THU AM News: Tourism secretary calls for more funding to attract visitors to Wisconsin

March 27, 2025

— Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers at a legislative hearing argued for increased investment in Wisconsin tourism, supporting Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed budget that would boost staff and marketing funding.

Sayers told the Assembly Committee on Tourism yesterday the department needs money for marketing to drive visitors to Wisconsin, as well as more staff positions in the upcoming biennium.

Wisconsin was 27th in the nation for direct visitor spending in 2019, and jumped to 23rd in the nation in 2023, according to Sayers. She said a goal for the state is to reach top 20 in the coming years.

Sayers outlined Evers’ proposed tourism budget and warned any cuts to the department would directly impact marketing. The governor’s proposal is similar to the current operating budget of the department at $31 million. Evers’ budget would bring the budget to $34 million over the biennium.

The department does not currently have an office of film and creative industries. Sayers said film work is managed by the communications director, Craig Trost. The governor’s proposal would create the office with three new staff positions, and $10 million of annual tax credits at the Department of Revenue.

Sayers praised the addition of three staff for the office of outdoor recreation and two more staff for the office of group travel proposed in Evers’ budget.

She also backed Evers’ proposed investment in arts spending, as Wisconsin currently ranks 49th in the nation in per capita arts funding. Evers is proposing nearly $3 million in arts funding and $1 million in one-time funding for a Rural Creative Economy grant program housed in the Department of Tourism.

— U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin attacked President Donald Trump and Elon Musk at a forum with senators and researchers for cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the impacts on cancer and Alzheimer’s research.

Baldwin yesterday said cuts “mean potential treatments and cures are delayed if they are discovered at all,” and said research can’t just be paused. She expressed concerns about halting disease research and the consequences on American people.

“This administration is seeking to dismantle the NIH and destroy the hopes of millions of Americans who are counting on life-saving treatments and cures,” Baldwin said.

This comes as the Trump administration has announced sweeping cuts to National Institutes of Health funding for research, especially targeting “indirect costs” for research last month. NIH has also halted grant applications. A federal judge had temporarily blocked the cuts last month, and issued an injunction that would further delay the cuts from taking effect.

Baldwin condemned these cuts, saying indirect costs “literally keep the lights on.” She said cutting these costs would cut $65 million from Wisconsin research funding.

Sterling Johnson, UW-Madison professor and associate director of the university’s Alzheimer’s disease research center, detailed the work UW labs are able to do on Alzheimer’s because of NIH funding.

Johnson said NIH funding was key to funding tools for Alzheimer’s study, and proposed cuts threaten ongoing studies, and “set our patients back.” He also expressed concerns the uncertainty will prevent prospective scientists from

“If these cuts go into effect, studies will be delayed and slowed, we will lose ground on hard won progress, every setback costs lives and quality of life,” Johnson said.

He argued that the federal government needs to invest in research and treatment.

The office of U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, pointed WisPolitics to the senator’s past statements on NIH. The office said he believes all funding should be scrutinized and has praised Elon Musk’s efforts to cut waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government.

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— Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has named Michael Carney as interim chancellor of UW-Eau Claire starting July 1.

Carney, who is currently serving as interim provost at UW-Eau Claire, will take over for Chancellor James Schmidt. Schmidt is assuming a new role as president of James Madison University in Virginia. Schmidt has been chancellor of UW-Eau Claire since July 2013.

Rothman praised Schmidt in a statement, saying “his emphasis on partnerships positioned the university for success.”

“On campus, he maintained his focus on enriching the student academic experience. He was an active champion of higher education in the region, and it served that campus community extraordinarily well,” Rothman said.

Rothman called Carney “a terrific scientist and leader who has been integral in overseeing critical partnerships with industry.”

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