MADISON - On Wednesday, May 4, Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire), ranking Democrat on the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, issued the following statement regarding Rep. Jim Steineke’s comments on the UW-Madison Faculty Senate vote of no confidence:

“Rep. Steineke’s statement criticizing the UW-Madison faculty vote of no confidence in UW System President Ray Cross and the Board of Regents is misplaced. While it is refreshing that Rep. Steineke admits that UW-Madison and, presumably, the UW System are important to economic growth, he fails to mention the $795 million in reduced state aid faced by the UW System since Walker took office. While private industry clearly understands the importance of higher education, it is clear that this administration and the Legislative Republicans do not.”

Rep. Wachs also renewed his call for public hearings to be held on the effects of the cuts to the UW System.

“Instead of allowing Legislative Republicans to divert attention away from these cuts to higher education, we should be holding hearings on how the reduction in state aid is damaging our state’s economic future and reputation as a leader in higher education. Students have fewer course offerings and academic advising services have been reduced. UW-Milwaukee’s Center for Urban Initiatives and Research (CUIR), which helps local non-profit groups to better serve their community, recently announced that they will close after 40 years due to ‘unprecedented budget challenges’. We owe it to Wisconsin taxpayers to take a long, in-depth look at how the misguided and short-sighted policies of this administration and Legislative Republicans are hurting Wisconsin.”