Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says he won't sign budget if GOP lawmakers cut funding for UW diversity officers

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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said Wednesday in a newspaper report that he won't sign the state budget if Republican lawmakers follow through on their plan to cut funding for the state university system's diversity officers, escalating a bitter fight over dollars for the state campuses.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he wants to cut $32 million from the UW System in the state's 2023-25 budget, an amount he said is equal to what the system spends on diversity officers. He said during a news conference Wednesday that diversity efforts have become liberals' "new religion" and tax dollars shouldn't be used to help them.

"For people on the left, (efforts to promote diversity have) become their new religion," Vos said. "They no longer go to church on Sunday, but boy, are they trying to make sure everybody is evangelized on campus, that's there only one acceptable viewpoint. That's not what I think taxpayers should be funding."

Evers, a Democrat and a former UW regent, tweeted Tuesday that the cut would be "disastrous" for the UW System. He told reporters during a tour of a cheese manufacturer in Monroe on Wednesday that he wouldn't sign the budget if Republicans follow through, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Cutting the university system when the state has a $7 billion surplus is "irrational" and "ridiculous," he said.

GOP LAWMAKERS VOTE TO SLASH UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FUNDING OVER DIVERSITY SPENDING

Evers' spokesperson, Britt Cudaback, didn't immediately respond to messages from the AP seeking comment.

Vos appeared unfazed at a second news conference Wednesday afternoon, saying he doesn't believe