News from around Wisconsin (9:05 p.m. 2/1/10)

SEATTLE (AP) — As students around the country anxiously wait for college acceptance letters, their parents are sweating the looming tuition bills at public universities.

Florida college students could face yearly 15 percent tuition increases for years, and University of Illinois students will pay at least 9 percent more. The University of Washington will charge 14 percent more at its flagship campus. And in California, tuition increases of more than 30 percent have sparked protests reminiscent of the 1960s.

Tuition has been trending upward for years, but debate in statehouses and trustee meeting rooms has been more urgent this year as most states struggle their way out of the economic meltdown.

According to the College Board, families are paying about $172 to $1,096 more in tuition and fees this school year. The national average for 2009-2010 is about $7,020, not including room and board, according to the nonprofit association of colleges that oversees the SATs and Advanced Placement tests.

Mike Sarb, a University of Illinois senior from suburban-Chicago Elk Grove Village, Ill., said money is a big concern for his blue-collar family scrambling to find the money to pay more than $20,000 for tuition, room and board.

They are not pleased that university officials are likely to raise tuition 9 percent this summer.

“They do complain that the school’s taking advantage of people (by raising tuition),” Sarb said.___

Reports: Wis. AG has 5 times opponent’s cash

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen had more than five times as much campaign cash as his Democratic challenger at the end of 2009.

Van Hollen faces former state Department of Natural Resources secretary Scott Hassett in the Nov. 2 election.

New campaign finance reports show Van Hollen had $313,800 on hand as of Dec. 31. Hassett’s campaign director, Melissa Mulliken, said Hassett had $56,180.

Van Hollen raised $222,324 over the last six months of the year. Mulliken said Hassett raised $68,456.

Van Hollen’s camp said the money shows he has broad support. Hassett issued a statement saying he didn’t start raising money until September and he’s just getting started.

Top lawmaker admits to dating payday loan lobbyist

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan said Monday there is nothing wrong with him dating a lobbyist for the payday loan industry.

Sheridan said during an interview in his Capitol office that he dated the woman off and on for a few months. The last time he saw her was about a month ago and he didn’t know when he would see her again.

“We had a friendship,” Sheridan said. “I would never let my personal life impact the work that I do in the state Assembly.”

Democrats were standing behind Sheridan on Monday.

“If there was two mutually consensual adults having a date it’s hard for me to see that’s problematic,” said Rep. Josh Zepnick, D-Milwaukee, a co-sponsor of the payday lending bill. “I have not seen any indication whatsoever that Mike Sheridan’s personal things have impacted the way the legislation’s going. I’ve been involved in helping write the bill and I don’t even talk to him about it.”

The woman, Shanna Wycoff, is listed as the manager of government affairs for Cincinnati-based Axcess Financial, which owns the payday lending chain Check ‘n Go. She also lobbied on behalf of an industry group, Community Financial Services Association, last year before withdrawing Dec. 31.

Steven Schlein, a spokesman for that group, said a decision was made to use other lobbyists but he wouldn’t comment on whether Wycoff’s removal had to do with her relationship with Sheridan.