Speaker Vos wants to review diversity hires in state government, suggests future cuts

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) --State workers hired to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion could be Republicans' next target after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos signaled plans to review those positions days after reaching a deal with the Universities of Wisconsin on curtailing diversity efforts.

Vos suggested DEI positions in state government will be examined by Republicans in addition to their work towards eliminating diversity hires at the UW System.

"We are not done yet trying to look at how pervasive DEI is throughout the entire system of state government," Vos said Tuesday during a legislative committee that approved pay raises to UW employees. "I have faith legislative Republicans will begin a much-needed, long term in-depth review…be that at the Department of Corrections or the UW system."

It marks the first time Vos indicated Republicans may seek to remove DEI policies and jobs across state government after previously stating his focus was on removing "cancerous DEI practices on UW campuses."

His comments came after the Joint Committee on Employment Relations, a committee Vos co-chairs, voted to approve 6% wage increases to about 35,000 UW employees. Those workers will receive a 4% raise this year, and another 2% in June.

The committee released the funding after the UW Board of Regents agreed to restructure one-third diversity, equity, and inclusion positions in part of a deal with Vos.

Under the agreement, Republicans committed to unlocking the pay raises that were already approved in the state budget, along with $800 million for campus construction projects including a new engineering building at UW-Madison.

It put an end to a six-month standoff between Vos and the UW System over DEI. The Rochester Republican withheld the funding until the UW agreed to meet his demands on diversity initiatives on campus.

During the committee, Senate Minority Leader Diane Hesselbein (D-Middleton) argued DEI should have never been a part of the deal.

"Let me be clear, DEI is important," Hesselbein said. "The action we are taking today should have been done months ago and should have never been used as a bargaining chip for this process."

The only lawmaker to vote against the pay bumps was Senate President Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield). He told reporters he wants "to see DEI dead" and "wants to weed it out" when explaining the reason for his opposition.

Vos did not elaborate on his future plans on DEI but added, "Stay tuned. This is just the first step and hopefully a lot more to come."