Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) is the local organization of the statewide group by the same name. The goal of CRG is to promote solid fiscal policies, oppose government waste and political corruption throughout Wisconsin.

CRG has been keeping track of the cost of K-12 public schools, along with student progress in various subjects. In the past 40 years, costs have tripled, but these increases in funds have not improved the quality of education.

For several years, CRG has examined the University of Wisconsin System, the Board of Regents and UW-La Crosse. The Regents felt the entire UW System should expand to stimulate Wisconsin's economy and workforce. They came up with a growth, quality and access agenda. UW-L will be raising its enrollment by 1,000 students, hiring an additional 130 faculty, and creating new opportunities for diverse and low income students. A key role in the plan was that the recently completed Centennial Hall would have two auditoriums and 44 classrooms, enough to hold 5,000 students.

Two brick dormitories were torn down about 50 years ago to make room for Centennial Hall, resulting in students now living in cramped spaces until a new dormitory was built at a cost of about $49 million. Earlier the 47 year old Reuter Hall was replaced with apartment style suites at a cost of $22.3 million. Former Gov. Jim Doyle approved these projects. A high official in Madison commented that these buildings were 40 years old. I asked a local architect how long a brick building should last and he said "Forever."

UW-L for years had been planning a 10,000 seat stadium that would cost about $18 million, to keep the state track meet in La Crosse. The old stadium averaged about 3,000 fans per game while the attendance at the new stadium is less than 3,000 per game.

Several years ago, CRG contacted UW-Oshkosh regarding its 10,000 seat stadium and they reported that they only averaged 1,800 for their home games. Further, they stated UW-L could construct an adequate stadium with a capacity of 5,600. The planned second phase at UW-L is yet to be built. The plan would make room for 8,000.

Chancellor Gow came to UW-L in 2007. It was previous administrations and leaders that caused the construction fiasco. Student fees will contribute $2.5 million for the next 30 years to pay for the stadium.

College tuition has risen four times the rate of inflation. Fancy athletic buildings, bloated salaries and large numbers of administrators are factors. A few years ago, UW-Madison reported that 6 percent of their personnel were in administrative positions, but an audit showed it was really only 25 percent and top heavy.

A recent book, "The Faculty Lounges and Other Reasons Why You Won't get the College Education You Paid For," by Naomi Riley, a graduate Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University and former editor of The Wall Street Journal, stated, "Tenure is at the heart of so many problems in higher education."

Chester E. Finn, Jr., Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute had praise for "The Faculty Lounge" and commented, "Tenure isn't the only reason America's higher education is losing quality, productivity and intellectual freedom." (Think unionization, price inflation, political correctness, academic faddism, lengthening weekends, shortening semesters, nonexistent counseling, and low completion rates.) But our universities and their students would be better off without it- and in this valuable and timely book Riley does a brilliant job of explaining why."

The teachers unions have formed an alliance with the Democratic Party, paying millions of dollars lobbying in state and federal legislatures. The taxpayer has no control over wages and benefits, and that does pose a question if the fine line between campaign contributions and a bribe has been crossed. Bribery is offering something of value for the purpose of influencing the action of an official in the discharge of his or her public or legal duties.