Budget talks find some agreement

The Assembly and Senate appear to have reached agreement on nearly two-thirds of their differences over the state budget adjustment bill.

While Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature have not formally agreed on any of the 314 items dividing their respective packages, tentative agreements on UW System-related issues would:

• Delete a provision to charge a 10 percent tuition surcharge to out-of-state students.
• Deletie a provision to cut the UW travel budget.
• Include a provision to charge students full cost for any credits taken beyond 165 total.
• Maintain the existing study abroad scholarship program and funding.
• Delete the provision to reduce agency printing expenditures by 10 percent.

For a list of conference committee items of interest to UW–Madison, including those that appear to have been agreed upon by both parties, visit the state relations Web site.