United Council is in the kick off phase of this years Budget Campaign. The Goal is to ensure that the priorities determined by the students of Wisconsin are part of the biennial budget. The campaign will specifically target the Governor, Joint Finance Committee Members, and Local Legislators.

The Budget Priorities are:

• An increase of no more than 3% ("inflation") for tuition at four year University of Wisconsin system schools
• A tuition freeze for two-year UW system colleges
• Increased state funding for the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG) by $29 million over the biennium
• Increased state funding for the Lawton Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant (LMURG) by $700,000 over the biennium
• Dollar for Dollar Increase State Statue for the WHEG and LMURG, at an estimated $28 million
• Increased state funding for the Advanced Opportunity Fellowship by $885,00 over the biennium
• Funding for the Inclusive Excellence Program
• Full funding for UW Colleges mental health counseling programs by $565,000 of GPR Dollars
• Increased faculty pay strictly forom state GPR dollars
• Domestic Partner Benefits for all UW System employees, aproximately $1.7 million
• Increased allocation for University of Wisconsin System sustainable development growth at $100,000

Ways you can help ensure a victory is by getting involved on your campus through Tabling/Clipboarding, doing Class Raps and Phone Banking.

During Tabling and Clipboarding students will have the opportunity to sign petitions and postcards to show support for the campaign. This years petitions directly tie into our theme "Dollars and Sense", students will be asked to sign large, novelty sized dollars. On April 26th, the last day of this years Building Unity Conference, there will be a large rally at UW- Milwaukee and the Dollar Bill petitions will be showcased in a unique way.

If you would like to become involved with the Campaign please contact: Cedric Lawson, Legislative Affairs Director at legislative@unitedcouncil.net or call at (608) 263-3422 Ext. 15

If you haven't signed a paper-copy of the petition you can now sign it online via facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/view?pid=605000661