http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/uwgb-student-s5.jpgLayoffs and tuition hikes set to impact students and communities.

MADISON - Republican legislators plan to go beyond Gov. Walker's proposed budget cuts by reducing state funding for UW schools by $250 million, allowing tuition increases and eliminating important student and faculty provisions from state law. As a result, local campuses have announced they will be forced to eliminate hundreds of jobs, raise fees on students and reduce course options.

These cuts come at a time when Republicans have earmarked millions for special interests and provided more tax breaks to the wealthy. Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) released the following statement regarding the Republican budget proposal:

"As a UW graduate and mother of two, it is frustrating that Republicans continue to pin a giant "Kick Me" sign on our local schools while shifting taxpayer dollars to their special interests. Rather than selling out our students to advance Gov. Walker’s presidential ambitions, we need to invest in our schools and expand economic opportunities for our children.

"Our University of Wisconsin schools have traditionally been a cornerstone of economic development efforts in our state and across the nation. UW student and faculty-led research has been instrumental in the fight against cancer, the development of 21st century technologies and the success of our local family farms. But now, at a time of national economic growth, Republicans are choosing to cut our schools in order to divert more public dollars to their special interest allies.

“With the historic cuts being forced on our communities by Republican legislators, Wisconsin will lose its competitive advantage and fall further behind our neighboring states when it comes to job creation. This is a short-sighted political decision that will force more layoffs, increase student loan debt and eliminate local economic opportunities for years to come.”