SUDER: REGENTS SHOULD BE ELECTED, NOT APPOINTED
Thursday, February 16th, 2006 -- 11:49 AM
An area Republican lawmaker suggests voters should decide who serves on the UW Board of Regents.Representative Scott Suder of Abbotsford says regents could be elected by region, or similarly to county boards. Currently the Governor of Wisconsin appoints regents to seven-year terms, with the exception of a student regent whose term is just two years. Suder says that's given us an unaccountable board on a spending spree.
"The regents seem to be living in a 'Richie Rich' fantasy world," Suder claims. "Unfortunately, that world is paid for by taxpayers."
In addition to voting to give top UW System administrators hefty pay raises, Suder questions the direct costs to taxpayers - such as "lavish festivities" - for the seventeen member board.
"That type of activity belongs in the halls of kings and queens, but not to be paid for by Wisconsin taxpayers," Suder says.
The Board's recent action to increase salary levels for top executives, while decreasing tuition for out of state students, has led him to propose legislation for the regents to become elected positions, Suder says.
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