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dailycardinal.com
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Martin answers questions on Madison split, budget By Alex DiTullio and Kayla Johnson the daily cardinal
kathryn weenig/the daily cardinal
Democratic state representatives moved their offices onto the Capitol lawn Wednesday to protest restrictions on public access to the building. A court case on the issue is ongoing.
With Capitol restricted, Democrats move outside Assembly Dems hold meetings on lawn in protest of closed Capitol By Scott Girard the daily cardinal
Democratic state representatives braved the cold weather Wednesday as they set up offices on the Capitol lawn to protest the strict rules meant to keep protest-
ers from entering the building. The Wisconsin Department of Administration has required anyone entering the Capitol to have a badge since Sunday, when protesters were supposed to be removed so the building could be cleaned. Citizens can get a badge from their legislators. But State Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, said she has been denied access to the building, both with and without her legislator identification, and did not want to continue putting her constituents through that process.
GOP Senators pass resolution to fine members absent for more than two days By Scott Girard the daily cardinal
The state Senate passed a resolution Wednesday that would impose a fine against any senator who is absent for two or more days without leave in a effort to force Democratic senators to return to Wisconsin. The fine will amount to $100 per day, and absent members will also have to pay the costs sustained in attempts to bring them to the Senate, such as a call of the house. Senate President Michael Ellis, R-Neenah, said he hopes to amend pieces of the Wisconsin Constitution that allow legislators to delay a bill through actions like leaving the state once the Democrats return. “We are reviewing the Constitution, we are reviewing the state statutes, we are reviewing our rule book, and at the appropriate time … we will make modifications so that the government of the people cannot be blocked by a minority
of the people,” Ellis said. The resolution is the latest in a number of Republican attempts to compel the Democrats to return to Madison and vote on the Republican-backed budget repair bill that has fueled protests for more than two weeks. The Senate passed a resolution last week that stopped direct deposit of senators’ paychecks, forcing members to pick them up in person on the Senate floor. Wednesday’s resolution also gives the Senate majority leader, currently state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, the ability to direct the sergeant at arms to revoke parking privileges for the absent senator and their staff. The majority leader will also have the ability to order the chief clerk to zero out the office expense account of the absent senator. Senators absent for sessions after Thursday will be fined.
“Tens of thousands of people have been denied entry to this building in the past several days, I’m one of them,” Roys said. “I’m not standing for it anymore.” State Reps. Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, Cory Mason, D-Racine, Nick Milroy, D-South Range, and Roys were among the representatives who moved their offices outdoors. Milroy said he moved his desk to hear from the people he represents, and criticized assembly page 3
Chancellor Biddy Martin and Vice Chancellor Darrell Bazzell answered questions about how a proposed public authority model and major budget cuts would affect UW-Madison faculty and students at a forum Wednesday. Bazzell said UW-Madison administrators would manage a 13 percent reduction in state aid through a balance of cuts, and by increasing efficiencies and tuition. Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget restructures UW-Madison as a public authority institution, splitting the university from the UW System and giving it a 21-member governing Board of Trustees. Walker will appoint 11 of the board’s members, seven of whom will be UW-Madison alumni. The university would appoint the remaining 10 members from faculty, non-faculty employees and students. Martin said establishing the public authority model would allow UW-Madison to be more competitive nationally.
“For this university to deteriorate in quality because we can’t compete … would be a crying shame,” she said. “Not only for the university, but for the state and for the nation and I think even beyond.” Martin said Walker must appoint the majority of the board for the university to retain sovereign immunity and liability coverage, provisions that protect the university from lawsuits. However, some UW System members have expressed concern that the public authority model will negatively affect collaboration, and increase competition between Wisconsin campuses. The proposed budget would also allot $250,000 to UW-Milwaukee to move toward public authority status as well. Some UW-Milwaukee community members worry they may not have sufficient infrastructure necessary to be independent or be able to compete with UW-Madison for resources. Although there is concern about UW-Milwaukee splitting from the UW System, if it stayed the Milwaukee campus would be the only research partnership page 3
Walker’s budget would end mandate for local recycling By Adam Wollner the daily cardinal
On top of heavy spending cuts, Gov. Scott Walker’s biennial budget proposal would also eliminate the state recycling program requirement for local communities. The proposal would cut financial assistance from the state to local
governments for the programs that totaled $32 million in 2010-11. The funds that were used for recycling and renewable energy would instead go to the state’s economic development fund. State Rep. Brett Hulsey, recycling page 3
slac-ers in love
ben pierson/the daily cardinal
The Student Labor Action Coalition held a fake wedding Wednesday between Chancellor Biddy Martin and Gov. Scott Walker to protest the proposed split of UW-Madison from the UW System.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”