UP: WHEDA mortgage holders. Gov. Scott Walker signs a law allowing people who bought homes with the help of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority the ability to refinance for lower rates. Walker says in a release that the law "provides those homeowners an economic option that can lower their monthly payments, give them extra disposable income, help them build equity faster, achieve better credit scores, and pay off their mortgages sooner."
DOWN: University of Wisconsin. UW officials reported to the Board of Regents last week that its $785.6 million budget surplus will be cut in half next year. After learning about the surplus earlier this year, the Legislature cut the UW's funding. Rising expenses will also force the UW to use more of its reserves, which are expected to shrink by $323 million.
