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Doyle is standing up for higher education...I'm actually proud of him....here's some clips from a press release I got:
Restoring Financial Aid
Despite a $1.6 billion deficit, Governor Doyle's budget made the University a priority. Governor Doyle added significant new funding for the UW System, including $11 million for financial aid. The budget required that the University System cut 200 administrators, but used the money to add 120 new teaching faculty directly into the classrooms. The budget presented by the Republican controlled Legislature cut $50 million from the UW System, including completely eliminating the $11 million financial aid increase, as well as the new faculty positions. Later, Republicans tacked on another $35 million cut as part of a last-minute budget amendment.
"As Governor, I can't do everything that I'd like with my partial veto power. But I'm going to do all that I can to protect student from these cuts," Governor Doyle said. "All around the country, the cost of a college education is going up, and we need to do everything we can to keep higher education affordable for Wisconsin families from all walks of life. Any deserving student who earns his or her way into a UW school shouldn't be denied an education because they can't afford it."
The Governor noted that with this veto, he would achieve his goal of doubling the state's commitment to financial aid over his four year term as Governor.
Ensuring Strong State Support for the UW-System
Governor Doyle said he would use his veto pen to restore the nearly $35 million that Republicans cut as a last minute budget amendment.
Expanding the Tuition Tax Deduction
In his budget, Governor Doyle proposed an expansion of the tax deduction for college tuition, allowing families to deduct college costs up to the average price of tuition in the UW-System. This year the deduction would amount to approximately $5,000. The Governor commended the Legislature for approving his proposal, and will include it in the final budget.
Protecting Pension Increases for UW Staff and Faculty
Governor Doyle also said that he would veto a provision, also included in the last-minute budget amendment, that cuts UW staff and faculty salaries by 1.5 percent. If allowed to stand, the Republican action would make it harder to attract new teaching staff - and it would be an incentive for great professors and researchers to leave the state.
"Supporting our University System and making college more affordable is one of the best investments we can make in Wisconsin's future," Governor Doyle said. "When I sign the budget next week, I am going to make sure that our great University remains the priority."
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