Nass "Bitterly Disappointed" by JFC UW Votes
Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, the chairman chairman of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, yesterday sent out a scathing press release and letter to constituents and Assembly Republican leadership blasting JFC votes on UW System budget items.
"I have witnessed my fair-share of backroom dealings in Madison, but the behavior today by some legislative leaders is simply despicable," Nass said in the press release. "The UW-La Crosse Diversity Surcharge was dead in the water, even the Democrats and some Republicans on the committee wanted to kill it. However, my own leadership prevented that from happening."
See the press release here.
In the letter to constituents, he labeled some JFC provisions as "pork barrel."
"The Joint Finance Committee was able to reach agreement on passing a provision from Senator Mark Miller (D-Madison) mandating the UW System spend $25,000 to offer a five-week course in summer 2008 for Chinese political, business and academic leaders on the Wisconsin Idea and how it might relate to China's environmental issues," Nass said in the letter. "This motion passed on a 10-6 vote with two GOP members voting with the eight Democrats. One can't make this stuff up."
See the letter here.
Nass has been sharply critical of the JFC, calling last month for the committee to cease its deliberations and have the budget go directly to the conference committee.
