By M.D. Kittle – Critics of a Republican tax reform package winding its way through congress are employing fuzzy math – again – in an attempt to tear down the first rewrite of the tax code in more than 30 years. Read More The Faulty, Fuzzy Math Of Tax Reform, Foxconn Critics
By Ola Lisowski – As children all across Wisconsin head back to school, it is time for the MacIver Institute’s annual examination of our educational system. To make sure we’re all set for the semester, let’s take a look at what’s going on with our students. Read More The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy’s State of Education – 2017 Edition
By Ola Lisowski – After weeks of delays, the Senate Republican Caucus released a full budget proposal on Tuesday. Transportation remains the hot topic, but the Senate plan also includes substantive tweaks to Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal for the Department of Public Instruction. The Senate plan spends $24 million more than Walker’s already-generous education proposal, which sent $648 million more to public schools than current funding levels. It also adds six more positions to DPI compared to the governor’s plan. Read More Senate K-12 Plan: More Money for Low-Spending Schools, Modest Statewide School Choice Expansion Compared to Governor
Budget Blog – Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, the budget ball is back in the GOP-led Assembly’s court. In a letter to Vos, Fitzgerald says his caucus believes the “proffered solution presents a reasonable compromise on the major outstanding issues.” Read More Budget Blog – Senate Unveils Budget Plan Amid Impasse
By M.D. Kittle – Dan Kohl is banking on his famous family name to beat two-term U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) in next year’s 6th Congressional District election. But will he play up his position with a left-wing, anti-Israel group? Read More Dem Dan Kohl Comes From Left-Wing J Street To Campaign For Wisconsin Seat
By Jessica Murphy – In the case Matal v. Tam, an Asian-American dance-rock band was denied trademark rights to their band name “The Slants” because it was deemed a racial slur. On Monday, the Supreme Court stood up for free speech, striking down the law that allowed “disparaging” trademarks to be blocked by the Patent and Trademark Office. The unanimous 8-0 vote shows that free speech is indeed a nonpartisan issue – something Wisconsin Democrats would do well to learn. Read More Wisconsin Assembly, U.S. Supreme Court Reaffirm Free Speech
By M.D. Kittle – An attempt by the federal government to designate a new national marine sanctuary covering a three-county area along the shores of Lake Michigan has some residents worried the protection effort will take a piece Wisconsin’s sovereignty, create another power-hungry bureaucracy, and unnecessarily cost taxpayers money the federal treasury doesn’t have. Read More Citizens Raise Sovereignty Concerns About Proposed Lake Michigan Sanctuary
Special Guest Perspective by James Wigderson – Outagamic County Executive is using last month’s failed confrontation stunt with Gov. Walker to raise money and push a tired Medicaid expansion agenda. The policies he supports are already costing taxpayers a lot of money, and would only cost more. Read More Nelson Tries Cashing in on Failed Medicaid Confrontation With Walker
MacIver News – Contrary to VA public relations campaigns, Ottman says wait times remain a huge problem at Tomah. While he acknowledges the VA health care system is making improvements, particularly for first-time patients, he said delays remain an issue for veterans coming back for follow-up care. Read More VA Reverses ‘Zero’ Stance On War Vet’s Disability Claim
By MacIver Institute President Brett Healy – Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Darienne Driver recently announced that the district could face significant financial challenges, once again, as she begins her work preparing for the upcoming 2017-2018 budget deliberations. During an interview with Mike Gousha at a Marquette Law School program, Driver discussed the $1.2 billion dollar budget she will present in May and a potential $50 million dollar shortfall facing MPS. Read More No Surprise Here: MPS Blames $12 Million Less In Federal Title I Funding On School Choice