Badger Institute
Recent News About Badger Institute
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Policy brief examines legal cannabis' health impact
The Badger Institute is not arguing for or against legalization either in this paper or in any of the other policy briefs we’ve compiled on the topic. Our aim is simply to present research in states that have legalized in the belief that, whatever decision Wisconsinites make in the years ahead, the outcomes will be better if the decision is informed by facts.
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Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission debates controversial landmark status
Key members of the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission appear to believe their role involves assessing housing availability, facilitating development deals, or aiding in securing tax breaks. This perception follows the commission's 3-1 vote last month to endorse a 35-year-old "postmodern" building for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The decision was unexpected and contradicted by a similar state entity's conclusion.
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Milwaukee Public Schools fail to meet deadline for police presence
Fourteen months after a deal was struck with the Legislature, there will still be no police officers in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) as classes commence this Tuesday. This situation violates a stipulation included in the current state budget.
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Proposed Vista Sands Solar project raises concerns over habitat disruption
The greater prairie-chicken, a species now threatened in Wisconsin, is at the center of a controversy involving the proposed Vista Sands Solar project in Portage County. The project, spanning 7,100 acres, would be the largest solar installation in Wisconsin and has raised concerns among conservationists and local residents.
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Wisconsin's two-year colleges face uncertain future amid declining enrollments
A legislative committee formed to study declining enrollment across the University of Wisconsin System may recommend ending what remains of the two-year branch campus system. The leadership of the Study Committee on the Future of the University of Wisconsin System insists that no one on the 18-member committee has suggested this in its first two meetings, held in July and last Thursday, Aug. 8.
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Wisconsin voters reject constitutional amendments on federal spending oversight
Bombarded with assertions from big-spending liberals, many Wisconsin independents and conservatives were persuaded this week to vote against two constitutional amendments. These amendments would have granted legislators shared responsibility with the governor over significant federal spending.
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Odds low for Republican donations from UW-Madison humanities or social science professors
The odds of a UW-Madison pre-tenured professor’s political donation going to a Republican are only 1 in 490, according to an analysis by outgoing UW political science professor Ryan Owens and his colleague, Alex Tahk. In the social sciences and humanities, where professors’ viewpoints on politics and culture have more bearing on lectures than fields like engineering, the odds fall to just 1 in 530.
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Wisconsin's heat pump subsidy may raise homeowner costs
Wisconsin will be the first state to distribute federally funded rebates to homeowners for energy-related home alterations, including heat pumps that are projected to significantly increase heating costs for homeowners.
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Study reveals declining economic mobility for Milwaukee's low-income white children
A recent study from Harvard economist Raj Chetty and colleagues highlights a decline in economic mobility in Milwaukee County, particularly among white children from low-income families. The Wall Street Journal reported that the study compared the earnings of children born in 1978 and 1992 at age 27 to assess mobility.
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Sheboygan County businesses establish $10 million fund for affordable housing
Four family-owned Sheboygan County businesses and a local economic development agency have established a $10 million fund to address the county's affordable housing shortage. The Forward Fund aims to build 400 to 500 single-family homes over the next several years, according to Brian Doudna, executive director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp. (SCEDC).
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Wisconsin constitutional amendment debate includes concerns over disaster aid
The opponents of constitutional amendments that would give legislators a say, along with the governor, on spending federal dollars are claiming that adoption by voters on Aug. 13 would somehow slow down help for people struck by natural disasters. That’s simply not true.
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Badger Institute advocates for constitutional amendments on Aug 13 ballot
On July 10, the Badger Institute launched a campaign recommending that voters approve the two-question proposal on Wisconsin ballots this August 13. The proposal aims to amend the constitution so that money sent to the state government by the federal government would be subject to the same legislative oversight and deliberation as all other state spending.
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Future uncertain for Wisconsin's Commercial Docket Pilot Project amid changing Supreme Court dynamics
Advocates for a business court system operating since 2017 in Wisconsin are concerned that a politicized state Supreme Court may dissolve the successful pilot program this fall.
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Documentary premiere highlights Joshua Glover's fight for freedom at RNC
A heroic moment in Wisconsin’s history deserves more attention, says Michael Jahr. So he’s making a movie about it.
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Wisconsin voters to decide on constitutional amendments regarding legislative control over federal funds
On August 13, voters across Wisconsin will decide on two proposed amendments to the state Constitution. The first amendment seeks to prohibit the legislature from ceding its "sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated." The second amendment aims to prevent the governor from spending money from major federal allocations without legislative approval.
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Wisconsin faces potential electricity shortage amid rising demand
Life in Wisconsin is projected to become increasingly reliant on electricity in the coming years. This shift raises concerns about potential electricity shortages.
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Milwaukee developer seeks historic status for postmodern building amid mixed public opinion
A small group of enthusiasts aims to position Milwaukee at the forefront of historical preservation of postmodern architecture, or at least assist a downtown developer in obtaining a tax break. Earlier this week, the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission endorsed the nomination of the 35-year-old 100 East building, also known as the Faison Building, for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
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Wisconsin ranks low in frequency of federally declared disasters
Wisconsin's relative safety from natural disasters is noteworthy, especially when compared to other states in the U.S. Despite occasional tornadoes, the state experiences fewer severe natural events than many other regions.
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Medicaid enrollment remains high in Wisconsin despite post-pandemic adjustments
After a year-long disenrollment, there are still 163,221 more people on Medicaid in Wisconsin than there were before the start of the pandemic, at a cost to taxpayers of at least $50 million a year. The state Department of Health Services (DHS) has not yet provided an explanation for this increase.
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Badger Institute advocates for constitutional amendments on federal spending oversight
The Badger Institute, led by President Mike Nichols, remains committed to upholding the principles of free enterprise, liberty, and limited government. According to Nichols, the organization's recent efforts have contributed to significant changes in Wisconsin, including closing the funding gap for choice schools, repealing the personal property tax, passing free-market dental care for children, and achieving faster justice for crime victims.