Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau

Assembly GOP Proposes $1,000 State Match for ‘Trump Accounts’

Federal government puts $1,000 into an account for babies born after Jan. 1, 2025.

Facilities Assisting Homeless Veterans Set to Close

Gov. Evers blames GOP lawmakers, who call his remarks 'simply disingenuous.'

Wisconsin No Longer a Leader in Childhood Vaccinations

Percentage of children not getting vaccinated 4 times higher than 25 years ago.

New Milwaukee Sales Tax Brings in $200 Million

2024 was first year of 2% city sales tax; it raised $16 million more than expected.

Wisconsin Surplus Is Nearly $4.3 Billion. How Much Will Be Spent?

Fights over the surplus have become common, a big change from years ago.

Forum announces Salute to Local Government award winners

GOP Amendment Blocks Tech Colleges’ Property Tax For Operations

Tech colleges weren't consulted. They would lose $249 million in annual funding.

Kim Swissdorf Appointed DFI Division of Banking Administrator

Menominee Tribe Renews Push for Kenosha Casino

7 years after Gov. Walker rejected bid, tribal officials now want scaled-down version.

Anti-Labor Laws Have Hurt Workers, But Provided Little Help To Governments

Analysis finds efforts to drive costs down on things like road construction haven't succeeded

Gov. Evers Celebrates More Than $800 Million Investment Wisconsin to Receive for Water Infrastructure

Wisconsin to receive $142 million in 2022 to invest in ensuring safe drinking water

Audit Says Foxconn Loophole Needs a Fix

WEDC wrongly allows tax credits to be awarded for work done outside state, Legislative Audit Bureau says.

Legislators Take No Action on Pandemic

Some states passing laws, funding, Vos and Fitzgerald say "no need" for Wisconsin Legislature to meet.

Majority Leader Fitzgerald Reacts to New Revenue Numbers, Plans to Move Ahead with Property Tax Cut Proposal

Nearly $1 Million in Clean Water Grants Awarded by Department of Safety and Professional Services

In total, 210 grant recipients received awards averaging $4,519.

Comparing Badger Economy to Border States

Wisconsin does both better and worse than neighboring states.

New Report Finds Refusing BadgerCare Is an Outrageous Cost to Taxpayers

By June 30, 2019, the LFB concludes that Wisconsin taxpayers will lose out on more than $2.7 billion by not fully expanding BadgerCare.

Obamacare Could Get Sweeter for Wisconsin

Under president's budget, expanded Medicaid would give Wisconsin $1.1 billion or $137 per person.

Republicans Sell Out Funding Public Schools for More Tax Giveaways to Rich

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Republicans have spent $1.9 billion in various tax giveaways between 2011 and 2014.

Republican Budget Shifts Up to $800 Million from Wisconsin’s Public Schools to Private Voucher Schools

GOP Budget Another Major Shift of Funds from Public Schools to Private Schools to Support Gov. Walker’s Presidential Ambitions

Erpenbach to GOP –Anything Less Than Removal is a Failure

Governor Walker’s Plan to Give WI Long Term Care to Out of State For Profit Insurance, Up Today

Rejecting BadgerCare Money Costing Nearly $400 Million in State Budget

The Joint Finance Committee is expected to take up the issue later today.

No Christmas In May For Republicans

Tax collections haven’t risen so GOP lawmakers may have to swallow Walker budget cuts they opposed.

Despite growing national economy, Wisconsin budget crisis looms due to GOP policies

Latest budget forecast a signal of state’s underperforming economy

Rep. Hintz presses DOA Secretary on Budget, “Scoop and Toss” Delay of Debt Payments

"Gov. Walker’s bad budgeting has created a $2.2 billion shortfall and the resulting crisis budget..."

Walker’s Christmas Tree Budget

The budget has a flock of non-financial items -- 58 in all -- that will quietly change state polices.

Rep. Taylor’s statement on Walker’s budget deficit

Latest Fiscal Bureau analysis shows $283.4 million deficit

Under Republicans, Wisconsin Continues to Face Staggering Budget and Jobs Deficit

Walker and Legislative Republicans Prioritize Politics over Economic Opportunity

The Rise in Income Inequality

The problem is national, but choices made by Walker and the Republicans may widen or reduce it in Wisconsin

Walker’s Curious Debate Strategy

His strategy was to “largely ignore” Burke. That may have been a mistake.

The Wisconsin Way?

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin calls on Governor Walker to move health care reform forward.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Applauds Obama Administration Action on Special Enrollment Period for 38,000 Wisconsinites Dropped from BadgerCare under Governor Walker’s Plan

Last Week, Baldwin Asked Obama Administration for Special Enrollment Period to Close Coverage Gap Created By Walker Administration

New State BadgerCare Numbers Reveals Local Costs

Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo shows the cost and lost opportunity of rejecting federal funds for BadgerCare. Data for first time broken down for county level.

Will Walker Face a Budget Deficit?

Drop in tax collections could cause shortfall -- and a campaign issue for Burke.

New Report from Walker Administration Reveals that Governor’s Plan Results in a Gap in Coverage and People Becoming Uninsured

Senator Baldwin: “For 38,000 Wisconsinites, Governor Walker did not keep his promise.”

Gov. Walker Rejection of Federal Funds for BadgerCare Costs Wisconsin over $1 Million per Day

Wisconsinites forced off BadgerCare have until end of month to sign up for private coverage

Scott Walker’s Health Care Dilemma

His rejection of federal Medicaid dollars either costs Wisconsin lots of money or lots of lives.

Representative Shankland and Representative Goyke Announce Legislation to Preserve FoodShare Benefits for 255,000 Households

Rep. Katrina Shankland and Rep. Evan Goyke announced legislation to protect low-income Wisconsinites from the 2014 Farm Bill’s impending cuts to food stamps.

Assembly Republicans reject additional middle-class property tax relief

Instead, Speaker Vos and his caucus rubberstamp Gov. Walker’s irresponsible spending plan

Happy Days Are Here Again

Gov. Walker’s State-of-the-State speech will be singing a very positive song.

Drunk Driving Becomes Campaign Issue

Issue of whether to make first-time OWI a crime is hot issue in attorney general race.

Unaffordable Care

Citizens Action of Wisconsin conference shows impact of the Affordable Care Act and Gov. Walker’s decisions on Medicaid.

Why Do People Hate the Property Tax?

10 questions and answers about your property tax bill

Can Burke Beat Walker?

The 2014 campaign may depend on which candidate has the best story to tell.

Republicans reject property tax cut

Democratic plan would have been a decrease for all property taxpayers rather than less of a hike for a few

Statement from Rep. Barca on GOP property tax plan

Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) released the following statement today about the property tax plan announced by Gov. Walker and Republican legislators

Wisconsin, Land of the Plutocrats

Forbes 400 list offers more evidence of wealth gap in Wisconsin.

The Debtor Governor

Figures from non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau figures show Walker’s debt level the worst since 1970.

Choice Schools Leave Disabled Students Behind?

As voucher schools expand to more cities, critics complain they don't serve disabled students.

Fun With Budget Numbers

An insider's take on the state budget and how it was put together.

Final Tally on State Budget

The numbers show some surprising priorities, with spending on health care leading the way.

Taxpayers Pay Big for Sex Predator Treatment

State pays $141,000 per year, four times more than for average prisoner.

Republican budget turns $700 million surplus into $300 million structural deficit

Massive tax cuts for the wealthy take priority over public schools

GOP Wants to Cut Back Taxpayer Donations

You may lose the chance to donate to causes like prostate cancer research or a fire fighters memorial if this measure is adopted.

In Defense of Goo Goos

Why we need the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Wisconsin Taxpayer’s Alliance.

Loading Up the Budget With Policy and Pork

In violation of his campaign promise, Walker's budget has 58 policy or non-monetary items and 15 pieces of pork.

Statement from Rep. Barca on new state revenue projections

Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) released the following statement today after the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released new revenue projections for the state:

Thousands Could Lose Food Stamps Under Walker Proposal

Job training requirements could mean more hunger in Milwaukee, advocate predicts.

Statement from Rep. Barca on LFB analysis of Walker tax plan

Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) issued the following statement today after the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memo regarding the budget impact of Gov. Walker's tax proposals

Plan to Strengthen BadgerCare Unveiled at State Capitol

Provides another stepping stone to rebuilding Wisconsin’s middle-class

Rep. Richards’ Statement on Updated Revenue Projections

Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee), a member of the legislature’s budget-writing committee, released the following statement in response to the new revenue estimates released today by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

What’s Stopping Tougher Drunk Driving Laws

The cost of enforcement has been estimated at $200 million annually, but some scoff at this figure.

Robin Hood in Reverse

Republicans’ tax plan assures that Wisconsin follows other states in the race to the bottom.

KRM Line Left Out of Budget Compromise

Metra 403 Originally uploaded by jimfrazier The budget compromise was just approved by both sides of Wisconsin State Legislature, and will certainly be approved by Governor Jim Doyle later this week. In what ways did it affect Milwaukee? Money for the the KRM line, connecting Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee with a high-frequency rail line, was left out of the budget. This money would have been raised through a $15 car rental fee/tax increase and bonds. The director of the authority had this to say about it being left out of the budget… Ostby wouldn’t say the project would be dead if money were not included in the budget, but admitted some serious thinking would have to be done. “Honestly, I’ve just been so focused on getting it into the budget, that it’d just be time to regroup and rethink some things,” he said. “I suppose there is the potential for a referendum yet.” – Read more There was an increase in the amount of money available via bonds for railroad development though in other areas of the state. Oshkosh Northwestern reports… Plans for a passenger train between Milwaukee and Madison inched closer to reality. The budget increases bonding authority for the train’s development by $32 million, raising total bonding authority to $80 million. The state plans to seek federal funds to cover 80 percent of the project’s cost, with state bonds covering the remaining 20 percent, up to a total project cost of $400 million. No federal programs provide such funding, however, according to the state Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Read more The budget bill, however, actually reads… Under current law, DOT administers a Rail Passenger Route Development Program to, in part, fund capital costs related to Amtrak service extension routes or other rail service routes between Milwaukee and Madison and between Milwaukee and Green Bay. This bill expands the program to include routes between Chicago and Milwaukee and between Madison and La Crosse. The bill also increases general obligation bonding authority for the program from $50,000,000 to $82,000,000. Under current law, DOT may contract up to $44,500,000 in public debt for the acquisition and improvement of rail property. This bill increases the limit to $66,500,000. So that money could ultimately be used elsewhere. I’m happy that a compromise could be reached, however, it’s sad to see the KRM line get beat into the ground.

How To Kill Ament’s Pension

Now that the mainstream media is having a feeding frenzy over the pension story I first broke back in October, Milwaukee County Executive F. Thomas Ament has gotten religion.

Why Are Homeowners Subsidizing Cable TV?

Republican and Democrats can't agree on much, as they squabble over the state budget, but both parties seem to think that AOL Time Warner needs a tax break.

Can the New State Superintendent Succeed?

Herbert Grover is not impressed with the credentials of Elizabeth Burmaster, the new State Superintendent of Public Instruction.