Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald: "I don't know where we're at" on state budget

MADISON — Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he does not think the Legislature is any closer to reaching a deal to break an impasse on the state budget.Fitzgerald said Tuesday that he has not spoken with Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos about unresolved budget issues since last week.

Facing millions in cuts, MPS School Board passes budget

MILWAUKEE --  Facing millions less in state and federal funds, the Milwaukee Public School Board has passed a more than billion dollar budget for next year that will add positions and programs.The school district faces $28 million in cuts in funding from state and federal funding.

Frenzied week ahead in Madison as Joint Finance Committee works to finalize two-year spending plan

MADISON (AP) — A frenzied week of backroom deals, lobbying and votes on the Wisconsin state budget awaits as a legislative committee looks to finish its work on the two-year spending plan.Many major decisions are still up in the air as the Joint Finance Committee meets for the final scheduled times Wednesday and Friday.Among the unresolved issues for the Republican-controlled committee is whether to go along with Gov.

Wisconsin unemployment drops to 4.4 percent in April

MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin's unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent in April, down from 4.6 percent in March.The state Department of Workforce Development reported the latest figures Thursday.

Governor Walker sticking by his timeline: No presidential announcement until state budget signed

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Governor Scott Walker is sticking by his timeline for announcing whether he will be running for president.While Walker is widely assumed to be a candidate, he has yet to officially announce his campaign.

Budget provision approved: SCOWIS chief justice, other six justices would be paid the same

MADISON (AP) — The chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court would no longer earn $8,000 more than the other six justices under a budget provision that has been approved by a legislative committee.The Joint Finance Committee on Tuesday, May 5th voted to go along with Governor Scott Walker's proposal doing away with the pay differential.The Republican-controlled committee voted 12-4 along party lines to go along with Walker's proposal.The vote came as two justices Patience Roggensack and Shirley Abrahamson disagree over which of them is chief justice.

GOP lawmaker pushing bill that would repeal prevailing wage law wants to revise it

MADISON (AP) — A GOP lawmaker pushing a bill that would repeal Wisconsin's prevailing wage law wants to revise the proposal.Republicans are divided over the proposal.

UWM chancellor says expected budget cuts could mean students taking longer to graduate

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone was the speaker at a Milwaukee Press Club luncheon on Wednesday, April 15th, and he talked about the expected cuts in the state budget and how they are going to affect the university.Governor Scott Walker's budget proposal includes slashing the UW System’s budget by $300 million, freezing tuition for two years and decoupling the system from state oversight.

To "meet financial challenges," UWM offering employees voluntary separation incentive

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is offering a voluntary separation incentive to some employees to help save money in anticipation of a cut in state funding.The incentive provides a one-time payment of half their base salary to eligible employees, who must be vested with the Wisconsin Retirement System and qualify for a full annuity as of July 1st.Four other UW campuses have announced similar cost-saving measures since Gov.

Nine UW System schools to ask for tuition hike for graduate, out-of-state students to offset cuts

MADISON (AP) — Nine University of Wisconsin System schools plan to ask regents this week for permission to dramatically raise tuition for graduate and non-resident students to help offset $300 million in cuts Gov.

Republicans say 'prevailing wage' bill may be added to Governor Scott Walker's budget

MADISON (AP) — Republican lawmakers who support eliminating requirements that public works contractors be paid a prevailing wage say they may add the measure to Governor Scott Walker's state budget.Rep.

"A lot of concern:" Lawmakers in Milwaukee to hear public comment on state's budget proposal

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Members of Wisconsin's budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance is traveling the state to get input on the proposed budget -- and on Friday, March 20th, lawmakers were in Milwaukee at Alverno College for their second of four public hearings.More than 500 people came out Friday to voice their opinion on the state's budget proposal.

Unemployment rates up in all Wisconsin counties, major cities

MADISON (AP) — Unemployment rates are up in every Wisconsin county and major city.The state Department of Workforce Development reported the figures for January.The show unemployment increases across the board for the month.