Month: March 2011

Joint Finance Committee Update

The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee began budget briefings today. The briefings are designed for agency heads to discuss the governor’s budget proposal and take questions from members of the committee. Public testimony is not heard. The hearings take place in…

Another perspective on public authority: “The University Should Reject the Governor’s Proposal for Independence”

Yesterday, we received the text below from Donald Nichols, former president of PROFS, former chair of the University Committee, former Director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs, and someone who truly “has seen government work.” We post it…

What Would Public Authority Mean for the Wisconsin Idea?

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is hosting an open forum to discuss the Wisconsin Idea and public authority status for the university on Wednesday, March 30 at 4 pm in Room 22 Ingraham Hall. Panelists include: Professor Emeritus…

Proposed University of Wisconsin-Madison Board of Trustees

If UW-Madison is to become a public authority as outlined in Governor Scott Walker’s 2011-13 state budget proposal, it will be governed by a 21-member Board of Trustees. Statutory language regarding the proposed board is here, beginning on page 521.…

Governor Scott Walker’s 2011-13 Capital Budget

Governor Scott Walker announced a $1.1 billion 2011-13 capital budget last week, and it included several projects on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The budget is about 30 percent smaller than the current capital budget. It was referred to the…

More open discussion of the public authority

Yesterday, on WORT-FM‘s A Public Affair, host Tonya Brito interviewed Cyrena Pondrom (English) and David Giroux (UW System) about public authority status for UW-Madison. The show will be archived here for a while.  And we’ll soon link to a permanent…

Video of yesterday’s forum

Just a quick note: We’ve had many phone calls and emails from people who weren’t able to attend yesterday’s forum who wanted to know if it would be recorded. (It was already a pretty packed room, with a fair number…

Budget Repair Bill Passes Without Democrats

Stripping the original budget repair bill of its fiscal items, the Wisconsin State Senate passed an amended conference committee version of the bill last night, effectively eliminating collective bargaining for public workers. The bill passed 18-1, with no Democrats present.…