Republicans on State Senate Panel Recommend Not Confirming Two Members of UW Board of Regents

Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 -- 12:00 PM

(Anya van Wagtendonk, Wisconsin Public Radio) Republicans on a state senate panel have recommended against confirming two members of the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents who voted against a diversity-related funding deal last year.

According to Anya van Wagtendonk with Wisconsin Public Radio, the Senate Committee on Universities and Revenue voted 5-3 along party lines Thursday to reject Regents John Miller and Dana Wachs.

The state Senate, where Republicans currently hold a 22-10 majority, is due to meet next week but their agenda has not yet been announced. If the full Senate votes against confirming Miller and Wachs, the two would effectively be fired.

Wachs and Miller were both appointed by Gov. Tony Evers, Wachs in 2022 and Miller in 2021. They each voted against a deal, brokered by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, to end funding for positions throughout the university system devoted to diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.

In exchange, Vos agreed to pay raises for university staff and funding for UW building projects. A majority of regents voted against a first iteration of that deal in December, and Wachs and Miller both voted against it a second time. The final agreement passed, 9-8, after three early no votes flipped.

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