MacIver News Service - The Joint Committee on Finance voted on Tuesday to modify Governor Scott Walker's provision to create a pay progression plan for Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) and State Public Defenders (ASPDs) and reduced spending by $3.5 million. Read More »

How can we improve academic results without breaking the bank? Marcus Winters argues through more school choice. Read More »

MacIver News Service - The Joint Committee on Finance voted 16-0 on Thursday to reduce net spending for the Department of Transportation fund by almost $60 million to close a projected deficit and is now expected to end the biennium with a balance of about $5 million. Read More »

MacIver News Service- Joint Committee on Finance Co-Chairs have introduced an omnibus motion that will close the projected $54 million deficit at the Department of Transportation by delaying large southeastern Wisconsin road construction projects including the Ryan and Zoo Interchanges, reducing funding to the State Highway Rehabilitation Program by $12.3 million, and reducing major highway development funding by $7.3 million. Read More »

MacIver News Service - Wisconsin improved 17 spots on the American Legislative Exchange Council's Rich States, Poor States Economic Outlook Ranking from 32nd to 15th, the greatest improvement of any state over last year. Rich States, Poor States has been published since 2008. The study looks at 15 equally-weighted policy variables to predict economic growth in each state. Read More »

MacIver News Service - The Joint Committee on Finance will debate funding for the UW System on Thursday for the first time since more than $1 billion in cash reserves was found in the university system's bank accounts. Of the $1 billion in cash reserves, $648 million was considered to be surplus by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Read More »

A joint hearing in Madison Wednesday took testimony on Common Core State Standards. Supporters believe it is the impetus needed to improve local standards while opponents believe it is federal interference that will hurt education. Read More »

MacIver News Service - The Joint Committee on Finance voted on Tuesday to require able-bodied childless adults to find a job or participate in a work-training program to receive FoodShare benefits. JFC also approved a measure from Walker that would allow the state to sell or lease state owned assets like heating, cooling, and power plants. Read More »

MacIver News Service - Governor Scott Walker hopes to lower high healthcare costs the state faces each year by offering state employees the option of selecting a high deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA) in addition to plans already offered by the state. JFC adopted the Governor's proposal and added a few parameters to the program. Read More »

MacIver News Service - On Tuesday, the Joint Committee on Finance will take up legislation that could change the way students are measured in Wisconsin. JFC will discuss the Department of Public Instruction's administration and funding heading into the 2013-2015 biennium. This will include several important issues like new standardized tests, new requirements for teachers and professional development, and state funding for Teach for America educators. Read More »