Budget debate: Republican-controlled Senate rejects restoring $250M in cuts to UW System

MADISON -- A Democratic proposal to restore a $250 million budget cut to the University of Wisconsin System has been rejected in the Republican-controlled state Senate.

Democrats argued Tuesday, July 7th that it would irreparably harm the university system to move forward with the cut backed by Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans who control the Legislature.

But Republicans in the majority voted down the Democratic proposal to restore the cut. They argue that new flexibilities given the university will help it deal with the funding cut.

Walker had originally called for a $300 million cut but lawmakers have reduced that, while they also rejected Walker's call to make UW independent from nearly all state oversight and laws.

The budget being debated also freezes tuition for the next two years.