Milwaukee Public Schools’ $90 Million Retirement Sweetener “Unsustainable”

By Ola Lisowski - June 9, 2020

Government Benefits, Government Pensions, Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, MPS, MPS Board, MPS Budget, Rep. John Nygren, Retirement Benefits, Sen. Alberta Darling, Sen. Darling, Taxpayers, Teachers Union, Unfunded Liabilities, unfunded pension liability

Legislative Leaders React to MPS Retirement Benefits Expansion During Financial Crisis June 9, 2020 By Ola Lisowski As the state begins surveying the fiscal shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, two prominent members of the Wisconsin Legislature spoke to MacIver about Milwaukee Public Schools’ (MPS) recent decision to expand retirement benefits. The school board’s unanimous vote will allow employees hired before June 30, 2013 to be eligible for taxpayer-subsidized retirement benefits at age 55, after just 20 years of service to the district, and at least 70 percent of banked sick leave. Current policy allows employees to retire at age …

MacIver Newsmakers Podcast: John Nygren Talks Budget Surplus Plans

By MacIverNews - February 18, 2020

Act 10 Savings, Budget Surplus, Education Funding, John Nygren, MacIver Newsmakers, Rep. John Nygren

LISTEN – Rep. John Nygren (R- Marinette) talks about the policies that led to Wisconsin’s $800 million budget surplus and how Republicans have helped the K12 system by cutting costs and increasing aid. Read More MacIver Newsmakers Podcast: John Nygren Talks Budget Surplus Plans

A Costly Compromise

By MacIver Institute - July 10, 2019

2019-21 Budget, Dan O'Donnell, Gov. Tony Evers, Rep. John Nygren, Sen. Alberta Darling, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, Speaker Robin Vos

The state’s newly-signed budget is a compromise of both the best and worst sorts. Legislative Republicans were able to exorcise the worst and most ridiculous of Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ policy proposals, but in exchange had to surrender the last vestiges of fiscal sanity left over from the Scott Walker era. Read More A Costly Compromise

In Case You Missed It: June in Review

By MacIverNews - June 28, 2019

Big Labor, Budget, Dave Craig, Department of Transportation, Fiscal Responsibility, Joint Finance Committee, K-12 Education, Medicaid Expansion, Rep. John Nygren

It’s been quite the week for Wisconsin! The 2019-2021 biennial budget passed the Legislature, so keep an eye out for MacIver’s full analysis, coming soon. Gov. Tony Evers has called for the budget, giving him until July 4th to act on it if the document is enrolled today. It’s tough to keep up with everything that has been going on, so we’ve put together a rundown of what happened in key policy areas to keep you informed. Read More In Case You Missed It: June in Review

Wisconsin Agencies Provide Briefings on 2019-21 Biennial Budget

By MacIverNews - April 5, 2019

ACA, Affordable Care Act, Andrea Palm, Craig Thompson, DHS, DOT, DPI, Educational Choice, Eminent Domain, Enrollment Freeze, Governor Evers, Joint Committee on Finance, Joint Finance Committee, Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion, Medicare, Obamacare, Public Schools, Rep. John Nygren, Road Construction, School Choice, School Funding, Sen. Alberta Darling, Sen. Duey Stroebel, Senator Luther Olsen, Transportation Spending, Wisconsin Legislature, WisDOT

MacIver News Service | The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee met on Wednesday, April 3, and Thursday, April 4, to begin their work on the 2019-2021 biennial budget. On Wednesday, the heads of the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Health Services provided briefings on the governor’s proposals for their respective agencies. Read More Wisconsin Agencies Provide Briefings on 2019-21 Biennial Budget