Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism could be moved

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism could no longer be housed at the University of Wisconsin under a provision added to the state budget.

The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee voted Wednesday on the prohibition. No UW employees would be allowed to work at the center, either.

The center is housed at UW-Madison and collaborates with the School of Journalism and Mass Communications as well as Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television.

Republican Rep. John Nygren says state facilities shouldn’t be provided for the center. He says it can get that elsewhere.

Democratic Sen. Bob Wirch opposes the prohibition, saying the Legislature should not try to stop investigative journalism. He says, “That is just very bad public policy.”