State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout

Recent Articles

Op Ed: The Remarkable Tenure of Fred Risser
Op Ed

The Remarkable Tenure of Fred Risser

Now 91, he’s served 62 years in the Legislature as its greatest proponent of open government.

Op Ed: GOP Bills Change 400 Sections of State Law
Op Ed

GOP Bills Change 400 Sections of State Law

Changes help special interests, overthrow voters’ decision in November election.

Op Ed: Voters Approve $1.3 Billion More for Schools
Op Ed

Voters Approve $1.3 Billion More for Schools

Since 2012 state has cut school spending by cumulative $3.5 billon. Local referendums plugging the gap.

Op Ed: State Jobs Agency Still a Failure
Op Ed

State Jobs Agency Still a Failure

Walker administration blames director who left in 2012, but four audits in six years show problems persist.

Op Ed: Our 1,000 Miles of Great Lakes Shoreline
Op Ed

Our 1,000 Miles of Great Lakes Shoreline

Great Lakes are huge resource for state. Foxconn threatens agreement that protects lakes.

Op Ed: Fastest Legislators in Modern History?
Op Ed

Fastest Legislators in Modern History?

Report finds more fast-tracking of legislation, less public input, under Walker and Republicans.

Op Ed: Local Governments Beg State to Fix Roads
Op Ed

Local Governments Beg State to Fix Roads

Municipalities have passed 559 resolutions calling on state leaders to fix the roads budget.

Op Ed: Schools Special Needs Grossly Underfunded
Op Ed

Schools Special Needs Grossly Underfunded

Special Education and bilingual instruction are mandated by federal or state law but way underfunded.

Op Ed: Study Shows Benefits of Medicaid Expansion
Op Ed

Study Shows Benefits of Medicaid Expansion

States that accepted money have more coverage and cheaper preventive care.

Op Ed: State School Funding Has Steadily Declined
Op Ed

State School Funding Has Steadily Declined

Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding finds schools struggling with unmet needs.

Op Ed: Growing Pains for Hemp Industry
Op Ed

Growing Pains for Hemp Industry

It’s legalized, yes, but state could be more supportive.

Op Ed: UW Officials Stonewall State Audit Bureau
Op Ed

UW Officials Stonewall State Audit Bureau

Legislators consider ways to compel their compliance.

Op Ed: Audit Shows Big Problems at State Fair Park
Op Ed

Audit Shows Big Problems at State Fair Park

Management issues, revenue shortfalls, contracts not tracked, environmental laws violated.

Op Ed: How Can We Protect Our Water?
Op Ed

How Can We Protect Our Water?

Hire back the DNR scientists and inspectors and let them do their work.

Op Ed: Changes in School Funding Formula Needed?
Op Ed

Changes in School Funding Formula Needed?

Green Bay students speak 31 different languages. How do schools meet such needs?

Op Ed: Why We Need a State Treasurer
Op Ed

Why We Need a State Treasurer

The referendum to eliminate position will give more power to governor.

Op Ed: Deaf Community Ill-Served by Legislature
Op Ed

Deaf Community Ill-Served by Legislature

Republicans water down bill to upgrade skill levels of sign language interpreters.

Op Ed: A Wheelchair Is Not a Trampoline
Op Ed

A Wheelchair Is Not a Trampoline

And Republican food share proposal won’t help disabled and poor people.

Op Ed: Walker’s Work Rule Makes No Sense
Op Ed

Walker’s Work Rule Makes No Sense

Two-thirds of FoodShare recipients are blind, elderly, disabled or children and can’t work.

Op Ed: Kicking Us When We’re Down
Op Ed

Kicking Us When We’re Down

Requiring photo ID for FoodShare recipients will make it harder to get help.

Op Ed: New Approach to Funding Schools Needed
Op Ed

New Approach to Funding Schools Needed

Blue Ribbon Commission studying the many problems with current approach.

Op Ed: WEDC Admits They Don’t Follow the Law
Op Ed

WEDC Admits They Don’t Follow the Law

Are they incompetent or flouting the law? And how will they oversee Foxconn?

Op Ed: Hemp’s Time Has Come
Op Ed

Hemp’s Time Has Come

Benefits of legalization are many. Will legislature, Walker approve it?

Op Ed: Can WEDC Oversee Foxconn Deal?
Op Ed

Can WEDC Oversee Foxconn Deal?

State jobs agency has failed for seven years. Can it protect taxpayers and watchdog Foxconn?

Senator Vinehout Pleased with Committee Passage of Hemp Bill
Press Release

Senator Vinehout Pleased with Committee Passage of Hemp Bill

"Hemp has tremendous possibilities in growing our rural economy..."

Op Ed: De-Licensing Bill Could Have Huge Impact
Op Ed

De-Licensing Bill Could Have Huge Impact

State requirements for nurses, plumbers, CPAs and other jobs could be scrapped.

Op Ed: Where Are the People?
Op Ed

Where Are the People?

Bill to end occupational licensing backed by right wing groups, but just one worker testifies in favor.

Op Ed: Illinois Loves Our Foxconn Deal
Op Ed

Illinois Loves Our Foxconn Deal

They get more jobs. We pay the entire $3 billion in taxes.

Op Ed: An Unequal Education?
Op Ed

An Unequal Education?

State school funding formula broken; GOP solutions worsen problem.

Op Ed: State Jobs Agency Data a Mess
Op Ed

State Jobs Agency Data a Mess

Audit says WEDC doesn't know how many jobs created or retained.

Op Ed: Most Dangerous Bill You’ve Never Heard Of
Op Ed

Most Dangerous Bill You’ve Never Heard Of

Bill repeals laws costly to business, even if lives are at stake.

Op Ed: Meth Epidemic Overwhelming Counties
Op Ed

Meth Epidemic Overwhelming Counties

Staggering increases in addiction. Help from state is needed.

Op Ed: State’s Impaired Waters Growing
Op Ed

State’s Impaired Waters Growing

Hundreds added each year. DNR staff and enforcement way down.

Op Ed: Don’t Eliminate The State Treasurer
Op Ed

Don’t Eliminate The State Treasurer

Wisconsin is the only state where treasurer doesn't oversee cash management.

Op Ed: More Funding for Local Roads Needed
Op Ed

More Funding for Local Roads Needed

In 38 counties only 5% of local roads are rated “good.”

Op Ed: Walker’s Budget Makes Schools More Unequal
Op Ed

Walker’s Budget Makes Schools More Unequal

Old equalized aid formula is broken. Governor makes inequity even worse.

Op Ed: Who Is Minding DOT’s Spending?
Op Ed

Who Is Minding DOT’s Spending?

Cost overruns, lack of transparency and oversight has led to huge transportation costs.

Op Ed: State Pension Fund’s Risky Investments
Op Ed

State Pension Fund’s Risky Investments

Now invests in hedge funds, derivatives. And the annual return has declined.

Op-Ed: Special Education Vouchers Raise Concerns
Op-Ed

Special Education Vouchers Raise Concerns

Plan hatched in secret. Law is long and complex. Vote was speedy and partisan. Results?

Op-Ed: The New Bidding War for Teachers
Op-Ed

The New Bidding War for Teachers

Act 10 has opened door to bidding war and smaller, poorer districts losing out.

Op-Ed: State Gave $472 Million in Business Tax Credits
Op-Ed

State Gave $472 Million in Business Tax Credits

Hand-outs to Amazon, Kohls, Quadgraphics and 16 other companies bleed state treasury.

Op-Ed: Rising Property Taxes Replace State Funding
Op-Ed

Rising Property Taxes Replace State Funding

Portion of local schools funding coming from state has plummeted since mid-1990s.

Op-Ed: State GAB Suffered a “Public Lynching”
Op-Ed

State GAB Suffered a “Public Lynching”

Board member and retired judge Thomas Barland blames legislators for distorting facts.

Op-Ed: DNR’s Clean Water Protection Questioned
Op-Ed

DNR’s Clean Water Protection Questioned

State audit shows DNR issued no notice of violation in 94% of cases where it was warranted.

Op-Ed: Referenda Help Schools Hit by State Cuts
Op-Ed

Referenda Help Schools Hit by State Cuts

77% of 85 ballot measures asking for more local tax dollars have passed in 2016.

Op-Ed: State Computer Systems Have Major Problems
Op-Ed

State Computer Systems Have Major Problems

Audit Bureau finds “significant deficiencies.” Result could be loss of federal funds, other problems.

Op-Ed: RR Company Bars Access to Mississippi
Op-Ed

RR Company Bars Access to Mississippi

Public stopped from fishing and other recreation on river. Proposed bill would stop this.

Trying to Fix What They Broke says State Senator Vinehout
Press Release

Trying to Fix What They Broke says State Senator Vinehout

“While the Governor talks about helping make college affordable and the importance of education, his feel good proposals do not undo the damage to higher education and our public schools.”

Op-Ed: Speed and Secrecy Killing Democracy
Op-Ed

Speed and Secrecy Killing Democracy

Citizen after citizen testified: "We don't know what's in the bill."

Op-Ed: Bill Would Limit City Control of Development
Op-Ed

Bill Would Limit City Control of Development

Proposed state law would increase developer "property rights" at expense of others.

Op-Ed: Don’t Kill the Government Accountability Board
Op-Ed

Don’t Kill the Government Accountability Board

Award winning GAB is nation's only nonpartisan watchdog agency.

Op-Ed: How Republicans Will Dismantle Civil Service
Op-Ed

How Republicans Will Dismantle Civil Service

The result will replace hiring and promotions by merit with political appointments.

Op-Ed: WEDC Leaders Resist Reforming Troubled Agency
Op-Ed

WEDC Leaders Resist Reforming Troubled Agency

Top brass of jobs agency miss opportunity to apologize and fix problems.

Sen. Vinehout: Reps Craig and Jarchow Display “Staggering Ignorance” of Legislative Audit Bureau
Press Release

Sen. Vinehout: Reps Craig and Jarchow Display “Staggering Ignorance” of Legislative Audit Bureau

“Their bill embeds auditors in the agencies making them ripe for corruption by executive staff and partisan leaders.”