A state Senate committee is recommending the full chamber fire two UW regents who voted against a deal that called for limiting campus diversity positions in exchange for state funding, according to the Associated Press.
The Republican-controlled Senate Committee on Universities and Revenue voted 5–3 along party lines Thursday to recommend the full body refuse to confirm regents Dana Wachs and John Miller. They voted against the deal twice last December. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers appointed both of them.
The state budget Republicans approved and Evers signed last summer called for raises for university employees. But Assembly Speaker Robin Vos refused to release the money in an attempt to force regents to reduce the number of positions that work on diversity, equity, and inclusion projects.
Vos reached a deal with regents in December that called for legislators to release the money for the raises and various campus construction projects, including a new engineering building at UW–Madison. In exchange, the regents had to agree to freeze hiring for diversity positions through 2026, shift at least 43 diversity positions to focus on “student success,” eliminate statements supporting diversity on student applications, create a position focused on conservative thought, and end an affirmative action hiring program at UW–Madison.
The regents initially rejected the deal on a 9–8 vote. They took another vote four days later, this time approving it 11–6. Wachs and Miller voted against the plan each time.
Senate Republicans have fired 13 Evers appointees thus far by refusing to confirm them.
