Some of Walker’s proposals appear to be policy changes with little or no fiscal impact. Wisconsin governors and lawmakers from both parties have often injected these into the budget. Walker, as a candidate for governor in 2010, made an unequivocal pledge to “strip policy and pork projects from the state budget.” By his first budget, this promise was labeled “broken.”
Category: Money & Politics Column
Posted inMoney & Politics Column
Records: Lobby spending down; Walker had huge funding edge
Wisconsin’s 700-plus registered lobby groups reported spending $11.5 million seeking to influence state law and policy in the last half of 2014. That brought total lobbying expenditures for the two-year legislative session to $57.5 million.
Posted inMoney & Politics Column
Complaint calls Oneida County mailings illegal; fairness at issue, too
Questions and concerns about the fliers led to the creation of Citizens for Democracy in Oneida County. Member Scott Eshelman blasts the fliers for making “wild accusations” that have taken a toxic toll on county politics.
Posted inMoney & Politics Column
Northwoods election mailing tied to Sen. Tom Tiffany left open wounds
The battle wounds of politics are very much on display in Oneida County in northern Wisconsin, where claims of election law violations involving a prominent state senator are now under review by the state Department of Justice.
Posted inMoney & Politics Column
Are higher per diems for lawmakers ‘outrageous,’ or long overdue?
Not surprisingly, the reaction from some quarters was harsh. In a letter to the editor, Oak Creek resident Wayne Meyer called the higher per diems “unconscionable,” saying it “borders on criminal.”
Posted inMoney & Politics Column
Court measure, billed as move toward congeniality, seen as rip on Abrahamson
The change would end the state’s 126-year tradition of having the court’s longest-tenured justice serve as chief, the administrative head of the state court system. Instead, the court’s seven members would elect their leader every two years.
Posted inMoney & Politics Column
State agency spending on outside service contracts continues to rise
The latest report, for fiscal 2014, shows state agency spending on outside services is up for the fourth straight year. This has happened despite the Act 10 benefit changes under Gov. Scott Walker that arguably make state workers more cost-effective, compared to the private sector.
Posted inMoney & Politics Column, Scott Walker's Wisconsin
Gov. Scott Walker sees end to sky-high spending in governor’s race
Walker, a possible presidential contender, says this extraordinary spending owes to extraordinary circumstances, like the opposition he faced from unions and others. Absent these factors, “my guess is, at least in the gubernatorial election, I doubt you’re ever going to see something that high again.”
Posted inMoney & Politics Column, Scott Walker's Wisconsin
‘Twas a night in Wisconsin
Then, to their wondering eyes did appear
Gov. Scott Walker, being less than perfectly clear.
Posted inMoney & Politics Column
State focuses on downside of plan to cut carbon emissions
The proposed plan calls on Wisconsin power plants to reduce their carbon pollution 34 percent below 2012 levels by the year 2030. A Clean Wisconsin report said this goal could be achieved while also bringing major public health benefits, boosting economic growth, and lowering energy bills.
Posted inMoney & Politics Column, Scott Walker's Wisconsin
Records show state role in $492 million drop of power plant value
The released records show Walker’s office was kept apprised of the matter but they give no sign that either Walker or Dominion pressured the DOR to accept a lower assessed value.
Posted inMoney & Politics Column
School choice group played major role in elections by exploiting other issues
Jensen is proud of the American Federation for Children’s legislative victories, which he says give it “a school choice majority in both houses” in Wisconsin. He attributes this success to public support for school choice. Yet, in its electioneering, AFC commonly doesn’t even mention school choice.