State Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, proposed an alternative to the New Badger Partnership Tuesday that would delay any decisions from being made until after the biennial budget passed.
The plan, which is starkly similar to the Wisconsin Idea Partnership, would keep UW-Madison in the UW System and allow flexibility for operations and finances for all UW campuses. It would also would maintain legislative oversight for minimum faculty teaching loads and tuition and fee increases.
""The current functional relationship between UW-Madison and the UW System Administration must be altered in a manner that prioritizes enhanced efficiencies and limited autonomy for administrators at our flagship campuses,"" Nass said in a letter.
""I am committed to a comprehensive bill that achieves all of these goals for the effective administration of the UW System in exchange for real accountability measures that protect the students, families and taxpayers of Wisconsin.""
Vice Chancellor Vince Sweeney said the proposal would not affect the Badger Partnership plan, which is already a part of Gov. Scott Walker's 2011-'13 biennial budget. Sweeney defended the original Badger Partnership plan as necessary for UW-Madison to cope with $125 million budget reduction and stay competitive with other higher education institutions.
""We will always listen to and be engaged in other discussions, but at least from where we stand, the language in the current budget proposal is the language that best suits UW-Madison,"" Sweeney said.
David Giroux, spokesperson for the UW System, applauded Nass' plan because of its similarity to the Board of Regents' proposed Wisconsin Idea Partnership. Giroux said the key difference between Nass' plan and the Wisconsin Idea Partnership is that the former would not be implemented until after the 2011-'13 budget.
State Rep. Evan Wynn, R-Whitewater, also voiced opposition to the New Badger Partnership plan, disliking the fact that it would remove UW-Madison from the authority of Wisconsin's GI Bill, which provides Wisconsin veterans with free tuition.
Chancellor Biddy Martin said in a statement the university would continue to support veterans, but did not deny they would no longer be mandated to provide a free education.
