People Associated With Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau
Content referencing 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.
Jan 28th, 2026 by Baylor Spears
Facilities Assisting Homeless Veterans Set to Close
Gov. Evers blames GOP lawmakers, who call his remarks 'simply disingenuous.'
Jul 16th, 2025 by Rich Kremer
Wisconsin No Longer a Leader in Childhood Vaccinations
Percentage of children not getting vaccinated 4 times higher than 25 years ago.
Jun 3rd, 2025 by Tom Kertscher
New Milwaukee Sales Tax Brings in $200 Million
2024 was first year of 2% city sales tax; it raised $16 million more than expected.
Mar 5th, 2025 by Evan Casey
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.
Feb 15th, 2025 by Rich Kremer
GOP Amendment Blocks Tech Colleges’ Property Tax For Operations
Tech colleges weren't consulted. They would lose $249 million in annual funding.
Jun 19th, 2023 by Rich Kremer
Menominee Tribe Renews Push for Kenosha Casino
7 years after Gov. Walker rejected bid, tribal officials now want scaled-down version.
Dec 27th, 2022 by Joe Schulz
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
Oct 9th, 2022 by Jacob Resneck
Audit Says Foxconn Loophole Needs a Fix
WEDC wrongly allows tax credits to be awarded for work done outside state, Legislative Audit Bureau says.
Dec 9th, 2020 by Corrinne Hess
Legislators Take No Action on Pandemic
Some states passing laws, funding, Vos and Fitzgerald say "no need" for Wisconsin Legislature to meet.
Mar 14th, 2020 by Melanie Conklin
Comparing Badger Economy to Border States
Wisconsin does both better and worse than neighboring states.
Jun 20th, 2018 by Bruce Thompson
Obamacare Could Get Sweeter for Wisconsin
Under president's budget, expanded Medicaid would give Wisconsin $1.1 billion or $137 per person.
Feb 11th, 2016 by Jon Peacock
No Christmas In May For Republicans
Tax collections haven’t risen so GOP lawmakers may have to swallow Walker budget cuts they opposed.
May 11th, 2015 by Steven Walters
Walker’s Christmas Tree Budget
The budget has a flock of non-financial items -- 58 in all -- that will quietly change state polices.
Feb 25th, 2015 by Bill Lueders
The Rise in Income Inequality
The problem is national, but choices made by Walker and the Republicans may widen or reduce it in Wisconsin
Dec 8th, 2014 by Bruce Thompson
Walker’s Curious Debate Strategy
His strategy was to “largely ignore” Burke. That may have been a mistake.
Oct 14th, 2014 by Bruce Murphy
The Wisconsin Way?
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin calls on Governor Walker to move health care reform forward.
Sep 16th, 2014 by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Will Walker Face a Budget Deficit?
Drop in tax collections could cause shortfall -- and a campaign issue for Burke.
Jul 21st, 2014 by Steven Walters
Scott Walker’s Health Care Dilemma
His rejection of federal Medicaid dollars either costs Wisconsin lots of money or lots of lives.
Apr 29th, 2014 by Bruce Murphy
Happy Days Are Here Again
Gov. Walker’s State-of-the-State speech will be singing a very positive song.
Jan 20th, 2014 by Steven Walters
Drunk Driving Becomes Campaign Issue
Issue of whether to make first-time OWI a crime is hot issue in attorney general race.
Jan 13th, 2014 by Steven Walters
Unaffordable Care
Citizens Action of Wisconsin conference shows impact of the Affordable Care Act and Gov. Walker’s decisions on Medicaid.
Jan 8th, 2014 by Mrinal Gokhale
Why Do People Hate the Property Tax?
10 questions and answers about your property tax bill
Dec 16th, 2013 by Steven Walters
Can Burke Beat Walker?
The 2014 campaign may depend on which candidate has the best story to tell.
Nov 26th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
Wisconsin, Land of the Plutocrats
Forbes 400 list offers more evidence of wealth gap in Wisconsin.
Sep 19th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
The Debtor Governor
Figures from non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau figures show Walker’s debt level the worst since 1970.
Sep 10th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
Choice Schools Leave Disabled Students Behind?
As voucher schools expand to more cities, critics complain they don't serve disabled students.
Jul 8th, 2013 by Rory Linnane
Fun With Budget Numbers
An insider's take on the state budget and how it was put together.
Jul 3rd, 2013 by Bill Lueders
Final Tally on State Budget
The numbers show some surprising priorities, with spending on health care leading the way.
Jun 24th, 2013 by Steven Walters
Taxpayers Pay Big for Sex Predator Treatment
State pays $141,000 per year, four times more than for average prisoner.
Jun 20th, 2013 by Steven Walters
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.
Jun 4th, 2013 by Steven Walters
In Defense of Goo Goos
Why we need the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Wisconsin Taxpayer’s Alliance.
May 29th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
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.
May 15th, 2013 by Bill Lueders
Thousands Could Lose Food Stamps Under Walker Proposal
Job training requirements could mean more hunger in Milwaukee, advocate predicts.
Mar 18th, 2013 by Brendan O’Brien
What’s Stopping Tougher Drunk Driving Laws
The cost of enforcement has been estimated at $200 million annually, but some scoff at this figure.
Jan 18th, 2013 by Bill Lueders
Robin Hood in Reverse
Republicans’ tax plan assures that Wisconsin follows other states in the race to the bottom.
Jan 11th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
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.
Oct 23rd, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Jan 10th, 2002 by Bruce Murphy
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.
Jul 16th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Can the New State Superintendent Succeed?
Herbert Grover is not impressed with the credentials of Elizabeth Burmaster, the new State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Jul 2nd, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
