MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Democrats say students would be left in the lurch by the governor’s plan to cut tax support and raise autonomy for the University of Wisconsin System.
Walker Tuesday announced a proposal for the next state budget to cut almost 13 percent of the UW’s tax funding — about $300 million over the next two years.
In exchange, he would let the 26-campus system raise tuition without legislative interference, and adopt its own personnel and procurement policies.
Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling called it an effort to “privatize and defund” the university, while putting educational opportunities “further out of reach” for working families and future students.
Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca said there’s “no doubt” the Walker plan would hurt the UW’s ability to offer affordable and high quality education.
Senate Republican Steve Nass of Whitewater, a frequent UW critic, feared what he called “massive” tuition hikes without being held in check by him and other lawmakers.
UW President Ray Cross responded that it’s in nobody’s interest to “jack up tuition.”
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
