Tax collection update brings sobering news

Wisconsin tax collections won’t grow beyond earlier projections, state lawmakers were told Wednesday. Gov. Scott Walker and legislators had been saying for months that they were hopeful revenue gains would make it possible to dial back some of cuts to K-12 schools and the University of Wisconsin System proposed in the governor’s initial budget plan. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Wednesday no decisions have been made about what to do about the $300 million cut to the UW, but Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the latest revenue projections makes it “much more difficult” to lower the cut. Read AP coverage.

‘Public authority’ plan pronounced dead

A proposal to split off the University of Wisconsin System has died at the hands of the Republican Legislature, according to a top lawmaker. Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, co-chairman of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, said Tuesday that his committee will not advance a proposal by Gov. Walker to remake the UW System as a public authority. “We’re looking for a little bit more thoughtful process to make that change,” Nygren said of the current bill. Read more.