I haven't read all 55 comments facing me when I read this story, so apologies if this question/observation has already been posted.  But I note that the story says there is $400 million in the Higher Education Investment Fund from which the $11 million for the scholarships flowed (presumably from income to the fund).  That seems to me like a huge amount of principal just sitting there.  I initially favored Walker's comprehensive budget package, but the more I read about huge pots of money lying around (AHFC, AIDEA, now this fund, and who knows how many others--- over and above the budget reserve that Walker wants rolled into the earnings reserve), the less I am convinced.  If AHFC and AIDEA can't put more of their principal to work on elderly housing, day care centers, rehab units, & small business loans, then it should give up some principal to the general fund where it can be used for such purposes with grants.  And those scholarships could be maintained with a small withdrawal, too.