Nass: UW-Madison break off not happening
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Stephen Nass
WHITEWATER — State Rep. Steve Nass on Tuesday said Republican lawmakers favor keeping UW-Madison linked to the state system, and will instead work toward giving some financial flexibilities to all UW campuses.
Nass, R-Whitewater, said Republicans discussed the issue Tuesday in caucus. Gov. Scott Walker included the measure in his proposed budget, which would give the system’s flagship campus more autonomy and governance separate from the Board of Regents.
The remaining UW campuses oppose the measure, insisting UW-Madison stay in the state system and all universities are given the freedom to use their revenue more efficiently.
The Republicans’ caucus meeting Tuesday indicates state legislators are moving in that direction, though it’s too early to tell what sort of flexibilities will be approved and whether they’ll go as far as chancellors would prefer.
“The break-off is not going to happen,” Nass said. “I am aware that some members of the Joint Finance Committee are working on flexibilities for all campuses.”
Nass, who is chairman of the Assembly’s Colleges and Universities Committee, is among a handful of Republicans who recently spoke out against Walker’s proposal. Nass has offered his own alternative, which would grant more flexibility for all campuses.
Rep. Dean Knudson, R-Hudson, and Rep. Evan Wynn, R-Whitewater, also oppose the plan.
Wynn recently told Whitewater residents during a public hearing he thought the plan would significantly increase tuition and end benefits given to veteran students attending UW-Madison.
“We owe it to our brave men and women in uniform to give them high-quality education so that they can integrate themselves into civilian life and get a job to provide for their families,” Wynn said in a statement.
“Simply put, an independent UW-Madison will not guarantee the Wisconsin GI Bill, and will not equally share the costs with the rest of the UW System,” he said.
May 20, 2011 at 12:07 a.m.
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If they have reasonable proposals for "flexibility" (whatever that means, it's a pretty "flexible" word if you ask me), then let them be heard in public and debated by the stakeholders -- the chancellors, deans, faculty, students, and public. We will soon know if it's a real improvement or just a hare-brained idea from a Koch/ALEC transcriptionist.
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Basically, Nass ran into reality on this one. Turns out the University is already a pretty entrenched part of government and won't be pushed around by a long-standing hater just because he suddenly runs the committee.
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The system was merged in the first place because of the endless turf and budget battles. Splitting it will only reignite that.
May 19, 2011 at 5:45 p.m.
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Why can't all the campuses have the "flexibility" that Madison seeks? Won't that let them all run better and more efficiently? What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
May 19, 2011 at 5:21 p.m.
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I applaud the Republicans for thinking for themselves, instead of rubber stamping every hair-brained proposal Walker throws out.
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