Republicans delay vote on Univ Wisconsin System budget after promises to cut diversity funds

Republicans delay vote on UW System budget after promises to cut diversity funds

Republican lawmakers suspended a vote on funding for the UW System, just hours after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos promised to slash its budget as part of an ongoing fight over diversity and inclusion initiatives.

https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/republicans-delay-vote-on-uw-system-budget-after-promises-to-cut-diversity-funding/

June 14, 2023 By Harm Verhuizen, AP

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican state lawmakers suspended a vote on funding for University of Wisconsin campuses late on June 13, just hours after a top GOP leader promised to slash the college system’s budget as part of an ongoing fight over diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s top Republican, told The Associated Press on June 14 that he expected the GOP-controlled Legislature’s budget-writing committee to cut all funding that the university system would use for diversity initiatives. He estimated the cuts would total $32 million......................

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The fight reflects a broader cultural battle playing out across the nation over college diversity initiatives. Republican lawmakers in 2023 have proposed more than 30 bills in 12 states to limit diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education, an Associated Press analysis found in April.

Democratic Sen. Kelda Roys, whose district includes the UW-Madison campus, called Vos petty ahead of the finance committee meeting and criticized the push to eliminate diversity initiatives.

“You’d be hard pressed to find a major organization in this country that isn’t doing something to help them achieve equity and inclusion,” Roys said. “The UW is the economic engine of the state. Making any cuts to the UW, especially politically motivated ones, is just going to harm every person in this state.”..........................................