Lupe Fiasco ‘Shines Every time’ on L.A.S.E.R.S
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Daily Cardinal
E-mails released by Gov. Scott Walker show progress in the budget repair bill stalemate, although Republicans and Democrats still refuse to budge. In an interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette, state Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Allouez, said there would have to be some compromise over collective bargaining rights, although he still intends to vote for the governor’s bill as is. “You have to be flexible because some way, somehow there will be an amendment modifying the collective bargaining,” Cowles said. “[The Democrats leaving] is an incredible situation that none of us ever thought would happen. So negotiations on this are critical to move past this and move on to the budget, which also has a number of dilemmas.” The e-mails outline a possible compromise in which collective bargaining powers for unions would include workplace safety, eliminate inflation limitations and referendum requirements on bargaining over pay. Performance bonuses, hazardous duty pay and classroom size could be bargained over if employers and employees agreed to negotiate.
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E-mails reveal Walker’s talks with Dems By Patrick Tricker
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Any agreement reached could not last more than two years, and workers would have to vote every three years to keep the union active. The compromise would force changes to the Medical Assistance program which is set to be approved by the Joint Committee on Finance after a public hearing. State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, criticized Walker in a statement for discussing the negotiations in press conferences and said that discussions needed to remain private in order to make progress. “Any serious leader does not negotiate contentious issues by press conference,” Jauch said. “His public announcement of what were supposed to be confidential discussions is a serious breach of faith.” Public pressure appears to building, according to a poll by Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank. Poll results found that 65 percent of Wisconsinites think Walker should compromise. Jauch said he talked to several senators who would have voted against curtailing collective bargaining rights, if not for pressure from Walker. “Those conversations revealed bill page 3
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011
A march of one’s own
photographer-artist/the daily cardinal
In recognition of International Women’s Day, the Campus Women’s Center marched down State Street in protest of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget and budget repair bill. The protesters said the governor’s bill eliminates 17,418 jobs and with women making up 58 percent of municipal workers, women are at the center of the crisis.
Assembly passes auto-insurance bill The state Assembly passed legislation Tuesday that will weaken auto insurance requirements put in place by the Doyle administration. Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, praised the bill for giving consumers more freedom in deciding their coverage. “This will also make insurance more affordable for lower and middle income families,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s really the perfect marriage of consumer
choice and responsibility.” Despite the rollbacks in coverage requirements, it does not get rid of the mandate requiring some level of coverage. Democrats have criticized the measure as dangerous for consumers, and were able to stall the bill when it was first taken up in early February. However, state Rep. Robin Vos, R-Burlington, said in a statement “it’s a great day for Wisconsin drivers who were forced to pay as
much as 33 percent more in their auto insurance last year. Vos said this bill is just the first of many to alleviate the financial burden of taxpayers. The state Senate passed the bill in February with bipartisan support. The Assembly also took up a resolution proposed by Democrats asking Walker to engage in negotiations with union leaders over assembly page 3
Martin discusses Badger Partnership details By Alex DiTullio The Daily Cardinal
graphic by Dylan Moriarty
Man suffers facial fracture during fight A 29-year-old Madison man broke a bone near his eye after a fight broke out on a “party bus” early Sunday morning, according to police. The victim went to a local hospital Sunday around 4:30 p.m. with an eye injury including a broken orbital bone, police said. An officer discovered the fight outside of the “party bus” on the 200 block of State Street, around same time the victim said he was injured, Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said. The officer found a man with
an eye injury who refused to reveal his name and did not want medical attention, DeSpain said. The bus driver told police the injured man actually started the fight. Police believe the man with the eye injury might be the same man who showed up at the hospital many hours later, DeSpain said. The victim told people he didn’t know who organized the bus party. “He didn’t know who was on the bus, but believed they were headed to the Wisconsin Dells following a dance party in downtown Madison,” DeSpain said in a statement.
At the second New Badger Partnership forum this month, Chancellor Biddy Martin answered questions and provided more specifics concerning the proposed public authority status for UW-Madison Tuesday. She emphasized UW-Madison’s increased flexibility from the public authority status, which would grant the university independence from the state. “The forms of flexibility, budget authority and control over our destiny are extraordinarily important for this university,” Martin said. Currently, any new faculty renovation project costing more than $25,000 is required to go through a lengthy legislative process for approval. Under the new system, the university would manage any project costing $500,000 or less, resulting in fewer steps for approval. UW-Madison would also have
the opportunity to pay higher salaries to faculty members who have reached their salary cap. Under the current Board of Regents, UW-Madison cannot give salary raises to faculty unless every state employee receives pay raises. Martin also emphasized the importance of increasing the amount of financial aid available to students. “If there’s anyone in this room more committed to financial aid and affordability than me, I’ll be shocked,” Martin said. Martin said the university would receive money to increase financial aid from UW-Madison supporters, especially alumni. She said the university only asks a small proportion of the 400,000 UW-Madison alumni for donations, and her goal is to reach an increasing amount of potential donator. Some attendees expressed concern about the deterioration of UW System schools following
UW-Madison’s split from the system. Martin said each university offers unique programs, and attracts students based on location and diversity. Furthermore, Martin said she plans to enhance relationships with other UW System schools. Martin also described how UW-Madison would benefit from the new 21-member board of trustees. She said the current Board of Regents includes only two students from the UW System, and the new board would include 17 members directly affiliated with UW-Madison as students, faculty or alumni. Some in attendance were suspicious of the board, worrying a majority selected by Gov. Walker would not serve UW-Madison’s needs. “This is a structure that I think can be trusted,” Martin said. “I think it’s a structure that will be more beneficial to UW-Madison than a completely political board, which the Board of Regents is.”
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”