Badger Institute
Recent News About Badger Institute
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Wisconsin Voters Approve Majority of School Tax-Hike Requests
Wisconsin voters have given their approval to the majority of school district requests to levy higher property taxes on the ballots last Tuesday. According to a report by the Badger Institute, slightly more than 60% of the 92 referenda placed before voters on April 2 were approved, whether for funding operations or building projects. This approval rate is lower than in recent years but remains consistent with historical norms.Dale Knapp, the director of Forward Analytics, highlighted the localized nature of these decisions, stating, "Everything is so local." He emphasized...
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UW Tenure Hysteria Deemed Unwarranted by Recent Analysis
The number of tenured faculty in the University of Wisconsin System has fallen roughly in line with the decrease in student enrollment since 2015. This decline was sparked by a legislative decision to remove tenure guarantees from state statute, leading to backlash from professors who described the move as "destructive" and "remarkably chilling," akin to "a death in the family."According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the number of tenured professors in the UW System decreased by approximately 8% between the 2016-17 and 2021-22 school years, correlating with a 9% drop...
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Will government’s heavy hand make business “Go Galt”?
In a world where government intervention in business operations is becoming more prominent, concerns are growing about the impact of these policies on entrepreneurship and innovation. The resurgence of industrial policy, championed as part of Bidenomics, has sparked debates about the role of government in shaping economic activities.The sentiment that government involvement is pervasive in development projects is echoed by critics. As one observation points out, "Sometimes it seems that no major development project occurs in Wisconsin without the visible hand of...
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Badger Institute's Impactful Work Praised by Mike Nichols
The Badger Institute’s policy work, journalism, and advocacy have been commended for their role in bringing about significant changes in Wisconsin. In a recent statement, Mike Nichols, a representative from the Badger Institute, highlighted the institute's efforts in advancing policies that aim to provide Wisconsinites with more freedom and greater opportunities.Nichols mentioned that throughout 2023, the institute focused on promoting their "Mandate for Madison" - a comprehensive document containing free-market policy recommendations that have now been translated into...
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Wisconsin Taxpayers Face Influx of School Referendum Requests
Wisconsin taxpayers are facing a deluge of school referendum requests as 85 school districts in the state seek tax hikes. Among them, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) stands out with the largest request. The districts are collectively seeking billions of dollars in increased revenue or borrowing.MPS is leading the charge by asking for an eventual, permanent increase to its revenue limit of $252 million annually. This request is part of a larger trend where districts are seeking permission from voters for various financial needs, such as borrowing money for capital projects...
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Batzel on middle class tax increase: 'average extra payment [to Wisconsin] will be $537 due to Evers’ veto'
Gov. Tony Evers (D) signed Wisconsin’s two-year budget into law July 5, which includes his veto of a tax cut that will cost the average Wisconsinite $537, according to analysis by the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Evers had promised a 10 percent tax cut when he ran for reelection for governor.
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Badger Institute official calls Wisconsin school voucher deal 'huge win for parents'
A limited government advocate calls last week's bipartisan deal that includes charter and private voucher schools and allows local governments to raise sales taxes without a referendum a "huge win for the parents of Wisconsin."
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Wisconsin legislators raise salaries for public defenders, prosecutors
The Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance has unanimously passed a bill to increase the salaries of public defenders and prosecutors to $36 per hour from about $27 per hour.
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Op-ed: Wisconsin’s misguided effort to keep gas prices high
Federal Trade Commission chairwoman Lina Khan announced earlier this month that the agency would soon begin scrutinizing gas stations, looking for signs of price collusion, which President Biden recently suggested may be a reason gas prices have spiked in the last few months.