WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
RICK ESENBERG, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UW OVER RELEASING BUDGET APPROVED PAY RAISES, $32 MILLION IN CUTS OVER DEI PROGRAMS AND FUNDING OF A NEW ENGINEERING BUILDING AT UW-MADISON.
A NOTE, PBS WISC ONSIN IS PART OF UW-MADISON.
THE DEAL INCLUDES ENACTING THE 4% SALARY INCREASES FOR 35,000 UW STAFF.
THE RELEASE OF 32 MILLION STATE DOLLARS HELD BACK OVER DIVERSITY PROGRAMS, AND FUNDING FOR A NEW UW MADISON ENGINEERING BUILDING.
IN RETURN, THE UNIVERSITY AGREES TO A FREEZE IN THE NUMBER OF DEI POSITIONS, WITH A THIRD OF THOSE JOBS TO FOCUS ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND THE CREATION OF AN ENDOWED SHARE POSITION TO FOCUS ON CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL THOUGHT.
>> TODAY'S AGREEMENT REFLECTS WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN AND ALL WISCONSINITES TO FIND A PATH FORWARD ON THE ISSUE THE SPEAKER HAS RAISED IN A WAY THAT ENABLES ALL OF OUR UNIVERSITIES TO BETTER SERVE STUDENTS AND THE BETTER SERVE STUDENTS AND THE