Wisconsin Lawmakers Spar Over UW System Budget Proposal - Laurel White, WPR

State lawmakers are clashing in the wake of the new University of Wisconsin System budget proposal, disagreeing over the fundamental role of the university system. Republicans who control the state Legislature say the system is making appropriate and timely changes to spur economic growth in Wisconsin, while Democrats are decrying the system’s direction as inappropriately political. "This is a continued track record of the UW System not asking for what we hear from individual campuses and their needs," said Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, who sits on the state budget-writing committee. "This seems like a pretty concerted effort from Republican legislators, Gov. (Scott) Walker, and the UW System to transform higher education so it’s less focused on critical thinking." The proposal, released Monday, calls for a $107.5 million spending increase over the next two years. It includes funding for a number of programs aimed at increasing schools’ capacity to prepare students for careers in high-demand fields, including technology and health care. https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-lawmakers-spar-over-uw-system-budget-proposal