By Chris Rochester – The long-embattled concept of Federalism has new life after the November elections put Republicans in control of Congress and the White House. Judging by President Trump’s cabinet nominees, his team will eagerly embrace restoring a proper balance in the state-federal relationship – and Wisconsin is ready. Read More Legislative Leaders Seize Opportunity to Restore Federalism
Special Guest Perspective by James Wigderson – Walker’s challenge to the legislature should be the type of bold reforms that propelled Wisconsin into the national spotlight. As the late Margaret Thatcher said to former President George H. W. Bush, “this is no time to go wobbly.” Read More What to Expect From Walker’s State of the State Address
Wisconsin state agencies are requesting more than $69 billion in total funding for the 2017-2019 biennial budget, a debate that is quickly taking shape as Governor Scott Walker prepares for his State of the State address Tuesday. Read More A Look Ahead at the Upcoming Budget Debate
The second in our series of year-end stories brings you the Top Ten MacIver Stories of 2016, stories that we put a particularly bright light on that will have a long-term impact on our state. In descending order, they are… Read More MacIver’s Top 10 Stories of 2016
Despite today’s never-ending, 24-hour news cycle, there are still crucial and important stories that somehow do not receive the attention they so richly deserve. Whether the mainstream media willfully ignores these stories or just misses them entirely, there are many essential stories the public deserves to hear. Read More The Top 10 Under-Reported Stories of 2016
Happy Independence Day! This weeks Marketplace offers a speech by Calvin Coolidge given on America’s 150th birthday, a football players take on public funding for stadium construction, and the percentage of men participating in the workforce. Read More MacIver Marketplace, July 1, 2016
MacIver News Service – The Assembly debated four bills aimed at tackling fraud in the FoodShare and Unemployment Insurance programs. Read More Assembly Debates The Need To Reform Public Benefits Programs
MacIver News Service – A fifth complaint has been filed against a new retailer in Wisconsin because it allegedly violated the state’s Unfair Sales Act, better known as the minimum markup law. Read More Attorney: Will My Client be Economically Punished for Following State Law?
MacIver Institute – With the budget finally signed, the MacIver Institute spent hours pouring over the document to see just how good of a deal taxpayers got for their money. In our opinion, this budget is still very good for taxpayers and it will keep moving Wisconsin forward. Overall, the MacIver Institute gives the 2015-2017 Wisconsin state budget a “B+.” Read More ANALYSIS: The 2015-17 Wisconsin State Budget
MacIver Institute Budget Blog – On Tuesday, the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) made several important education decisions in a 29-page omnibus package. After a full 11-hour day, the package was passed along party lines on a 12-4 vote at 1:27 a.m. and was chock full of both fiscal items and policy changes to the state’s K-12 system. Read More Budget Blog – School Choice Expanded Again, Education Funding Increased and Drug Testing For Government Assistance