Jason Stein, researcher at the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

Previously Stein was reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Photos

Content referencing Jason Stein

State Budget Surplus Shrinking But Still Huge

State Budget Surplus Shrinking But Still Huge

Latest projection says surplus will be $3.25 billion at end of current, two-year budget cycle.

How Diverse Are UW System Campuses?

How Diverse Are UW System Campuses?

Diversity has improved, but underrepresented minorities are still less than 15%.

Wisconsin’s Prison Budget Among Largest In Nation

Wisconsin’s Prison Budget Among Largest In Nation

State's incarceration rate, particularly for Black males, also among highest nationally.

State Could Have $4 Billion Surplus

State Could Have $4 Billion Surplus

Much of historic $7.1 billion surplus remains, could be at $4 billion by end of current two-year budget.

Wisconsin Wins Grant To Replace Troubled Unemployment System

Wisconsin Wins Grant To Replace Troubled Unemployment System

Mainframe software system was burdened with backlogs in 2020, leaving thousands without answers or payment.

Constitutional Amendment Would Require Supermajority For Wisconsin Tax Increases

Constitutional Amendment Would Require Supermajority For Wisconsin Tax Increases

Republican-led proposal is pending before the Legislature.

Evers Vetoes Leave State With Projected $4 Billion Surplus

Evers Vetoes Leave State With Projected $4 Billion Surplus

If governor and legislators can't agree on how to spend it, it could sit there for two years.

Evers’ Veto Pen Gives School Districts 400 Years of Funding

Evers’ Veto Pen Gives School Districts 400 Years of Funding

Trimming budget bill text to let school districts collect an added $325 per student annually.

State Budget Gives No Funding Increase to 40% of School Districts

State Budget Gives No Funding Increase to 40% of School Districts

Total funding up 3% but Madison got a decrease and Racine got 22% increase.

State Funding Has Plummeted For Parks, Public Lands, DNR

State Funding Has Plummeted For Parks, Public Lands, DNR

DNR funding down 41% in 25 years, spending on state parks lowest in U.S., study finds.

Evers’ Budget Would Create ‘Record’ Imbalance, Report Finds

Evers’ Budget Would Create ‘Record’ Imbalance, Report Finds

And Republican flat tax proposal would create $5 billion reduction in tax revenue.

Speaker Vos Downplays $7 Billion Surplus Size As Budget Debate Begins

Speaker Vos Downplays $7 Billion Surplus Size As Budget Debate Begins

Vos says Gov. Evers lives in "fantasyland" with his plans for spending.

State’s Budget Surplus Hits $7.1 Billion

State’s Budget Surplus Hits $7.1 Billion

Projected total up by $500 million in two months, on top of $1.7 billion rainy day fund.

Debt Owed By Local Governments Hits Record High

Debt Owed By Local Governments Hits Record High

Report finds trend across Wisconsin partly due to state limits on local property taxes.

The State of Politics: Referendums Fund Emergency Services
The State of Politics

Referendums Fund Emergency Services

23 local referendums in November requested funding for police, fire, parks and more.

State Tourism Rebounds Since Pandemic

State Tourism Rebounds Since Pandemic

Revenue up 21% in 2021, study finds, but business-oriented travel in Milwaukee hasn't fully recovered.

Wisconsin’s Tax Burden Is At Lowest Point in 20 Years

Wisconsin’s Tax Burden Is At Lowest Point in 20 Years

WPF report finds that it has resulted in a decline in spending on education, other items. State ranks 24th in nation.

Property Values See Record Growth in 2022

Property Values See Record Growth in 2022

Study finds values rose 13.8% in Wisconsin, biggest hike since at least 1985.

Costs of College Rising in Wisconsin

Costs of College Rising in Wisconsin

Gap between grants and aid received and total cost has soared since 2002, WPF report finds.

State’s Individual Tax Burden Grows, But Tax Rates Dropped

State’s Individual Tax Burden Grows, But Tax Rates Dropped

Increased economic activity, online sales tax and stimulus payments increased Wisconsinite's tax burden.

Next Governor Will Have $2.7 Billion Surplus

Next Governor Will Have $2.7 Billion Surplus

Huge state reserves make for a campaign issue, how candidates will spend it. Or not.

The State of Politics: Why Capitol Reporters Change Careers
The State of Politics

Why Capitol Reporters Change Careers

Riley Vetterkind, now the Elections Commission spokesperson, latest to make the move.

State Tax Burden In Freefall Since 1999

State Tax Burden In Freefall Since 1999

Wisconsin was once ranked fourth for highest income tax burden, now 23rd.

Wheel Tax Revenues Tripled Over Last Four Years

Wheel Tax Revenues Tripled Over Last Four Years

Local governments statewide are relying on the tax for transportation costs.

UWM Gets Less State Aid than Peer Schools

UWM Gets Less State Aid than Peer Schools

The university is second to last in state aid among 14 peer schools.

Evers Tinkers With Tax Cut

Evers Tinkers With Tax Cut

Okays $2 billion state income tax cut but delays when it goes into effect.

Evers Credited for Budget Surplus

Evers Credited for Budget Surplus

Federal stimulus money, new Foxconn contract, Evers call for state agency cuts all credited by nonpartisan analysis.

Pandemic Aid Providing Relief for School Budgets

Pandemic Aid Providing Relief for School Budgets

A new report shows federal funding and new revenue providing financial relief after an uncertain year.

The State of Politics: Wisconsin Governments Getting $19.9 Billion In Federal Aid
The State of Politics

Wisconsin Governments Getting $19.9 Billion In Federal Aid

New report warns: how state and local governments spend it could create later 'fiscal cliff.'

State’s COVID-19 Funding Doubles Financial Crisis Stimulus

State’s COVID-19 Funding Doubles Financial Crisis Stimulus

Wisconsin state and local governments have received nearly $20 billion in relief.

More of State’s Urban Schools Went Virtual

More of State’s Urban Schools Went Virtual

Report finds greater impact on minority students. More suburban, rural schools had in-person classes during pandemic.

State Residents Flock To The Outdoors

State Residents Flock To The Outdoors

Study finds 42% increase in state park stickers, surge in fishing, hunting licenses during pandemic.

State Ranks 41st in Tax Dollars for Higher Education

State Ranks 41st in Tax Dollars for Higher Education

Funding of UW-System and Wisconsin Technical Colleges has plummeted since 2000, report finds.

The State of Politics: County’s Sales Tax Revenue Plummets
The State of Politics

County’s Sales Tax Revenue Plummets

A 16% one-year drop, as urban counties saw biggest declines due to pandemic.

Online Sales Taxes Won’t Help State Budget

Online Sales Taxes Won’t Help State Budget

They’ve risen during pandemic, but under state law must be used to lower income taxes.

Schools Face Uncertain Financial Future

Schools Face Uncertain Financial Future

New report projects shrinking funding. "So many revenue sources are falling.”

State Better Positioned Today for Downturn

State Better Positioned Today for Downturn

Report finds Wisconsin in better financial shape than it was prior to Great Recession.

Murphy’s Law: State’s ‘Hidden Deficit’ Lowest in 30 Years
Murphy’s Law

State’s ‘Hidden Deficit’ Lowest in 30 Years

Great news except… it’s still higher than in 49 other states.

State Expects To Collect $818 Million More in Taxes Than Estimated

State Expects To Collect $818 Million More in Taxes Than Estimated

Republicans and Democrats battle over how to use the money.

Murphy’s Law: State Tax Burden Lowest in 50 Years
Murphy’s Law

State Tax Burden Lowest in 50 Years

Huge change, combined state-local taxes down by 22% or $8.5 billion annually since 1994.

The State of Politics: State Credits Lower Your Tax Bill
The State of Politics

State Credits Lower Your Tax Bill

Reducing the pain of that end-of-year property tax bill you received.

Big Property Tax Hikes Hitting State

Big Property Tax Hikes Hitting State

Report predicts highest increases in a decade, driven by state’s school districts.

Good News, Bad News on State Budget

Good News, Bad News on State Budget

Report finds 2018-19 year had $1.7 billion surplus, but new budget will exceed projected revenues by $800 million.

State Budget Has Tiny Reserve Fund

State Budget Has Tiny Reserve Fund

Lowest since 2011, enough surplus to run government for just two days in budget sent to Evers.

Manufacturing Still Key to State Economy

Manufacturing Still Key to State Economy

New report finds 465,100 jobs, 16 percent of state workforce in manufacturing.

Dane County Property Value Tops Milwaukee

Dane County Property Value Tops Milwaukee

For first time Dane bests Milwaukee in total county property value, study shows

Cities Have $2.25 Billion Benefits Shortfall

Cities Have $2.25 Billion Benefits Shortfall

Report finds huge unfunded health care benefits for Milwaukee's, other cities’ workers.

Murphy’s Law: Lena Taylor Against the World
Murphy’s Law

Lena Taylor Against the World

Democratic legislator’s press conference was a declaration of war -- against everybody.

Jason Stein Named Wisconsin Policy Forum Research Director
Press Release

Jason Stein Named Wisconsin Policy Forum Research Director

Longtime Capitol Reporter Will Lead Nonpartisan Research Team

Campaign Cash: Robin Vos’s Title Loan Trip Troubles
Campaign Cash

Robin Vos’s Title Loan Trip Troubles

Company pays for his trip to London, he backs less regulations on its high interest loans.

Murphy’s Law: Why Walker Opposes Special Elections
Murphy’s Law

Why Walker Opposes Special Elections

He's not serving the voters. He's serving his party.

Kaul calls Schimel’s expanded investigation into now-defunct GAB unjustified
Press Release

Kaul calls Schimel’s expanded investigation into now-defunct GAB unjustified

Kaul says investigation is "yet another waste of our tax dollars by our current AG"

Murphy’s Law: Journal Sentinel’s Post-Gannett Decline
Murphy’s Law

Journal Sentinel’s Post-Gannett Decline

As feared, it’s mostly become a local carrier of USA Today stories.

Murphy’s Law: Walker Retreats From Foxconn Deal
Murphy’s Law

Walker Retreats From Foxconn Deal

It was supposed to assure his reelection. What happened?

Murphy’s Law: Walker’s Dreadful Dilemma on Health Care
Murphy’s Law

Walker’s Dreadful Dilemma on Health Care

Why is he so vague on Obamacare? Because its repeal could kill his reelection.

Wisconsin Budget: Changes to Medicaid Leave Wisconsin Behind
Wisconsin Budget

Changes to Medicaid Leave Wisconsin Behind

American Health Care Act locks in Wisconsin’s lower federal funding

Murphy’s Law: The Rise of Scott Walker
Murphy’s Law

The Rise of Scott Walker

Journal Sentinel’s lo-o-ng series struggles to explain it -- but omits the newspaper's role.

Murphy’s Law: GOP Goal Less Access for Democratic Voters
Murphy’s Law

GOP Goal Less Access for Democratic Voters

But you have to sift through media coverage of trial testimony for the story.

State Corporate Tax Credit is Soaring

State Corporate Tax Credit is Soaring

Rising to $279 million, more than double projections. No new jobs required to get credit.

Murphy’s Law: The Twisted Tale of Talgo
Murphy’s Law

The Twisted Tale of Talgo

Settlement forces state to pay more for trains it didn’t get, leaving it with slower Amtrak trains.

Plats and Parcels: Bucks Create a Media Orgy!
Plats and Parcels

Bucks Create a Media Orgy!

Their press conference releasing the plan for new arena and development generated at least 20 stories. Mission accomplished.

Plats and Parcels: The Boom in Walker’s Point
Plats and Parcels

The Boom in Walker’s Point

A new project on South Water St. continues the pace of development.

Murphy’s Law: John Doe Supported by Many Republicans
Murphy’s Law

John Doe Supported by Many Republicans

Supreme Court candidate James Daley was among many GOP judges and prosecutors involved in alleged "partisan witch hunt."

Murphy’s Law: Walker’s Sweet Revenge Against John Doe Prosecutors
Murphy’s Law

Walker’s Sweet Revenge Against John Doe Prosecutors

Walker’s office gets to choose the attorneys defending John Chisholm and company from a federal suit.

Murphy’s Law: The Media’s Declining Clout
Murphy’s Law

The Media’s Declining Clout

As newspaper readership declines, government officials increasingly ignore stories that once would have embarrassed them.

Peter Barca for Governor?

Peter Barca for Governor?

Some Democratic insiders see Assembly minority leader Peter Barca as the best hope to run against Scott Walker.

Op-Ed: Why Dan Bice Should Resign
Op-Ed

Why Dan Bice Should Resign

The Journal Sentinel columnist’s coverage of John Doe probe is a case study in journalistic malfeasance.

Triumph of the Koch Brothers

Triumph of the Koch Brothers

An award-winning documentary and a new book both describe how public unions were crushed in Wisconsin.

State Department Has Not-So-Open Records

State Department Has Not-So-Open Records

Department of Administration takes a long time to respond to records requests, especially from journalists.