GarveyBlog by Ed Garvey

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May 20, 2005
Where did we go wrong?
Occasionally we must ask, "Where did we lose the roadmap?"

Think about two recent news items. Mike McCabe reports that the global outsourcing firm Accenture is seeking to renegotiate its lucrative contract with Wisconsin's state Elections Board. Apparently Accenture cannot meet some deadlines and wants more than the $13.9 million it is to receive from our state for compiling the voting list. The contract is being challenged by the Democracy Campaign, Madison Teachers, Inc., and others. Would it hurt anything to shine some light on this process?

Next we turn to Assembly Representative and Joint Finance Committee member Steve Nass, who has attacked UW President Reilly for "hypocrisy, arrogance and elitism." You have to read the Nass news release to fully appreciate how far we have fallen. Two of Nass' problems: UW Stout will not permit ROTC on campus because ROTC discriminates against gays. And UW-Whitewater permitted Ward Churchill to speak on campus. How these issues impact the UW budget is a mystery.

Nass says "we non-PhD's can't possibly understand." I don't think advanced degrees or lack thereof is the issue but perhaps an I.Q. test should be administered for those who vote on the UW budget.

While we have taken issue with President Reilly on occasion, he was asking the Joint Finance Committee to consider the impact of the deep cuts in the UW budget called for by the governor. Is that grounds for personal attacks by Rep. Nass?

Duck boys, you are in a combat zone.




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"Is this a private fight, or can anyone join?"
-Old Irish saying