Tamarine Cornelius

Recent Articles

Wisconsin Budget: Ending State Income Tax Helps the 1%
Wisconsin Budget

Ending State Income Tax Helps the 1%

Proposal would give the wealthy a tax cut 60 times higher than for middle income folks.

Op Ed: Proposal Cuts Taxes for 1%
Op Ed

Proposal Cuts Taxes for 1%

State’s top business lobbying group wants to transform Wisconsin’s tax structure.

Wisconsin Budget: Charting The Racial Disparities In State’s Prisons
Wisconsin Budget

Charting The Racial Disparities In State’s Prisons

Four charts show Wisconsin is worse than nearly every state.

Wisconsin Budget: State’s $1 Billion Tax Cut Leaves Out 49% of Taxpayers
Wisconsin Budget

State’s $1 Billion Tax Cut Leaves Out 49% of Taxpayers

Not a dollar for half of all taxpayers, thousands in tax cuts for the most wealthy.

Wisconsin Budget: Evers Targets Tax Cuts at Lower Incomes
Wisconsin Budget

Evers Targets Tax Cuts at Lower Incomes

Governor’s budget reduces tax advantage for wealthier people.

Wisconsin Budget: State Families May Lose $31 Million in Tax Refunds
Wisconsin Budget

State Families May Lose $31 Million in Tax Refunds

Legislature needs to tweak tax code to get full benefit of federal COVID-19 package.

Wisconsin Budget: GOP Pandemic Proposal Is a Power Grab
Wisconsin Budget

GOP Pandemic Proposal Is a Power Grab

Republican legislators would take power from schools, local governments and governor.

Wisconsin Budget: State’s Tax Loopholes a Boon to Wealthy
Wisconsin Budget

State’s Tax Loopholes a Boon to Wealthy

Helps many dodge taxes, contributes to wealth gap.

Wisconsin Budget: Why State Economy Needs Federal Aid
Wisconsin Budget

Why State Economy Needs Federal Aid

Without second round of pandemic aid there will be more jobs and health insurance lost, more services cut.

Wisconsin Budget: 32 Cities Devote Most Spending to Police
Wisconsin Budget

32 Cities Devote Most Spending to Police

One-third of state’s largest cities, including Milwaukee, spend more on police than any other function.

Wisconsin Budget: Should Undocumented Immigrants Get State Relief?
Wisconsin Budget

Should Undocumented Immigrants Get State Relief?

They help build state’s Unemployment Insurance trust, but are ineligible for benefits.

Wisconsin Budget: Legislature Hasn’t Restored Aid to Schools
Wisconsin Budget

Legislature Hasn’t Restored Aid to Schools

Huge decline in aid in last decade helped fund tax breaks for wealthy, still hasn’t been made up.

Wisconsin Budget: 22 States Hiked Minimum Wage This Year
Wisconsin Budget

22 States Hiked Minimum Wage This Year

But not Wisconsin, where it's $7.25 versus $12-$14 in many states. What’s the impact?

Wisconsin Budget: 4 Immigration Policies to Boost Economy
Wisconsin Budget

4 Immigration Policies to Boost Economy

State policy changes would help immigrants earn higher wages, buy more products, pay more taxes.

Wisconsin Budget: New Tax Credit Skewed to Help Whites
Wisconsin Budget

New Tax Credit Skewed to Help Whites

Budget gives credit to homeowners, and 72% of state’s whites, 27% of blacks own homes.

Wisconsin Budget: Impact of Earned Income Tax Credit
Wisconsin Budget

Impact of Earned Income Tax Credit

Proposed hike would benefit working poor in all 72 counties with $7.5 million for Milwaukee County.

Wisconsin Budget: State Overtime Rule Could Help Workers
Wisconsin Budget

State Overtime Rule Could Help Workers

State could assure 120,000 employees left behind by federal rule get paid overtime.

Op Ed: Unequal Pay for State’s Women Persists
Op Ed

Unequal Pay for State’s Women Persists

Depending on their race, women earn anywhere from 55% to 78% of what white men earn.

Op Ed: Let’s Curb Manufacturing Tax Credit
Op Ed

Let’s Curb Manufacturing Tax Credit

It hasn’t created jobs and mostly helps millionaires. Evers plan would trim and target it.

Wisconsin Budget: Corporate Handouts Cut State Revenue
Wisconsin Budget

Corporate Handouts Cut State Revenue

Which could make it difficult to fund more spending on schools, UW System and roads.

Op Ed: Growing Wealth Gap Hurts Wage Earners
Op Ed

Growing Wealth Gap Hurts Wage Earners

Kimberly-Clark subsidy helps wealthy stockholders with no gain for workers.

Wisconsin Budget: Impact of Drivers Licenses for Immigrants
Wisconsin Budget

Impact of Drivers Licenses for Immigrants

In a tight labor market 22,000 undocumented immigrants who are workers could get a drivers license.

Wisconsin Budget: 19 States Just Raised the Minimum Wage
Wisconsin Budget

19 States Just Raised the Minimum Wage

But not Wisconsin where minimum is $7.25, versus $10 to $12 in many states.

Wisconsin Budget: One More Tax Cut For The Wealthy
Wisconsin Budget

One More Tax Cut For The Wealthy

Legislature's lame duck session passed $60 million income tax cut, mostly benefits top 20%.

Wisconsin Budget: Rich Pay the Least in State Taxes
Wisconsin Budget

Rich Pay the Least in State Taxes

Poor and middle class pay much higher percentage of their income in taxes.

Wisconsin Budget: 6 Reasons to End Manufacturing Credit
Wisconsin Budget

6 Reasons to End Manufacturing Credit

For starters, most of it goes to millionaires.

Wisconsin Budget: Minorities Earn Far Less Than Whites
Wisconsin Budget

Minorities Earn Far Less Than Whites

State’s average Hispanic woman earns nearly $1 million less lifetime pay than average white man.

Wisconsin Budget: Voters Choose Education Over Tax Cuts
Wisconsin Budget

Voters Choose Education Over Tax Cuts

By overwhelming margins, voters in all areas of state feel schools have gotten worse, need more money.

Wisconsin Budget: Poll Shows Support for Public Education
Wisconsin Budget

Poll Shows Support for Public Education

Citizens value schools over tax cuts but Republicans have done just the opposite.

Wisconsin Budget: State Tax System Increases Inequality
Wisconsin Budget

State Tax System Increases Inequality

Top 1% got tax cut of $10,015, bottom 20% got just $175.

Wisconsin Budget: Voters Okay 56 of 66 School Referendums
Wisconsin Budget

Voters Okay 56 of 66 School Referendums

$566 million in spending approved on April ballot, mostly for new construction.

Wisconsin Budget: The Black-White Unemployment Gap
Wisconsin Budget

The Black-White Unemployment Gap

Black workers in state 3.5 times more likely to be unemployed.

Wisconsin Budget: How Immigrants Help Wisconsin
Wisconsin Budget

How Immigrants Help Wisconsin

They are 6% of all workers, 11% of computer and 20% of dairy industry jobs.

Wisconsin Budget: Senate Opposes Sales Tax Holiday
Wisconsin Budget

Senate Opposes Sales Tax Holiday

Weekend tax holiday backed by Walker, Assembly would cut state revenue by $52 million, local revenues by $4 million.

Wisconsin Budget: The Decline of Child Care
Wisconsin Budget

The Decline of Child Care

Number of families covered by state funding declined 28%.

Wisconsin Budget: Trump Budget Slashes Safety Net
Wisconsin Budget

Trump Budget Slashes Safety Net

$1.4 trillion in cuts to health care, housing nearly equals $1.5 trillion in recent tax cuts.

Wisconsin Budget: State’s Rainy Day Fund Is Tiny
Wisconsin Budget

State’s Rainy Day Fund Is Tiny

No contributions to it since 2013, only enough to fund six days of operations.

Wisconsin Budget: Number of Public Employees Declining
Wisconsin Budget

Number of Public Employees Declining

Wisconsin now ranks behind 36 states in number of public employees per capita.

Wisconsin Budget: $1.6 Billion of Foxconn Payout Won’t Create Jobs
Wisconsin Budget

$1.6 Billion of Foxconn Payout Won’t Create Jobs

And another $1.4 billion somewhat related to job creation.

Wisconsin Budget: 5 Ways to Help Workers
Wisconsin Budget

5 Ways to Help Workers

Walker says he wants to remove barriers to work. Here’s how to do it.

Wisconsin Budget: 18 States Raise Minimum Wage
Wisconsin Budget

18 States Raise Minimum Wage

As do 20 cities and counties. But not Wisconsin, What’s the impact?

Wisconsin Budget: Dream Act Immigrants Would Boost Economy
Wisconsin Budget

Dream Act Immigrants Would Boost Economy

State would grow by $600 million per year. Without it many farms would fail.

Wisconsin Budget: Tax Plan Will Increase Black Student Debt
Wisconsin Budget

Tax Plan Will Increase Black Student Debt

Blacks now have twice the college debt of whites; GOP tax plan would widen the gap.

Wisconsin Budget: Tax Plan Will Widen Racial Wealth Gap
Wisconsin Budget

Tax Plan Will Widen Racial Wealth Gap

Federal estate tax rollback mostly benefits whites, leaving blacks, Latinos further behind.

Wisconsin Budget: Which Federal Tax Plan Is Better?
Wisconsin Budget

Which Federal Tax Plan Is Better?

Majority of taxpayers lose under both plans, but in different ways.

Wisconsin Budget: 300,000 State Residents Would See Tax Hike
Wisconsin Budget

300,000 State Residents Would See Tax Hike

U.S. Senate tax plan gives huge gains to wealthy, hikes taxes on 1 in 11 people.

Wisconsin Budget: Trump-GOP Tax Plan in Five Charts
Wisconsin Budget

Trump-GOP Tax Plan in Five Charts

Provisions will have huge impact on Wisconsin taxpayers.

Wisconsin Budget: State’s Prison Costs Still Growing
Wisconsin Budget

State’s Prison Costs Still Growing

Wisconsin has highest incarceration rate in Midwest, prison costs 12% higher than national average.

Wisconsin Budget: Rural Counties Face Decline in Children
Wisconsin Budget

Rural Counties Face Decline in Children

20% to 28% decline in kids projected for some northern and central counties.

Wisconsin Budget: Taxes Down, But No Impact on Jobs
Wisconsin Budget

Taxes Down, But No Impact on Jobs

State has dropped its ranking for taxes and fees, yet trails other states in new jobs.

Wisconsin Budget: Who Benefits from Trump Tax Cuts?
Wisconsin Budget

Who Benefits from Trump Tax Cuts?

In Wisconsin the top 1% will get 61% of the tax cut.

Wisconsin Budget: GOP Plan Divides Racine Schools by Race
Wisconsin Budget

GOP Plan Divides Racine Schools by Race

Wealthier, whiter areas of Racine could create separate school districts.

Wisconsin Budget: 6 Trends Hurting State’s Workers
Wisconsin Budget

6 Trends Hurting State’s Workers

State’s shrinking middle class can’t be reversed unless these trends change.

Wisconsin Budget: Proposal Limits Schools’ Energy Efficiency
Wisconsin Budget

Proposal Limits Schools’ Energy Efficiency

186 districts have funded money-saving projects since 2009; legislation would restrict this.

Wisconsin Budget: State’s Wealth Gap Keeps Growing
Wisconsin Budget

State’s Wealth Gap Keeps Growing

Since 1970s income of top 1% rose 130%, other 99% grew by just 9%.

Wisconsin Budget: Economic Recovery Lags for Minorities
Wisconsin Budget

Economic Recovery Lags for Minorities

Blacks, Latinos have higher poverty, unemployment, huge wealth gap.

Wisconsin Budget: Voters Favor Education, Health Care Spending
Wisconsin Budget

Voters Favor Education, Health Care Spending

Polls show they’re willing to be taxed more to spend more on these priorities.

Wisconsin Budget: Most Walker Tax Cuts Benefit Wealthy
Wisconsin Budget

Most Walker Tax Cuts Benefit Wealthy

More than $10,000 for members of top 1%, just $175 for poorest 20% in state.

Wisconsin Budget: Trump Budget Will Hurt State Workers
Wisconsin Budget

Trump Budget Will Hurt State Workers

Yet his campaign promised new opportunities for workers.

Wisconsin Budget: Bill Hikes Gas Tax by 24%
Wisconsin Budget

Bill Hikes Gas Tax by 24%

But proposal hides this by reducing gas tax and adding sales tax on gas.

Wisconsin Budget: Flat Tax Bill Has Massive Impact
Wisconsin Budget

Flat Tax Bill Has Massive Impact

Almost half of entire tax cut goes to top 4%; poor get tax increase.

Wisconsin Budget: Few Jobs From Huge Tax Break
Wisconsin Budget

Few Jobs From Huge Tax Break

State manufacturers get $457 million tax, yet trail nation badly in new jobs.

Wisconsin Budget: Robbing General Fund for Roads?
Wisconsin Budget

Robbing General Fund for Roads?

Gas tax lagging; legislators may raid education, health care funding.

Wisconsin Budget: More Public School Funds for Vouchers
Wisconsin Budget

More Public School Funds for Vouchers

Walker gives voucher schools $283 million more, takes $93 million from public schools.

Wisconsin Budget: Sales Tax Holiday Bad for Budget
Wisconsin Budget

Sales Tax Holiday Bad for Budget

Walker wants it, some GOP legislators condemn it. Why?

Wisconsin Budget: Expand Earned Income Tax Credit?
Wisconsin Budget

Expand Earned Income Tax Credit?

Walker favors it. Would help low-income working families.

Wisconsin Budget: State Taxes Lowest for Wealthiest
Wisconsin Budget

State Taxes Lowest for Wealthiest

Top 1% of state pay 6.2% of income, middle-class pays 10%.

Wisconsin Budget: Referendum Bill Bad for Rural Districts
Wisconsin Budget

Referendum Bill Bad for Rural Districts

GOP proposal restricts referendums, which have been on the rise.

Wisconsin Budget: 5 Ways Trump’s Budget Hurts State
Wisconsin Budget

5 Ways Trump’s Budget Hurts State

Huge losses for schools, heating assistance, environment, state budget.

Wisconsin Budget: 80% Want More State K-12 Funding
Wisconsin Budget

80% Want More State K-12 Funding

New poll also finds 75% of state residents are happy with their local schools.

Wisconsin Budget: Radical Plan To Scrap U.S. Constitution
Wisconsin Budget

Radical Plan To Scrap U.S. Constitution

State legislators support constitutional convention, banning all deficit financing.

Wisconsin Budget:  Will UW System Changes Hurt Minorities?
Wisconsin Budget

Will UW System Changes Hurt Minorities?

Walker’s performance metrics may mean UWM serves fewer poor students.

Wisconsin Budget: Budget Boost Helps Wealthiest Schools
Wisconsin Budget

Budget Boost Helps Wealthiest Schools

New funding in Walker budget targets school districts least in need.

Wisconsin Budget: Tax Break for Wealthy Keeps Growing
Wisconsin Budget

Tax Break for Wealthy Keeps Growing

11 claimants will get $22 million tax break under Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit.

Wisconsin Budget: State Has Fewer Public Employees
Wisconsin Budget

State Has Fewer Public Employees

Number per capita below national average and declined under Gov. Doyle.

Wisconsin Budget: Alternative State Budget Proposed
Wisconsin Budget

Alternative State Budget Proposed

"Wisconsin Budget For All” cuts tax breaks for rich, invests in jobs, schools, health.

Wisconsin Budget: New Report Finds Teacher Shortages
Wisconsin Budget

New Report Finds Teacher Shortages

More than half of school districts face “extreme shortages” of math, science teachers.

Wisconsin Budget: Federal Cuts Could Hurt State Programs
Wisconsin Budget

Federal Cuts Could Hurt State Programs

Federal dollars account for 29% of state budget.

Wisconsin Budget: Most States Hike Minimum Wage
Wisconsin Budget

Most States Hike Minimum Wage

Wisconsin is among 24 states that have kept it at $7.25 an hour.

Op-Ed: Will Schools, Health Care Pay for Roads?
Op-Ed

Will Schools, Health Care Pay for Roads?

Republicans argue over how to fund highways, could raid other funding.

Wisconsin Budget: 55 School Funding Referendums Approved
Wisconsin Budget

55 School Funding Referendums Approved

Across the state local voters support record level of new resources for schools.

Wisconsin Budget: School Referendums Exploding
Wisconsin Budget

School Referendums Exploding

Dozens on November ballot statewide, totaling $1.34 billion, many times higher than any previous election.

Wisconsin Budget: Northern Wisconsin’s Decline in Children
Wisconsin Budget

Northern Wisconsin’s Decline in Children

In last five years, number of children dropped 3.2% statewide, but more than 10% in many northern counties.

Wisconsin Budget: SNAP Works for Wisconsin’s Children
Wisconsin Budget

SNAP Works for Wisconsin’s Children

Modern version of food stamps is powerfully effective anti-poverty tool, report finds.

Wisconsin Budget: Ryan Plan Slashes Taxes for Millionaires
Wisconsin Budget

Ryan Plan Slashes Taxes for Millionaires

House GOP’s 10-year plan cuts taxes for rich by $2.6 trillion while slashing programs for poor, middle class.

Wisconsin Budget: Will Counties Handle State’s Prisoners?
Wisconsin Budget

Will Counties Handle State’s Prisoners?

State prisons are way over capacity; officials propose contracting with county jails.

Wisconsin Budget: Prison Admissions Rising in Rural Counties
Wisconsin Budget

Prison Admissions Rising in Rural Counties

Meanwhile, urban counties nationally and in southeast Wisconsin have decreased prison admission rates.

Wisconsin Budget: $15 Minimum Wage?
Wisconsin Budget

$15 Minimum Wage?

Marquette poll shows 51% of Wisconsinites support a large minimum wage hike.

Wisconsin Budget: Decline in Unions Hurts Non-Unionized Workers
Wisconsin Budget

Decline in Unions Hurts Non-Unionized Workers

Weekly wages would be 5% higher for non-union private sector male workers if unionization was at 1979 levels.

Wisconsin Budget: Tax Gimmick Would Have Little Benefit
Wisconsin Budget

Tax Gimmick Would Have Little Benefit

Gov. Walker's back-to-school sales tax holiday comes with a $11 million a year price tag.

Wisconsin Budget: 15 Years of Declining UW Support
Wisconsin Budget

15 Years of Declining UW Support

In real dollars state support of UW System has plummeted by one-third since 2001.

Wisconsin Budget: State Child Care Program in Decline
Wisconsin Budget

State Child Care Program in Decline

Number served has dropped 21%, affecting early development of low-income kids.

Wisconsin Budget: Teachers Earn Less Than Other College Grads
Wisconsin Budget

Teachers Earn Less Than Other College Grads

Even with benefits, they earn 11% less. And the gap is growing.

Wisconsin Budget: Public Sector Costs Rank Below Most States
Wisconsin Budget

Public Sector Costs Rank Below Most States

State ranks 47th in government employees per capita and 39th in payroll costs.

Wisconsin Budget: Home Loans Reinforce Metro Segregation
Wisconsin Budget

Home Loans Reinforce Metro Segregation

In 2014, whites got 81% of loans, blacks just 4%, report shows.

Wisconsin Budget: Several More States Raise Minimum Wage
Wisconsin Budget

Several More States Raise Minimum Wage

29 states and D.C. have now raised it above federal minimum. But not Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Budget: Tax Cut A Windfall for Millionaires
Wisconsin Budget

Tax Cut A Windfall for Millionaires

78% of 2011 Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit goes to millionaires, new study shows.

Wisconsin Budget: Wealth of State’s Top 1% Rises 120%
Wisconsin Budget

Wealth of State’s Top 1% Rises 120%

While other 99% of state residents saw a combined 4% increase since late 1970s.

Wisconsin Budget: Attack on Summer Meals for Kids?
Wisconsin Budget

Attack on Summer Meals for Kids?

Last summer Wisconsin served 2.8 million free and reduced price meals. Proposed bill would slash program.

Wisconsin Budget: State Has Fourth Biggest Middle Class
Wisconsin Budget

State Has Fourth Biggest Middle Class

But the percent of in the middle has dropped more than most states since 2000.

The Decline in Equal Education Opportunity

The Decline in Equal Education Opportunity

Percent of state education dollars to poorer school districts has steadily declined since 2006.

Millionaires Love Minnesota

Millionaires Love Minnesota

Number of wealthy climbs 15% after state tax hike.

Wisconsin Budget: Slow Progress on State Rainy Day Fund
Wisconsin Budget

Slow Progress on State Rainy Day Fund

Walker administration made some contributions but fund is still tiny.

Wisconsin Budget: Best Funded Schools Have Best Achievement
Wisconsin Budget

Best Funded Schools Have Best Achievement

Students in state’s wealthiest school districts are 4 grade levels above poorest districts.

Wisconsin Budget: State Voters Support Taxing Wealthy More
Wisconsin Budget

State Voters Support Taxing Wealthy More

66% of survey respondents do. But Legislature has lowered taxes on the rich.

Wisconsin Budget: UW Death By A Thousand Cuts?
Wisconsin Budget

UW Death By A Thousand Cuts?

State budget cuts for UW System is causing many reductions in service.

Wisconsin Budget: Wealthy Get Best Deal From State Taxes
Wisconsin Budget

Wealthy Get Best Deal From State Taxes

The one percent pays 6.2% of income in taxes, middle class pays 10%.

55 School Referendums Passed State-Wide

55 School Referendums Passed State-Wide

Voters show support for K-12 education, approve more spending in 55 of 71 referendums.

Wisconsin Budget: School Referendums Hit Historic High
Wisconsin Budget

School Referendums Hit Historic High

School districts asking voters to approve more spending than in any spring election in a decade.

Wisconsin Budget: Little Help for College Students in Debt
Wisconsin Budget

Little Help for College Students in Debt

Legislature’s small changes dwarfed by cutbacks in UW funding.

Wisconsin Budget: Legislators Made Criminal Justice Reforms
Wisconsin Budget

Legislators Made Criminal Justice Reforms

They “banned the box” for employees, increased alternatives to prison, upped penalties for drunk driving.

Wisconsin Budget: New Legislative Changes Impact Schools
Wisconsin Budget

New Legislative Changes Impact Schools

Cuts for districts with voucher schools and reduction in program for smaller class sizes will have impact.

Wisconsin Budget: Who Gets Biggest Piece of the Pie?
Wisconsin Budget

Who Gets Biggest Piece of the Pie?

Five pie charts show the increase in inequality and poverty in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Budget: Tax Credit Helps Rural Working Families
Wisconsin Budget

Tax Credit Helps Rural Working Families

More than 1 in 10 families in 27 mostly rural counties benefit from earned income tax credit.

9 Districts’ Voters Hiked School Taxes

9 Districts’ Voters Hiked School Taxes

9 of 11 districts in state with school spending referendums passed them in Tuesday election.

Why State’s Jobs Strategy Isn’t Working

Why State’s Jobs Strategy Isn’t Working

Tax cuts have little benefit for small companies that create 70% of jobs, report concludes.

Three Ways to Cut Cost of Prisons

Three Ways to Cut Cost of Prisons

A trio of proposed bills would save taxpayers money and help offenders.

Wisconsin Ranks 39th in Public Employees

Wisconsin Ranks 39th in Public Employees

Number has been dropping since 2001. Only 11 states have fewer public workers per capita.

Wisconsin Has 4th Biggest Education Cuts

Wisconsin Has 4th Biggest Education Cuts

Education funding has gone down 13%, more than all but three states.

Bill Forces 3-Year Wait for School Referendums

Bill Forces 3-Year Wait for School Referendums

Fine print shows schools whose funding referendums fail must wait 3 years to relaunch.

Legislators Borrow $350 Million for Highways

Legislators Borrow $350 Million for Highways

Bipartisan law will drive up debt and take from general fund for education and other needs.

Walker Highway Plan May Cause Education Cuts

Walker Highway Plan May Cause Education Cuts

Using general fund rather than highway fund may lead to more cuts for schools and UW.

Wisconsin Has Fewer Employees Than Most States

Wisconsin Has Fewer Employees Than Most States

State has 7.4% less state workers than national average and payroll lower than 40 states.

Congress Could Help State’s Working Poor

Congress Could Help State’s Working Poor

If lawmakers don't act, 158,00 Wisconsin families and 301,000 children could lose their tax credits.

Stricter Overtime Rules Would Help Workers

Stricter Overtime Rules Would Help Workers

Obama plan would benefit 198,000 Wisconsin workers, some below the poverty line.

Tax Cuts Do Little to Spur Job Growth

Tax Cuts Do Little to Spur Job Growth

Cuts skewed toward wealthy and haven't created jobs, statistics show.