State Senator Bob Jauch isn’t mincing words about his frustration with rising tuition and student debt rates. Joe Gigliotti reports.

Jauch told students and staff at UW-Superior Friday that he opposes Governor Walker’s proposed UW budget. “Wisconsin should be ashamed of itself for the matter in which it has diminished its public employees, particularly those who are dedicated to working in higher education.”

The tuition for all UW students increased 5.5 percent each of the last two years. While Walker’s budget includes a $181-million dollar investment for the UW System, Jauch says that’s not good enough. “Even though $181 million is a big sum of money, it doesn’t make up for the 250 million dollars that the university had to cut two years ago.”

Jauch says the contentious relationship between Republicans and Democrats that intensified by the recent mining bill crossfire, has a trickle-down effect. “The campus administration has been victimized by an insensitive and disconnected politics in Madison that have not taken into consideration the adverse consequences of their actions.”

UWS student and local business owner Klayton Longstreet is worried post-college debt. There’s some concerns for business owners that the debt of students, the $20,000-$30,000 worth of debt that they have leaving the institution, is going to put more burden and more demand on higher wages.”

Jauch promised to do whatever it takes for all UWS and UW System students have a great college experience.

“We must do everything in our power as lawmakers to ensure that the doors to this gateway of opportunity remain open for every student, regardless of their own personal wealth.”

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