The Wisconsin state Senate’s Republican-controlled Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges is holding a public hearing and executive session on 10 of the governor’s appointees to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.
Lawmakers have spent two terms of Gov. Tony Evers’ tenure withholding approval of the appointees.
Evers said in a statement that it seems Republican lawmakers are upset at the recent dismissal of University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman.
Whatever comes of the committee vote on Thursday will largely be symbolic and have no effect on the Board of Regents appointees.
“The UW Board of Regents decided to make a leadership change — nothing more, nothing less,” Evers said in a statement. “Republican lawmakers should resist their temptation to turn this into a political conversation, because it isn’t one.
“The UW Board of Regents is not supposed to be an extension of any politician or political party. The regents are responsible for doing what’s best for our UW System, and they should be able to do their jobs without political interference from elected officials.”
