Badger Institute
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Wisconsin sees rise in FoodShare caseloads after work requirement waiver
Employment is a key factor in helping families overcome poverty and improve their financial situation. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, established through welfare reform in 1996, demonstrated that connecting government aid to employment could boost job rates and reduce poverty among single-mother households.
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Milwaukee faces funding challenge as federal support ends for free streetcar
Facing a $5 million annual cost to operate Milwaukee's free streetcar, The Hop, Alderman Scott Spiker questioned whether increasing parking ticket issuance could be a solution for funding. However, Department of Public Works (DPW) officials clarified that there is no connection between the two.
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Badger Institute reflects on decision regarding Rich Lowry
Shortly before their annual dinner on October 1, the Badger Institute became aware of comments made by Rich Lowry, editor of National Review, during his appearance on the Megyn Kelly Show. Although initially scheduled as a speaker for the event, the Institute decided to replace him due to concerns over his remarks.
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Harris' housing plan may raise Milwaukee home prices significantly
Vice President Kamala Harris' proposal to provide $25,000 in down payment assistance to first-time home buyers could lead to significant increases in housing prices, particularly in Midwestern cities like Milwaukee. This is according to a recent study by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
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Biden administration considers reactivating decommissioned nuclear power plants
The Biden administration is considering reactivating decommissioned nuclear power plants, according to the president's climate adviser. Investors have already announced plans to restart reactors at two closed plants in Michigan and Pennsylvania. When asked about additional plant restarts, White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi stated at the Reuters IMPACT conference in New York, "We’re working on it in a very concrete way."
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Madison's housing demand clashes with local resistance amid rising prices
The housing market in Madison, Wisconsin, faces significant challenges as demand continues to outpace supply. The median price for a single-family home in the area reached $470,800 this spring, making it difficult for many families to afford. Despite being surrounded by flat, buildable farmland, development is often hindered by local regulations and community resistance.
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Wisconsin broadband expansion faces hurdles amid regulatory concerns
The rollout of a $1 billion broadband expansion plan in Wisconsin is facing significant challenges due to government overregulation, according to industry insiders. The plan, part of the $42 billion federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, has yet to connect any households or businesses with broadband fiber. Program directors acknowledge that work may not commence until well into next year.
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Milwaukee Public Schools considers closing underused facilities amid declining enrollment
Wisconsin's largest school district, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), is addressing the potential closure of underused schools. Despite securing a quarter-billion-dollar funding increase last spring, the district faces challenges with declining enrollment and underutilized facilities.
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Milwaukee mural raises questions about honoring controversial figures
Lest anyone doubt his intentions, the man charged as a would-be assassin of a U.S. presidential candidate left a letter, made public this week by the Department of Justice. “This was an assassination attempt,” the suspect wrote several months beforehand, “but I failed you. … It is up to you now to finish the job.”
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Wisconsin concludes Clean Energy Week amid rising electricity demands
Wisconsin is approaching the conclusion of "Clean Energy Week," as declared by Governor Tony Evers. The Badger Institute has provided substantial literature on this topic.
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Minnesota sees exodus amid rising taxes; businesses eyeing relocation
Outdated Minnesota liquor laws brought Jon Kreidler’s Tattersall Distilling to River Falls, Wisconsin. Governor Tim Walz’s new taxes over the past year have made Kreidler look like a genius.
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Wisconsin's potential increase in nuclear energy production analyzed by DOE
A federal report this month is highlighting two Wisconsin nuclear power plant sites—one operating, one shut down—as attractive locations for new nuclear electric generating plants.
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Analysis compares Wisconsin's government spending with other states
On September 19, 2024, an analysis of Wisconsin's government spending compared to other states revealed mixed findings. The comparison focused on both state-level and combined state and local expenditures.
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New Wisconsin law aims to ease housing supply issues starting January
Homes have become less affordable in Wisconsin, with some attributing this to delays from the public approval process for new development. Relief may be forthcoming in January due to a law passed by the Legislature last year.
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Conservative group addresses changes in Annual Dinner lineup
The Annual Dinner is scheduled for October 1, featuring a panel of veteran journalists and think tank leaders discussing left-wing media bias and how conservatives can ensure their ideas and opinions are fairly reported.
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Republican Party advocates for eliminating Wisconsin's individual income tax
Some are calling for the elimination of Wisconsin’s individual income tax, which currently produces over $9 billion in annual revenue and accounts for over 40% of all state tax collections. A resolution adopted at the most recent convention of the Republican Party of Wisconsin encouraged the state Legislature to “make Wisconsin an income-tax-free state” and noted that a number of other states already do without one.
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Michigan recommissions Palisades Nuclear Generating Station amid shifting green policies
America’s energy grids are strained as electricity demand continues to grow exponentially, and zero-emission goals are diminishing so-called “baseload” generating capacity. The response on the other side of Lake Michigan: a notable atomic about-face that may hold lessons for Wisconsin.
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Analysis: WI sees uneven wage increases amid high inflation
Wisconsin is experiencing a significant disparity in wage growth across its counties. A county-by-county analysis reveals that while some residents are witnessing substantial wage increases, others are struggling to keep up with rising prices.
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Michael Maibach defends Electoral College ahead of Mequon talk
As progressives begin to launch election-season attacks on the Electoral College, Michael Maibach is coming to Mequon to remind Wisconsinites why it’s worth fighting for.
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Tax foundation: High-tax states see exodus as residents seek relief elsewhere
Wisconsin is hardly a taxpayer’s paradise unless compared to its neighboring states to the south and west. People are leaving Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa, and according to a new study by the Tax Foundation, the loss of state revenue and population migration are closely tied to punitive tax structures in those states.