Gov. Scott Walker signed the 2013-15 state budget bill today (June 30, 2013), putting into law a spending plan for state government for the next two years.
Interim Chancellor David Ward says he is pleased that the governor listened to many concerned voices and vetoed a provision that would have prohibited the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism from utilizing space on the UW–Madison campus. The language, inserted by the Joint Finance Committee during its deliberations, would also have barred UW employees from doing any work related to the WCIJ as part of their official duties.
“The governor’s veto of this provision shows that he recognizes the valuable work done through the association of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the professionals at the WCIJ,” Ward says. “The experience afforded to the students through this collaboration is invaluable, and the work produced by the center as a government watchdog is of significant importance to the public interest.
“The veto also shows that the governor realizes the chilling effect such a move would have on academic freedom, at this campus and others across the state. I applaud his use of the veto to stand strong for the right of educators and students to seek out collaborations to further educational and research opportunities.”