State Rep. Chris Taylor
Press Release

Walker proposes staggering cuts to UW System

Proposal hurts Wisconsin students and families

By - Jan 27th, 2015 01:54 pm

MADISON – Today, Governor Walker announced a staggering $300 million cut to the UW-System in the next biennium in exchange for converting the UW-System from a state agency into a state authority, leaving the details vague. The announcement comes amid a potential $2 billion budget deficit next biennium based on agency budget requests.

“Governor Walker is now the anti-education Governor,” said Chris Taylor (D-Madison), who serves as the ranking Assembly Democrat on the Joint Committee on Finance. “Governor Walker is using his own failed budget policies as an excuse to defund the UW System. That hurts our state and limits opportunities for students.”

The proposal, which has yet to be released in its entirety, leaves many questions about the future funding of schools throughout the UW-System. With student debt nationally topping $1 trillion recently, many questions remain about eliminating legislative oversight of tuition levels.

“Governor Walker decided to pay for his bad budgeting by gutting economic opportunity in Wisconsin. Shortsighted decisions and poor economic growth under Governor Walker have Wisconsin moving backwards, as other states invest in their future,” said Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh), who also serves on the state’s budget committee. “The UW-System is one of the largest job creation engines in the state. How is Wisconsin supposed to compete for the jobs of tomorrow with a slash and burn approach to education?”

Taylor and Hintz vowed to fight to protect funding for the UW System while also ensuring college remains affordable for students. Both lawmakers represent a UW campus.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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One thought on “Walker proposes staggering cuts to UW System”

  1. ss says:

    It is imperative that the UW system continue to receive state support, and this is crucial in the area of research. As we know, UW-Madison is a huge research university. In the absence of state support, corporations will fill the void for research money (more than they do now), informing and influencing areas of research in ways that promise to benefit their shorter-term interests. State support helps research remain neutral, for the benefit of many.

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