Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Jackie Johnson

Kind critical of funding cuts to UW, aims to protect ‘Wisconsin Idea’

By

UW-Madison campus (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

UW-Madison campus (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Nearly half of Wisconsin’s 13 university campuses are located within U.S. Representative Ron Kind’s congressional district. The La Crosse Democrat is critical of deep funding cuts to the University of Wisconsin System, as proposed in the two-year state budget. He said he spends a lot of time on those four-year campuses. “I’m meeting with the students, the faculty, the professors, the chancellors … they’re already telling me, story after story, of the inability to recruit the talent on these campuses or hold on to them.”

The entire UW system is facing many changes, including tenure policies and more than $250 million in funding cuts in Wisconsin’s new budget.

AUDIO: (:47) When researchers leave the colleges, they take millions of federal research dollars with them, Kind said.

When researchers leave the colleges, Kind said, they take millions of federal research dollars with them. As a result, the entire UW System will suffer, including its reputation and educational opportunities for students. Kind is fed up with “deep draconian cuts.” He said, “It took many, many years to build up the reputation and the quality of our education system; it doesn’t take long to destroy it. That’s what this debate is about right now.”

Ultimately Wisconsin citizens make the final choice, Kind said, when they go to the voting booth.

The Universities of Wisconsin La Crosse, Eau Claire, Stevens Point, Platteville, River Falls, and Stout are located in the 3rd Congressional District. Two-year campuses in Marshield and Richland are also in that district, as well as 15 technical colleges.

Meanwhile, the 3rd district congressman has moved to protect and commemorate the “Wisconsin Idea.”

The Wisconsin Idea is the principle that the University of Wisconsin should improve people’s lives beyond the classroom. Kind has introduced a resolution to protect that idea. “The efforts earlier this year with the governor in his budget to roll that back right now I thought sent all the wrong messages and would lead us in a very bad place as a state.”

Back in February Governor Scott Walker attempted to change the century-old mission statement, but it has since been removed from his budget. Kind said if Wisconsin gets a reputation of de-valuing education, it will be tough to overcome, leaving the state less competitive for economic growth and job creation. “For many, many years in Wisconsin we’ve developed a very good reputation when it comes to the quality of higher education, of our education system generally, and now is not the time to go backward because it will be tough to recover from that.”

AUDIO: (:28) Though the Wisconsin Idea has not been changed, Kind argues his motion is not a moot point.

Though the Wisconsin Idea, ultimately, has not been changed, the La Crosse Democrat argued his motion is not a moot point. Kind said it’s important to have a greater discussion so this type of proposal does not come up again.

Kind introduced the resolution at the federal level, he says, because it’s a good idea nationwide. U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan and Gwen Moore have co-sponsored the resolution.

Opting out of standardized school tests

By

Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt

Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt

A bill at the Capitol makes it easier for parents to opt out of having their kids take certain statewide tests at school.

Under the measure, schools would be required to send a letter to parents once per year — listing all scheduled state-mandated standardized tests, explaining the purpose of the exams, and detailing how to opt out.

Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) is the bill’s (SB-193) author and Assembly Education Committee chair. He says current law is confusing. “What I want to do here is lead the districts down the path of being more open with what it is they’re doing. Take the mystery out of it.” Thiesfeldt says schools would need to explain to parents why their kids should be taking the tests.

Dan Rossmiller is with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. He says the measure would need to be amended. “Complying with these notification requirements could be costly or burdensome. I like Senator Farrow’s suggestion about posting these on the Internet.” He says, “We note in our testimony that the budget bill itself contains at least four new notification requirements that schools must provide to parents or guardians.”

Thiesfeldt says he’s not trying to get rid of standardize testing. He says he’s aiming for clarity and tightening up inconsistencies in the process.

Members of the Senate Education Committee heard testimony on the proposal at the Capitol on Wednesday.

Mosquito season is under way

By

File photo

File photo

The mosquito population is expected to boom in the next week or two, according to Susan Paskewitz, professor of entomology at UW-Madison. Recent rain is a factor and mosquito trapping is an indicator.

“Just this week, in the traps coming in, you can see in some areas the numbers are really starting to pick up.”

Mosquitoes can transfer the West Nile Virus, though Paskewitz said Wisconsinites have a “remote risk” of being infected.

“Luckily Wisconsin has not been one of the states that has had kind of major epidemic outbreaks. Right across the border in Illinois, Chicago has had several years with recurent problems. But we haven’t faced anything like that yet, but it is always a concern.”

AUDIO: (:58) Paskewitz suggests you eliminate or reduce the amount of standing water around your property to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Those blood-sucking insects can be annoying — and gross.

“When mosquitoes bite people they are injecting saliva in, and so that’s really what your body is responding to … that introduction of new proteins and other molecules into your system and your body responds to that right away.”

It’s true, Paskewitz said, some people are more attractive to mosquitoes than others. It could be related to one’s diet, skin bacteria, perspiration, body temperature, or color of clothing.

Help keep mosquitoes out of the area by eliminating or reducing standing water on your property, including from clogged rain gutters, bird baths, and spent tires. Avoid bites by wearing long sleeves and pants and using a mosquito repellent.

There are about 55 types of mosquitoes in Wisconsin, Paskewitz said.

Opponents decry changes to long-term care

By

(PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

(PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Stephanie from Waukesha has a 22-year-old son with medical issues. She said Wisconsin’s most vulnerable citizens rely on the state’s long-term care system for elderly and disabled people. “We need to know the systems will still be there and continue meeting their needs. We need to be listened to and heard by our elected officials and have them respond appropriately by removing long-term care from the proposed budget.”

She was one of several advocates meeting in Madison Tuesday in their effort to join forces and explain to lawmakers the necessity for leaving the state’s long-term care system alone, with no changes. Advocates want IRIS to continue to exist as a separate Medicaid waiver program.

Julie Burish of Brookfield is a member of the grassroots group called Save Iris. She said the proposed changes need to be removed from the budget and discussed at length — as separate legislation, if necessary — while including all the stakeholders in the conversation. “Let’s pull this out; let’s give it the light of day; let’s treat it with the respect that we all deserve; and let’s bring everyone to the table and let’s come up with something that’s gonna work for us and it’s gonna work for Wisconsin and that we can all be proud of.”

Burish said IRIS is a valuable, cost-effective program giving people greater control over their lives in their own homes. Republicans on the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee have said they have significantly improved the governor’s original plan.

The “grassroots coalition of parents and self-advocates” met in the capital city Tuesday to lobby their lawmakers.

JFC approved big changes to the programs in late May, but less severe than what Governor Walker had proposed. The budget-writing committee has not yet finished the budget, which needs to be approved by the full legislature before the governor reviews it and signs it.

Plan to get rid of Legislative Audit Bureau

By

Legislation at the Capitol would replace the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau with investigative officials at all state agencies.

Representative Dave Craig (R-Big Bend) authored the measure. “What we’re proposing, with the elimination of the audit bureau, to basically break them up and put them as, what we call ‘inspectors general’ into all the agencies.”

Craig said the audit bureau is reactive. By the time an audit is ordered and completed, a lot of time has passed. The Waukesha County Republican said inspectors general would be ensconced in agencies looking for waste, fraud, and abuse. “Our goal there is to help us have a watchdog inside the agencies that can be more proactive when things like waste, fraud, and abuse occur, rather than retrospective, like the audit bureau is.”

Wisconsin passes a $70 billion budget every two years, so Craig said there needs to be more oversight.

Minority Democrats criticized the idea, saying it comes after a second critical audit of Governor Scott Walker’s job creation agency. The audit, fiscal, and reference bureaus operate independently from state agencies. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca say they assure that people get pure facts not “clouded by partisan judgment or political spin.”

Inspectors general would answer to the legislature, and would not report to cabinet secretaries.

AUDIO: (:58) Jackie Johnson report

Ward to stay on at UW for 6 more months

By

UW-Madison campus (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

UW-Madison campus (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

David Ward will continue serving as interim senior vice president for academic and student affairs for the University of Wisconsin System.

UW System President Ray Cross said David Ward has agreed to stay on for another six months, as UW officials renew efforts to find a permanent successor and improve reforms.

“David’s commitment follows our recent decision to put the search for a new permanent position on hold,” Cross said, “due to the uncertainties of the UW System budget and our ongoing re-organizational efforts.”

Ward took on the role June 18 of last year, after Mark Nook accepted a position as chancellor at Montana State University Billings. He had previously served a term as chancellor from 1993 to 2001.

At Friday’s Board of Regents meeting, Cross thanked Ward for continuing his interim role during this difficult time.

“His extension helps us see through to the conclusion of the budget process and completion of phases two, three of our internal UW System administration reforms.”

UW officials are trying to figure out how to deal with state funding cuts of $250 million over the next two years, which the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee approved as part of the state budget.

Free admission to Wisconsin state parks

By

Balanced Rock at Devil's Lake State Park in south central Wisconsin. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Balanced Rock, Devil’s Lake State Park, south central Wisconsin. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Wisconsinites will have a great opportunity to get in touch with nature this weekend, as the state DNR holds its annual “free fun weekend.”

No admission fees necessary at state parks and forests this weekend throughout Wisconsin. Bicyclists and horseback riders will not need passes to use state trails.

Open House Day coincides with Free Fishing Weekend, which allows fishing anywhere in the Badger State, including inland waters and Wisconsin’s side of the Mississippi River and Great Lakes, without a trout stamp or license.

Camping fees do apply at state parks and forest campgrounds.

Wisconsin State Park Open House Day is June 6-7, 2015

Transportation funding remains undecided

By

Governor Scott Walker has proposed $1.3 billion in new bonding for the state’s transportation needs, but Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on Wednesday said he’s contemplating a transportation budget with no borrowing at all.

Walker now says he’s open to a combination of borrowing and scaling back road projects.

“I think in the end, realistically, what’s likely to come to our desk is a combination of both … that there would be some reduction of bonding and some delays in projects, but not an overal reduction.”

But, would he agree to slowing down the Zoo Interchange project?

“We’ll look at it,” Walker said. “I’ve, in the past, asked my department of transportation officials to make sure that we can find a way to keep that on track. They found considerable savings in the past to keep that on track and I think it’s an important project.”

Vos said members of his caucus think the level of borrowing is “way too high,” especially if the state isn’t generating any new money. Walker again said his budget has the lowest total bonding in ten years.

“We think we’ve got a reasonable approach to keep transportation projects on track going forward through what we present in our original budget.”

The governor has repeatedly said he will not support a budget that increases vehicle registration fees or gas taxes.

Bucks arena announcement expected this afternoon

By

An artist's concept of the new Milwaukee Bucks arena.

An artist’s concept of the new Milwaukee Bucks arena.

The governor, legislative leaders, and local leaders are expected to announce a Milwaukee arena financing plan this afternoon.

Governor Scott Walker said his hope has been to find agreement among the county, the city, the state, and the private sector to keep the Milwaukee Bucks in Wisconsin. “We know one thing for sure, that is if we don’t do anything, we know the NBA Board of Governors have said they would move the Bucks, and that would cost state taxpayers over the next 20 years at least $419 million.”

AUDIO: Walker said the area is important for the entire state of Wisconsin.

The governor had proposed borrowing $220 million to help finance the $500 million project, but Republican leaders aren’t on board with that, saying city and county government should take on a greater share of the cost. Walker included the bonding plan in his two-year budget, but he’s OK with addressing the arena as separate legislation. He met with legislative leaders Wednesday.

“Whether it’s in the budget or separate piece of legislation, we’re confident … we’re willing to work with them on what is the best way to work with the legislature on that.”

Walker will hold a press conference this afternoon at his Capitol office with more details on a long-awaited plan, which is part of a billion-dollar multi-purpose arena and sports and entertainment district to help revitalize downtown Milwaukee. The plan includes restaurants, bars, and office space on up to 30 acres of land.

Wisconsin nonprofits get $12 million in AmeriCorps funds

By

New federal grants will support AmeriCorps members serving Wisconsin communities with local organizations.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It’s with great joy and pride that I’m announcing AmeriCorps investments totaling more than $17.3 million for the state of Wisconsin.”

The funding includes $12 million in grants to Wisconsin nonprofits and $5.2 million in education scholarships for AmeriCorps members.

In making the announcement, the Wisconsin Democrat touts the benefits of AmeriCorps. “National service is critical and cost effective as an approach to solving problems. It helps organizations to expand their reach and impact, and engages citizens and brings communities together.”

Baldwin says there are $18.6 million in local matching support.

AmeriCorps volunteers provide service to meet educational, environmental, health, economic, and other pressing needs and, Baldwin says, they acquire a passion for service that lasts a lifetime. There are 1,400 AmeriCorps members serving in about 1,300 locations around the state.

Since 1994, more than 22,000 Wisconsin residents have served more than 33 million hours and have qualified for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than $81,140,000.