(MADISON) – Wisconsin’s Joint Committee on Finance today cut funding for the Stewardship Program and UW System. Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), who serves as the ranking Senate Democrat on the committee, released the following statement:

“There’s no easy way to say this. Today’s votes were just horrible. The UW System returns $15 billion per year to our economy. Cutting the UW System by $250 million makes absolutely no sense. Today’s vote puts UW-Milwaukee’s innovative work in aquaculture, energy conservation, engineering and public health, just to name a few, at risk.

“Additionally, our vote today on the environment defies logic. Even Tourism Secretary Klett boasted about the value of Wisconsin’s environment to the tourism industry saying, ‘You can’t be from Wisconsin without caring for the environment.’ Unfortunately, it appears you can be from Wisconsin without investing in the environment.

“Governor Walker is so busy running for higher office, he’s forgotten he serves Wisconsinites. It’s time for him to return to Wisconsin and focus on his budget mess.”