Legislatively Speaking
By Senator, Lena C. Taylor
Lena C. Taylor
This week the governor released his budget plans for the 2015-17 legislative session.
Among the many ill-advised policies the governor touted, is his plan to cut funding to the University of Wisconsin school system. Gov. Walker’s national political ambitions appear to be a distraction from his responsibilities here in Wisconsin.
As Wisconsin faces a ballooning 2.2 Billion dollar shortfall that has grown under the Governor’s leadership or lack thereof, Walker plans to borrow over a billion dollars to pay for road construction, while cutting $300 million from the UW System.
His plans include drug testing for healthcare and other social services, which not only provide additional unnecessary cost for the state to cover but is a policy that is draconian.
While the Governor has his sights at the white house, Wisconsin continues to suffer.
We continue to bring up the rear both economically and in job growth.
I have always said that I did not trust some of what was happening in the Governor’s office. But now he has gone and literally removed the “search for truth” from the UW-System’s mission statement!
The budget would amend state statutes to strike a series of goals for the system that stem from the Wisconsin Idea.
Walker’s budget would insert “to meet the state’s workforce needs” as one of the system’s missions along with discovering and disseminating knowledge.
The budget bill would strike from the UW’s mission extending “knowledge and its application beyond the boundaries of its campuses” and to “serve and stimulate society.”
His budget plans would strike out parts of the mission that aim incorporating research, public service, and curriculum designed to improve the human condition.
Walker budget abandons Wisconsin’s core believes and values.
The Wisconsin Idea is at the very core of our state. This Governor not only does not have his attention on our state, but is actively working against it.
It is unbelievable that the Governor is willing to propose such devastating cuts to our state’s education system.
As a the ranking Democratic member of the state’s budget, the Joint Finance Committee, I look forward to working with my colleagues to craft a budget that creates economic opportunities, including a well funded education system for all Wisconsinites.
The people of Wisconsin need a state budget that puts Wisconsin first, and unfortunately that is not a sentiment that the Governor seems to share.