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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Walker’s budget plan sparks protest
$3.6
Billion Wisconsin’s budget deficit.
5.8
percent Amount of state workers’ salaries that would go toward pensions.
12
percent Amount of state workers’ salaries that would go toward health care.
UW students flood capitol to protest budget repair bill, look to salvage funding for university By Ariel Shapiro the daily cardinal
Hundreds of Madison residents, including UW students and faculty, rallied at the state capitol to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill Monday, kicking off what promises to be a turbulent week for the new governor. Democrats and unions criticize the bill, which will raise state workers’ contributions to health care and pensions while taking away unions’ bargaining rights, calling it an attack on labor rights. UW-Madison students partaking in the Valentine’s Day rally distributed valentines at the capitol in an effort to convince Walker and the rest of state government not to cut funding for the university in the upcoming budget. “Have a heart, don’t tear the UW apart,” the valentine said. “Make sure UW gets all the love we need in your budget proposal.” Sophomore Kate Gutkowski said she turned out to rally because she is concerned about what Walker’s proposals could mean for her education. “It just seems with the budget cuts he’s making our tuition more expensive and our degree less valuable, less impressive,” Gutkowski said. Although Walker has not yet announced any specific funding cuts for the UW System, university employees are up in arms over the budget repair bill. Communication arts graduate student Amy Tully, who will be subject to the proposals in
the budget repair bill as a teaching assistant, said she is most upset with how the bill will take away state workers’ rights to negotiate with the government. Walker held a press conference Monday afternoon addressing the public’s visceral reaction to the bill, saying many of the protesters were misinformed. He said the increased pension and health care contributions rate for state workers is reasonable, and that it is a sacrifice that has to be made. “If I have to choose between 5,500 or more state government employees and an equal or larger amount of local employees and teachers and others being laid off versus making very modest contribution changes for pension and health care, I am going to choose those changes,” he said. Walker also said the bill will not affect students, and the redirection of funds from teachers’ benefits will mean more money in the classroom. “Unless someone can find me a kid who’s paying for the health care or pension benefits in this state, this budget repair bill has no impact on children,” he said. “Zero.” Chancellor Biddy Martin sent out a letter to the UW community Monday expressing concern about how the bill and potential upcoming cuts could affect the university, but did not directly condemn the legislation.
5,500
JOBS What Gov. Scott Walker said he would have to cut without these contributions.
photos by ben pierson/the daily cardinal
protest page 3
Students and other Madison residents came out in droves to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget repair bill Monday. Protests are expected to continue throughout the week.
Seven GOP senators rumored to be wavering on budget bill, including Majority Leader Fitzgerald
Legislative Fiscal Bureau: Proposed changes would save state $107 million over fiscal year
By Adam Wollner
By Patrick Tricker
the daily cardinal
Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill may be in jeopardy as rumors swirl around seven Republican state senators said to be on the fence about supporting the legislation. Among those reportedly wavering is state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau. State Sens. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse, Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, Randy Hopper,
R-Fon Du Lac, Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, and Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, are reportedly undecided on the bill. Several of the legislators’ offices stayed out of touch Monday, including the Ellis office, which disconnected its phone, and Olsen’s office, which had a full mailbox. There has been public outcry across the senators page 3
the daily cardinal
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memo Monday saying Gov. Scott Walker’s budget adjustment legislation would save the state $107 million for the 2010-’11 fiscal year, not including money owed to Minnesota and the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. The bill would eliminate collective bargaining rights for state employees—other than
policemen and firefighters—and prohibit collective bargaining for anything other than wages. It would prohibit bargaining over overtime, working conditions and pension plans. Unions would not be able to deduct dues from employees’ salaries and employees would have the right not to pay, while remaining a part of the union. Any wage increase for public employees, beyond inflation, would have to be lfb page 3
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”