that's absurd. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Marquette the only other law school in Wisconsin? Maybe they would be better served by making their bar exam harder.

Or by requiring graduates of Wisconsin law schools to TAKE a bar exam. Currently graduates of WI law schools waive in.

@12:21. I thought that Wisconsin residents who want to practice in Wisconsin and/or went to law school in Wisonsin (I think there is more than one) don't have to sit for the bar. Yeah, have a bar requirement. You know, spearate the wheat from the chaff. I'd make a cheese reference if I could.

I think you are looking for "separate the whey from the curd." And there are only two bar exams in the country that actually do that--New York and California. The reason the law exists is to try to get people to stay in WI after they graduate.

I've said it before: the University of Wisconsin Law School produces nothing but ambulance chasers and frivolous lawsuits. As an added bonus, without lawyers, lawmakers can quash basic human rights! I'm glad someone is finally taking a stand.

Didn't Wisconsin purposefully de-emphasize academic prestige at its law school a few years ago to make it more inclusive, school-of-the-people-like? Or was that a myth?

I don't think "dork" is the best fit for this guy. "Douchebag" is more like it.

This guy is an assclown. Check out his blog. I liked this xenophobic bit:

http://franklasee.blogspot.com/2007/07/love-this-comeback.html

Someone should send this guy a link to Snopes.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/lapelpin.asp

Couldn't get into law school, so now you hate all lawyers?

State funding has declined to less than 3% of the Michigan Law School’s annual expenses.

Lat - Google around on this guy. He has more than a few skeletons rattling around in his closet (including a divorce and an illegitimate child):

"FATHER OF TAXPAYER'S BILL OF RIGHTS" SUED FOR CHILD MAINTENANCE

Ordered to pay support to Brown County woman by same Court Commissioner who presided over his lengthy divorce case, Rep. Frank G. Lasee, the Green Bay Republican who calls himself the "Father of Tabor" [Taxpayer's Bill of Rights] is also the father of a child born out of wedlock, according to a Brown County Court Case filed in June.

A stipulation and order of support was issued on June 23, 2005 by Brown County Family Court Commissioner Phoebe A. Mix, who also presided over Lasee's earlier divorce.

Lasee's busy homepage is filled with pious homilies “ the father of Tabor and an illegitimate child staunchly believes in the Christmas Tree" not a "Holiday Tree."

But he also thinks about the little children.

In a recent Lasee's Notes he talks about the inadvisability of Kindergarten for 4-year olds:

"Here's dad's thoughts:

Nevertheless, the agenda is clear: statewide 4-year-old Kindergarten is on the education community's agenda. In Wisconsin, the call isn't for K4 only in those areas that could use it the most, or only for the students who need it most. No, Governor Doyle and WEAC, the teacher's union, think every school district should have it."

"I wonder what current union members think about this. Adding a whole new grade statewide will put more pressure on finances, which WEAC tells us are already strained to the breaking point (what about the taxpayers' strain?). That will mean less money to go around for raises and benefits (or will we just tax more?).

All for a program that isn't necessary statewide, and may not be necessary at all."

Lasee filed for divorce in October 2001 from Kirsten F. Lasee. It was a contested divorce proceeding, during which time Frank Completed ˜The Successful Divorce: Through the Eyes of the Child seminar, on March 19, 2002. Lasee's Wisconsin Blue Book biography lists him as having two children -- from the marriage.

The case dragged on for some time, according to court records and included a division of Wisconsin Retirement System benefits on November 11, 2003, and a transfer of IRA assets. On January 11, 2005 the court ordered that the $500 per month spousal support be terminated as of September 1, 2004.

Lasee did not return numerous telephone and other communications to his office, district office and residence. Commissioner Mix likewise did not return a telephone call.

http://www.milwaukeeworld.com/blog/2005/12/father-of-tabor-named-in-paternity.html

More:

Rep. Frank Lasee (R-2nd) has asked to reduce the child support payments he must make for a child of his born out of wedlock to a DePere woman.
A friend of the mother of Lasee's child called www.milwaukeeworld.com, with the permission of the mother, to discuss the matter.
She said Lasee wrote to the mother saying that child support payments were too onerous for his modest legislative salary, to which the mother replied that the payments barely covered day care for the infant.
Lasee also has not seen the child in five months, according to the caller. While the mother would like the Green Bay Republican to be a part of her child's life, Lasee, she says, is unwilling to make a commitment of his time for such a purpose. "It would take too much time and effort," he said, according to the caller.

http://www.milwaukeeworld.com/blog/2006/06/rep-lasee-child-support-is-costing-me.html

I think they should end all state and federal funding for law school and student loans for law students. This would have the short-mid term effect of making current lawyers more in demand and would have the mid-long term effect of forcign law schools to decrease their ridiculous tuitions in order to get students enrolled.

Well Wisconsin does have too many INCOMPETENT students, ever since they decided - unconstitutionally - to decimate their prestige in order to have a 35% minority student body in a state with only 8% minorities.

Wisconsin DOES need fewer lawyers with sub-155 lsat scores.

the laws of supply and demand...lawyers are kept in business by enforcing the absurd number of laws passed by idiots like this!

he's really hot, and should be allowed to say whatever he wants!!!

2:07, do you have a link to that story?

Virginia did it pretty much for the opposite reason. The State Legislature was making more and more demands (i.e. higher admission rates for in-state students) while simultaneously reducing state funding. Now not taking the money means not taking the grief.

12:26

Cheeses, there's got to be a whey to separate the gouda from the bad. But why is it on this guy's queso?

Minnesota has basically done the same thing to UMN Law School. Doesn't matter though, they just covered the difference by getting rich alums to give more.

UW-Madison is not UVa or Michigan. I doubt it would do well without state funding. Requiring everyone to take the bar sounds much more reasonable...

In Wisconsin, there are only two law schools. To gain admission via the diploma privilege, on needs to take 90 credits in particular subjects. The State Bar closely monitors the curriculum at both schools. Tell me, aside from the fraternity hazing aspect of a bar exam, how would one more cram-and-forget exam assure you a better result of qualified attorneys? If one wants to practice law in Wisconsin and hasn't qualified for the diploma privilege or didn't graduate from the UW or Marquette, there is an exam given.

Governor Doyle used to be an adjunct instructor at the UW. He's a big government liberal. There's no way this law will go into effect.

I think the idea is ridiculous. The market addresses overpopulation of lawyers in a natural manner.