A legislative leader is backing a controversial tuition surcharge for UW-Madison students.
State Senate President Fred Risser says the University is hurting and needs the money. The Madison Democrat says Chancellor Biddy Martin's plan to impose higher tuition costs on families making more than $80,000 a year seems to make sense. He says taxes are often based on the ability to pay, so a similar system may work for higher education.
There's been strong Republican opposition to the plan though, with charges that it will "soak" UW students and punish married couples.