Wisconsin-Report

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600 adult Wisconsin residents that asks their opinions on national and state government, economic and policy issues. The
survey’s margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/23/15]
Walker’s Claim That Budget Changes Were “Only 2.5% Of The Total UW System Operating Budget,” Was
Incorrect And Did Not Accurately Represent The Full Extent Of The Budget Cuts Which Were Closer To 6.25%.
According to PolitiFact, “Gov. Scott Walker took to social media to downplay the scope of his cuts in funding to the
University of Wisconsin system in his 2015-’17 budget proposal. ‘Our budget changes are only 2.5% of the total UW System
operating budget,’ Walker posted Feb. 7, 2015 on Facebook. […] Using that $2.4 billion as the benchmark, the $150 million
cut would be 6.25 percent. […] The number that tells Wisconsinites the least about the impact of the cuts is Walker’s. If you
take the overall $6.1 billion system budget, the $150 million per year cut does represent 2.5 percent.” [PolitiFact, 2/17/15]
• The New York Times Reported That Walker’s Budget Cuts Were As High As 13%. According to the New York
Times, “Mr. Walker’s budget, which must be approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, calls for a 13 percent cut
in state aid across the university system, with its 13 four-year universities and 180,000 students, for a total decrease of $300
million over the next two years.” [New York Times, 2/16/15]
Gov. Scott Walker’s Proposed Cut Of $300 Million To The University Of Wisconsin System Came As “Other States,
Nationally And In The Midwest, Have Inched Up Funding For Higher Education.” According to the Wisconsin State
Journal, “Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget cut of $300 million to the University of Wisconsin System comes as other
states, nationally and in the Midwest, have inched up funding for higher education, restoring support lost during the economic
recession. More increases are expected in coming years.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 2/1/15]
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank Described The Budget Cuts As “Painful” And Said They Would Hurt The
Campus’ Bottom Line. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank told the
Board of Regents that some items in the budget are not reflected as cuts but will hurt the campus’ bottom line, such as $3.5
million the state pledged annually as matching funds for a federal bioenergy grant in the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative. The
budget passed Thursday will mean, as previously announced, a combination of 400 layoffs and unfilled positions on the state’s
largest campus. ‘We’ve done everything we can to be responsible, from raising out-of-state tuition to cuts of just under $40
million. That’s very painful, and we’re still sitting at a budget deficit,’ Blank said.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/9/15]
• Chancellor Blank Said Walker’s “Proposed Cuts Were So Large That If She Eliminated Five Schools —
Nursing, Law, Business, Pharmacy And Veterinary Medicine — She Would Still Have To Find Other Ways To
Trim Costs.” According to the New York Times, “In an interview in her office here, Rebecca M. Blank, the chancellor of
the Madison campus, said that if the governor’s budget was approved, she would have to raise out-of-state tuition and
institute layoffs. She added that the proposed cuts were so large that if she eliminated five schools — nursing, law,
business, pharmacy and veterinary medicine — she would still have to find other ways to trim costs. ‘This is really big, in
terms of its size on my education program,’ Ms. Blank said.” [New York Times, 2/16/15]
Even Scott Walker’s Supporters Opposed The Cuts, Going So Far As To Say That He Was Compromising
Wisconsin’s Education System To Serve His Presidential Ambitions. According to the New York Times, “Even some
of Mr. Walker’s supporters, who cheered his initial run for the governorship and helped him survive a recall election in 2012,
said they were questioning the governor’s budget proposal and its potential consequences for higher education. ‘We are now
facing a cut that will absolutely savage the infrastructure and quality of teaching and research to this university,’ said John
Sharpless, a Republican who is a history professor at the Madison campus. ‘What would be a shame for us in Wisconsin is if
Scott leaves a wake of damage here on his way to the presidency.’” [New York Times, 2/16/15]
State Senator Vinehout Raised Concerns That Walker’s Budget Cut Could Cause The University Of Wisconsin
System To Lose The “Best And The Brightest Professors.” According to Wisconsin Public Radio, “State Sen. Kathleen
Vinehout, D-Alma, raised similar concerns, adding that Walker’s budget cut was huge. ‘This is going to translate into losing the
best and the brightest professors, and it’s going to mean that those professors are going to take their grant money that they’re
getting from the federal government and move to another state.’ Vinehout said.” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 1/27/15]
University Of Wisconsin Doctoral Candidate Michael Mirer: The University Of Wisconsin Budget Cuts Limited
“Who Has Access To A UW Education As The School Admits A Higher Percentage Of Out-Of-State Students,