Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
A vote against Doyle appointees
By Mary Lazich
Tuesday, Jan 9 2007, 03:37 PM
Today the state Senate was in session to consider various appointments submitted by Governor Doyle, including appointments to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. I voted against the Regent appointments, and issued the following press release after the state Senate session concluded.
LAZICH VOTES AGAINST UW REGENT NOMINEES
Lazich cites scandals, mismanagement, and public dissatisfaction with UW System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sen. Lazich
TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2007 PHONE: (608) 266-5400
(Madison) – State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) today voted on the floor of the state Senate against all of Governor Doyle’s appointments to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. Lazich either met or spoke with the appointees, and is not convinced they can restore public confidence in the UW System that has been plagued by numerous scandals the past few years.
“The UW System leaders and the Governor’s appointed Board of Regents have engineered a public relations nightmare,” said Lazich. “We owe it to the university, the students and their parents, and to the taxpayers to put in place the strongest representation to lead the UW System into the future. The appointees before the Senate today did not leave me any optimism they can restore much-needed credibility to our campuses.”
“The public is all too aware of the sad state of affairs at the UW System,” said Lazich, who cites a statewide survey conducted by Wood Communications of Madison during February of 2006. “The results of the survey were scathing,” said Lazich. “If a similar survey were done today, I believe the findings would, unfortunately, be the same.”
• Nearly 70% of respondents said they thought "UW campuses have more administrators than they need."
• Nearly 60% said they thought "UW campuses don't think they have to watch their dollars like the rest of us."
• More than 70% said they thought "UW campuses spend too much money on things they don't need instead of concentrating on educating students."
“There is strong evidence that the public is right to be pessimistic, especially considering the laundry list of personnel scandals and management blunders at the UW,” said Lazich. They include:
• $700 car stipends for the UW President and Chancellors
• The misguided policy on back-up jobs
• The decision at UW-Stout to block the ROTC program
• Computer software problems costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
• UW-Whitewater inviting Ward Churchill to speak. Churchill compares the 9-11 victims to Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann and says 9-11 was payback to the U.S. for its policies abroad.
• Also at UW-Whitewater, two deans are removed for misuse of state issued credit cards.
• A legislative audit finding the UW is top heavy with administrative positions.
• Convicted professors earning salaries while behind bars.
• Convicted felons found working in the UW System.
Lazich criticized Governor Doyle for attempting to nominate a Lazich constituent, Mike Falbo, to replace Gerard Randall on the Board of Regents instead of appointing Falbo to any number of open seats on the Board. “The state could have benefited greatly over the past two years from the expertise of both these fine gentlemen, if not for the Governor playing partisan games,” said Lazich. “Falbo’s appointment was not scheduled on the Senate calendar today. When the UW System could dearly use Falbo’s leadership, Wisconsin is missing out because Governor Doyle would rather use Mike Falbo to force Gerard Randall out. That is very unfortunate for our state.”
