objective …

Wisconsin governor vetoes $2 billion tax cut, calls Republican plan ‘completely unserious’
1 year, 1 month ago

Wisconsin governor vetoes $2 billion tax cut, calls Republican plan ‘completely unserious’

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Monday vetoed a $2 billion Republican tax cut bill, calling it “completely unserious.” Evers’ veto was expected, as he opposed the GOP plan from the moment it was introduced as a substitute to the Democratic governor’s own workforce development package. Instead, the Legislature passed a measure that would have cut income taxes, created …

Wisconsin Republicans withhold university pay raises in fight over school diversity funding
1 year, 2 months ago

Wisconsin Republicans withhold university pay raises in fight over school diversity funding

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Leaders of the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature withheld pay raises for Universities of Wisconsin employees while approving raises for other state workers on Tuesday in an ongoing fight over the school system’s diversity, equity and inclusion spending. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who co-chairs the Legislature’s employment relations committee, has promised to block pay raises for UW employees …

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor guts Republican tax cut, increases school funding for 400 years
1 year, 5 months ago

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor guts Republican tax cut, increases school funding for 400 years

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed off on a two-year spending plan Wednesday after gutting a Republican tax cut and using his broad veto powers to increase school funding for centuries. Under his veto, unless it’s undone by a future Legislature and governor, Evers said schools will have “predictable long-term spending authority.” “There are lots of wins here,” …

Tax cuts and a UW squeeze: A look at the proposed GOP-backed Wisconsin state budget
1 year, 6 months ago

Tax cuts and a UW squeeze: A look at the proposed GOP-backed Wisconsin state budget

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Here’s a look at what is and isn’t in the proposed Wisconsin state budget that the Republican-controlled Legislature is expected to pass next week: TAX CUT: Income taxes would be cut by $3.5 billion and the state’s four brackets would be condensed to three. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN: The University of Wisconsin System’s budget would be cut by …

Republicans vote to cut University of Wisconsin System’s budget by $32M in diversity programs spat
1 year, 6 months ago

Republicans vote to cut University of Wisconsin System’s budget by $32M in diversity programs spat

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Republican lawmakers voted to cut the University of Wisconsin System’s budget by $32 million on Thursday despite a projected record-high $7 billion state budget surplus, leaving the university nearly half a billion dollars short of what it requested. Evers has said that cutting the university’s budget given the state’s surplus would be “irrational.” Republicans earlier this month …

Republicans to cut University of Wisconsin budget in ongoing fight over diversity and inclusion
1 year, 6 months ago

Republicans to cut University of Wisconsin budget in ongoing fight over diversity and inclusion

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s top Republican, …

Republicans delay vote on University of Wisconsin budget after promises to cut diversity funds
1 year, 6 months ago

Republicans delay vote on University of Wisconsin budget after promises to cut diversity funds

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Republican state lawmakers on Tuesday suspended a vote on funding for University of Wisconsin campuses, just hours after a top GOP leader promised to slash the college system’s budget as part of an ongoing fight over diversity and inclusion initiatives. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s top Republican, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he expected …

Wisconsin regents OK tuition increase proposal for 23-24
1 year, 8 months ago

Wisconsin regents OK tuition increase proposal for 23-24

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — University of Wisconsin System students will have to pay hundreds of dollars more to attend classes next year under a plan system officials overwhelmingly approved Thursday. The Board of Regents voted during a meeting at UW-Stout to adopt system President Jay Rothman’s proposal to increase student tuition, fees and room and board rates beginning this fall. Tony …

UW System leader will ask regents for 5% tuition increase
1 year, 9 months ago

UW System leader will ask regents for 5% tuition increase

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — University of Wisconsin System students would face a 5% tuition increase next year under a plan the system’s president, Jay Rothman, unveiled Thursday. UW System spokesman Mark Pitsch said in an email to The Associated Press that the 5% figure would be the systemwide average increase for resident undergraduate tuition and feels. Rothman said most of the …

Republican lawmakers propose limiting UW tuition increases
1 year, 9 months ago

Republican lawmakers propose limiting UW tuition increases

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican head of the state Assembly’s higher education committee wants to limit future University of Wisconsin tuition increases to no more than the rate of inflation, an idea unveiled Tuesday that comes after a decade of frozen tuitions. The proposal from Rep. David Murphy and Sen. Andre Jacque, both Republicans, would prohibit the UW Board of …

Governor’s budget risks Wisconsin university tuition hike
1 year, 10 months ago

Governor’s budget risks Wisconsin university tuition hike

Associated Press  

MIDDLETON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers’ budget leaves the University of Wisconsin System about $130 million short of what regents say they need to run their campuses over the next two years, raising questions about whether they may raise tuition to make up the shortfall. If Evers’ funding proposal for UW survives in the final budget, regents could raise tuition …

Wisconsin’s projected budget surplus grows to $6.6 billion
2 years, 1 month ago

Wisconsin’s projected budget surplus grows to $6.6 billion

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s projected state budget surplus is now forecast to hit nearly $6.6 billion by July, up from earlier $5 billion estimates, according to a report released Monday by Gov. The projected surplus does not give Evers a “blank check” as he puts together his budget, the Republican co-chairs of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee said in a …

New UW president wants to continue tuition freeze
2 years, 6 months ago

New UW president wants to continue tuition freeze

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin System’s new president said Thursday that he wants to continue a freeze on tuition for in-state graduates through at least the next academic year. He said system officials plan to present their 2022-23 budget to regents next week and that the spending plan will include the freeze. He declined to say if system …

Evers vetoes Wisconsin legislative oversight of COVID funds
3 years, 8 months ago

Evers vetoes Wisconsin legislative oversight of COVID funds

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers killed a bill Monday that would have given Republican legislators oversight of Wisconsin’s share of billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds, instead announcing his own plan for distributing the money. The bill would have forced Evers to submit a plan for spending the money to the Legislature’s budget committee and allowed committee …

Highlights of Gov. Evers’ $91 billion state budget plan
3 years, 10 months ago

Highlights of Gov. Evers’ $91 billion state budget plan

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Highlights of Gov. Tony Evers’ state budget proposal submitted to the Legislature on Tuesday: GENERAL BUDGET: — The $91 billion state budget would increase state spending by 7.3% in the first year and 2% in the second. — Increase general aid to K-12 schools by $613 million, the biggest increase in more than 15 years, and restore …

UW Regents approve budget with tuition-forgiveness program
4 years, 4 months ago

UW Regents approve budget with tuition-forgiveness program

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents on Thursday unanimously approved a state budget request that would increase spending by 3.5% in each of the next two years, create a new program to cover the tuition of lower-income families and borrow up to $1 billion to mitigate losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. UW’s interim president, former …

Thompson wants $95.7 million boost for UW in state budget
4 years, 4 months ago

Thompson wants $95.7 million boost for UW in state budget

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Interim University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson said Tuesday that he’ll ask Gov. Tony Evers to include a nearly $100 million boost for the system in the next state budget and give him permission to borrow up to $1 billion as the coronavirus pandemic bleeds revenue from campuses. Thompson also plans to ask Evers to include …

UW-Madison Chancellor: ‘We’re in a real financial crisis’
4 years, 4 months ago

UW-Madison Chancellor: ‘We’re in a real financial crisis’

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank delivered a sobering message Wednesday about the state’s flagship campus as the fall semester looms, saying “we’re in a real financial crisis” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Blank said university leaders, including former governor and interim UW President Tommy Thompson, were urging Evers to not have UW shoulder two-thirds of the …

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