Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton told a University of Wisconsin political science class Monday she and the governor had to make "painful" cuts to education funding to provide health care for Wisconsin residents.

Guest lecturing for the UW course "Introduction to State Government," Lawton — the first woman elected to Wisconsin's second-highest leadership position — faulted 16 years of Republican control of the state for creating a $3.2 billion budget deficit that her Democratic administration inherited upon taking office.

"There were states in deficit situations where, unfortunately, the university took the cut because they could still keep the doors open by increasing tuition," Lawton said. "You can't cut Medicaid and still have people get to the doctor."

Though UW tuition increased more than 50 percent since Gov. Jim Doyle and Lawton were elected four years ago, Lawton said her administration has doubled financial aid.

Throughout the lecture, Lawton addressed many of the issues Doyle has tackled along the campaign trail, but focused much of her time on issues affecting UW students.

Lawton called public education a "pivotal issue" for economic growth in the state, saying her administration created partnerships with Wisconsin technical colleges to produce more four-year degree holders in the state.

"Our goal, ultimately, is to greatly increase the number of residents in Wisconsin who are packing a baccalaureate degree," she said. "We would rather see them packing that than a concealed weapon."

Lawton added state Republicans are caught in a "historical nostalgia," opposing rights of women and homosexuals.

In addition, Lawton addressed the upcoming election, saying Doyle vetoed a photo ID bill pushed by the Republican-controlled Legislature that would "disenfranchise" voters, especially of demographics that primarily vote Democratic.

"Anytime you throw new obstacles in the way of voting, it makes it easier for people to just decide not to," Lawton said. "We want to create the circumstances that give us the highest voter turnout in the nation."

But the campaign of Doyle's challenger, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Wis., called Lawton's remarks "scare tactics."

"[The photo ID bill] is not an effort at all to keep people from voting — this is an effort to ensure integrity of our electoral process," said Luke Punzenberger, a spokesman for Green's campaign. "Wisconsinites deserve to know the candidate who wins on Nov. 7 is the candidate who received the most votes."

UW political science professor Dennis Dresang, who teaches the state government course, has now had representatives of candidates for the Democratic and Green parties speak in his class. He said he is still working out details with the Republican, Mark Green.

"I have had several discussions with the staff of the Green campaign, and they have indicated they would get back to me," he said. "But we're still waiting to make those arrangements."

Dresang added sometimes officials and candidates opt out of participating because they fear a hostile environment.

Punzenberger said he had not personally been contacted, but said participation by Green's campaign is a "possibility."

Doyle and Green — whose running mate is four-term State Rep. Jean Hundertmark, R-Clintonville — will meet in the general election Nov. 7.