BADGER HERALD: Assembly candidates take on MIU, green jobs at on-campus debate

The four candidates to replace veteran Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, in the Wisconsin State Assembly debated taxes, green jobs and the future of the University of Wisconsin at a debate Thursday night at the Education Building.

Green Party candidate Ben Manski and Democratic candidate Brett Hulsey, the two candidates receiving the highest attention in the race, both said UW’s current financial situation requires more input from state government.

Hulsey, who currently serves on the Dane County Board as a supervisor for part of Madison’s West Side, said he supports the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates because he believes it follows a progressive tradition.

Hulsey also said he would propose cuts in some state programs to help make UW more efficient.

“[MIU] gives UW the flexibility to become more efficient so they can keep their own costs down,” Hulsey said. “There are hundreds of examples in state government where people can be more efficient…so we don’t have to raise tuition so much.”

Manski said closing other state services such as prisons and diverting costs to UW would be the ideal solution to the current financial woes plaguing the state. He added although he believes the UW administration is trying to make the right decisions, there are better solutions to avoid “passing the buck” to students.

On the other end of the political spectrum, Republican candidate Dave Redick, who said he models himself after U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, said UW and other universities throughout the country take too much money from taxpayers.

“Have you noticed all the cranes? Have you noticed all of the professors…getting higher salaries?” Redick asked. “The university systems are awash in money; it’s a Cadillac system.”

Additionally, Constitution Party candidate David Olson said he would model UW as more of a private business rather than a public venture if he served in the Assembly.

“We can get the government out of student loans, we can get the government out of the systems that are entitlement programs, and in this way we will allow the university to function as a business and reduce tuition that way,” Olson said.

All candidates except Olson said they would advocate for more stem cell funding while in the Assembly.

In addition to the problems associated with funding UW, the candidates addressed further economic woes throughout Wisconsin.

Hulsey said his economic policy in the Assembly would focus on increasing the prominence of green jobs in the area. He said his plan could create as many as 7,000 clean jobs and save up to $900 million dollars for the government and businesses.

Manski said he would advocate for local businesses and co-ops rather than large multinational corporations, which he said are ruining the legislative process by lobbying for potentially destructive economic processes.

Manski added he would support a progressive tax taking more money from wealthier Wisconsinites to alleviate Wisconsin’s debt.

“The tax burden in the United States has become so flat it needs to become progressive,” Manski said. “We can actually make up the debt and then some.”