Howard Marklein

It’s Groundhog Day in State Capitol

New budget surplus estimate triggers GOP tax cut pledge. Again.

Revenue Estimates Show Growth, Require Sound Budgeting 

Collections remain strong, cost-to-continue remains high

Funding For Wisconsin Reading Law Goes to State Surplus If Not Used by June 30

Republican legislators won't release funds, saying they don't trust how DPI will spend it.

Parents Disappointed By Delay in Switch to Phonics Teaching

DPI and lawmakers blame each other.

With Budget Debate Looming, Assembly Fills Remainder of Powerful Finance Committee

Rep. Mark Born and Sen. Howard Marklein will continue to chair JFC.

Senate Members of Legislature’s Powerful Joint Finance Committee Announced

The 16-person panel is responsible for how Wisconsin spends tens of billions of dollars. Assembly up next.

Evers Bypasses Legislature in Battle Over Funding Long-Term Care

Governor using federal funds to revive blocked plan to aid struggling care providers.

Proposed Constitutional Amendments a Battle Over Control of Federal Funds

Republican legislators seek to reduce governor's longstanding power over this.

Lawmakers Approve Funding, Positions for Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center

Joint Finance Committee finally acts after holding up request for six months.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Limits Legislature’s Authority To Block Governor

6-1 decision rules that legislators wrongly blocked DNR stewardship funding.

Lawmakers At Odds Over Releasing Health, PFAS Funds

GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee won't release funding, citing legal risk.

Evers Requests Release of $25 Million for Child Care and Tourism

Yet another battle between governor and Republican legislators over funding allocations.

Parties Target 5 State Senate Seats With No Incumbent

More competitive races will mean fierce battles and huge spending.

Legislators Agree on Opioid Plan, Still Withhold PFAS, Hospital Funds

Standoff between Republicans on Joint Finance Committee and Gov. Evers continues.

Voters Worried About PFAS in Water  

69% are worried, poll shows. But Evers and Legislature can't agree on how to address problem.

Evers Won’t Rule Out Court Challenge to Force Release of PFAS Funds

Nine months after Legislature set aside $125 million to address PFAS, funding still stalled.

Committee Blocks $258 Million Home Health Care Pay Plan

Providers fear losing workers, while others fear providers themselves will drop out.

Gov. Evers Vetoes PFAS Bill, Calls Special Meeting of Budget Committee

Governor urges GOP legislators to release budgeted funds for PFAS and hospitals.

GOP Leaders Urge Gov. Evers to Sign Divisive PFAS Bill 

It provides funding but restricts Wisconsin DNR's enforcement powers against polluters.

How Higher Ed Institutions Are Shrinking

It's a stunning trend: Four-year and two-year campuses are cutting back, merging, closing.

Governor Signs Marklein’s Electric Vehicle Charging Bills

New law removes obstacles for private businesses to participate in EV industry.

Visiting Eau Claire, Evers Chides Legislators for Blocking Hospital Funds

As Republicans withhold aid, hospital closings create health-care gap in western Wisconsin.

Bill Expands State’s EV Charging Network

Legislature passes law allowing businesses to own and operate charging stations without being regulated as utilities.

Marquette University School of Dentistry Statement on release of funding for dental general practice residency program

Evers Seeks Compromise on Republican PFAS Bill

Threatens veto of GOP plan, saying 'I'm not signing bill letting polluters off the hook.'

State of the Tribes Speech Emphasizes Diversity

Potawatomi chairman James Crawford notes diversity of 11 tribes and their common needs.

Department of Public Instruction Asks Lawmakers To Approve New Reading Curriculum

Proposal overrides the Literacy Council, which DPI says failed to meet deadlines.

Budget Committee Approves $2 Billion Tax Cut, UW Funding

Proposal now heads to Assembly, but will Evers sign bills?

Evers Silent on New GOP Tax Plan

Latest Republican plan tailored to meet governor's past comments. How will he respond?

Legislators Push Judicial Security Bills

142 threats against Wisconsin judges in past year, with 44 threats of death or physical harm.

State Budget Surplus Shrinking But Still Huge

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

Revenue Re-estimates Support Tax Relief

Collections remain strong, surplus over $3 billion

Republicans Offer Revised Tax Cut Plan

'Governor, we heard you and we look forward to your signature' on this bill.

Legislative Leaders Announce Bills to Return Surplus to Taxpayers

Senate Leader Shoots Down Government-Run Marijuana Dispensaries

Republicans in Assembly proposed idea. Senate still working on tax cuts.

Marklein Statement on UW Regents’ Decision to Accept Negotiated Deal

GOP Legislators Battle Lac du Flambeau Tribe

Reacting to tussle over access to tribal land, Finance Committee withholds gaming revenue.

UW Regents Consult Attorneys In Fight Over DEI, Pay Raises

Evers has sued Legislature on issue. GOP legislators threaten to remove some regents.

GOP Legislators Push Bills to Double State’s EV Charging Stations

Using federal funds and exempting charging stations from being regulated as utilities.

Bipartisan Proposal Would Create Mental Health Crisis Centers Across State

Current model has police offers driving individuals for hours.

Supreme Court Justice Pushes For Judicial Protection Police Force

Proposal from Justice Annette Ziegler comes after retired Wisconsin judge was murdered.

Republicans Endorse Raises For All State Employees, Except UW System Workers

Raise denial is latest salvo in fight over UW System's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Milwaukee Wants More Reckless Drivers Towed

United council backs state law change. But proposal could die in Legislature.

GOP Senators Introduce Protectionist Transmission Line Bill

Proposal would make it difficult for competitors to ATC to enter market.

Following Speed Improvements, State Licensing Agency Wants Longterm Funding

Stimulus funding will run out next year, imperiling continued operation of DSPS.

State’s Child Care Industry Struggles with Worker Turnover

Low pay, widespread vacancies leading to burnout, turnover among workers.

Wisconsin Licensing Division Will See Budget Increase

The Department of Safety and Professional Services has been criticized for delays.

Governor’s Veto Gives $20 Million For Land Stewardship Program

Evers' partial budget veto releases funding for wide variety of DNR efforts.

How Evers Can Change Budget With Partial Vetoes

He could veto top tax bracket cut. He could also veto entire budget bill.

GOP Plan Merges UW Campus in West Bend With Tech College

Joint Finance passes plan to address declining enrollment in Washington County.

The Last Hurrah For Rep. Goyke

At his last budget hearing Milwaukee legislator Evan Goyke gets teased and praised.

Republicans Approve $3.5 Billion Income Tax Cut

GOP legislators also approve cutting $32 million from UW System budget as part of DEI cut.

Missing Ventilators Restart Fight Over Federal Funds Oversight

Auditors found some COVID-19 supplies missing, triggering debate about who should control aid dollars.

In Transfers, Public Schools Often Deny Students With Disabilities

Charter and choice "cherry picking" is well known. But public schools also involved through open enrollment.

GOP Strips Gov. Evers $750 Million Broadband Plan From Budget

Green Bay gets $2 million for 2025 NFL Draft.

State Budget Surplus Dips… To $6.9 Billion

Legislative Fiscal Bureau finds tax revenues dropped by $365 million in 2022-23 fiscal year.

Is Vos Allowing ‘Bipartisan’ Compromise?

Budget and shared revenue bills don't quite match vision articulated by Assembly Speaker.

Evers Vision Trashed by Republicans

It's governor's vision vs. 12 Republicans on Joint Finance Committee. Who's right?

DNR Leader Says State Budget Needs More Money For Clean Water

Republican-controlled Legislature will determine funding, with some members indicating support.

Can Bipartisan Effort Save State Arts Funding?

Wisconsin ranks 50th in arts support. Group of 'heavy hitters' hopes to change that.

Legislative Committee Rejects Funds for State’s Largest Land Conservation Plan

Republicans spike proposal to preserve 70,000 acres of forest in northern Wisconsin.

DNR Secretary Promises Review of How Agency Works With Local Governments

Potential changes coming as a result of Pelican River Forest mix-up.

One Third of State Prison Jobs Are Vacant

Legislative hearing discusses state corrections budget, pay hikes proposed by Gov. Evers.

Senator Agard Statement: JFC Co-Chair to Remove Firearm Safety Proposals from State Budget

Analysis Details Evers’ Paid Leave Plan

$243 million state spending starts trust fund, payroll tax on employers and employees would sustain it.

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

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

Republicans Giving Up On Flat Tax?

Top GOP legislators say they don't expect it to be passed in the state budget.

DNR Member Warns Wisconsin Needs Money To Maintain Its Conservation Land

The state has acquired approximately 1.5 million acres of land through stewardship programs.

Republicans Hide Details on Stewardship Fund

Legislators reduce project grant without revealing who objected or what exactly is funded.

Dan Kelly Makes His Case for High Court

'Where do our rights come from?' asks former state Supreme Court justice. 'God!'

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.

Republican Lawmakers Oppose Record-Breaking Wisconsin Land Conversation

Sen. Felzkowski leads opposition to preserving 56,000 acres of forest near Rhinelander.

The Top Donors to Wisconsin Political Parties in 2022

Billionaires and millionaires, most supporting Democrats, continue to dump huge sums into Wisconsin politics through a loophole left open by state Republicans.

The Vast Gulf Between Evers, Legislators

A difference of at least $2.8 billion on how they want to spend historic surplus.

State Surplus Projected to Hit $6.5 Billion!

Wisconsin's fiscal condition the 'strongest in state history,' says DOA report.

Legislators Still Sitting on Opioid Funding

Democrats, health officials says lives could be lost if settlement funds not used to fight drug epidemic.

Joint Finance Committee Meets, Refuses to Discuss Knowles-Nelson Grants

Republicans Demand Transparency While Hiding Behind “Anonymous Objections”

GOP Lawmakers Far Ahead in Campaign Cash

Four times more money than Democratic legislators going into 2022 year.

Robin Vos ‘Selling Out Democracy’?

Hintz looks back at four years as Assembly minority leader and how Republicans ‘lost their way.’

DPI, Legislators Clash On Federal Pandemic Aid

$77 million for state’s schools at stake. Republican rule violates federal law, US Education Secretary says.

Federal-State Battle Over School Pandemic Aid

US Education Department nixes GOP plan to favor schools that stayed in person in 2020-21.

Most Will Get Lower Property Tax Bill

Average homeowner in state will see 3% reduction.

State Tax Revenues Exceed Expectations

Wisconsin saw 12% revenue increase over previous year.

Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council Announces Membership, Sets Ambitious Goals

Evers Offers GOP a Second Chance to Fund Schools

Newly revised federal guidelines could take away pandemic aid to state unless education funding increased.

Dental Medicaid increases in state budget represent Wisconsin’s first significant investment in oral health in two decades

State Legislature Passes Biennial Budget

Lawmakers cut billions from the Governor's budget.

Republican Lawmakers Advance $3.4 Billion Tax Cut

State legislators propose cuts to income, property and business taxes.

Legislators Approve $125 Million for Broadband Expansion

But Gov. Evers allocated money for it. Republican proposal uses borrowed money.

Can We Please Discuss Criminal Justice Reform?

Democratic legislators plead with Republicans, who cut off any attempt to discuss reforms.

Surplus Leaves Evers, Legislators Even Further Divided

Unprecedented $4.4 billion surplus is huge opportunity. But for what?

Budget Surplus Offers ‘Golden Opportunity’

Report details how $4.4 billion state surplus could be used to improve Wisconsin.

Republican Plan Loses $2.3 Billion for Schools

State lawmakers slashed education funding below federal minimum requirements.

State Now Projects $4.4 Billion Windfall

Fiscal bureau projects far more tax revenue than expected for 2021-2023.

Can We Talk About Marijuana? Democrats Ask

GOP legislative leader won’t allow a vote or even discussion of medical marijuana.

GOP Lawmakers Reject Unemployment System Improvements

Republicans in State Legislature vote down $15 million to fix unemployment system.

Are Employers ‘Competing With The Couch’?

GOP legislators say jobless benefits causing worker shortage. Studies don’t back them up.

Republicans Slash Evers Education Budget

Reduction in spending could mean state loses $1.5 billion in federal pandemic relief funding for education.

Evers Credited for Budget Surplus

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

GOP Legislators Refuse Special Session on Medicaid Expansion

The Republican-controlled Senate and Assembly both adjourn sessions without debate or votes.