Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, announced they have reached a tentative agreement to fund WisconsinEye.
During a joint news conference Thursday, the two said they planned to introduce a bipartisan bill shortly that would take $10 million originally meant as matching funds for the public affairs network and place it in a trust fund. Interest from that fund would be used to finance the network’s operations.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, reacted coolly to the proposal, saying he first wanted the chance to review the network’s financial statements.
LeMahieu said in a statement that while the co-chairs of the Joint Audit Committee had asked WisconsinEye to deliver financial statements by Jan. 9, the lawmakers just received the documents Wednesday.
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WisconsinEye President Jon Henkes told WisPolitics the network didn’t receive the original request and worked out an extension with the office of committee Co-chair Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto.
“Until members have a chance to review WisconsinEye’s financial statements and governance documents, Senate Republicans will not commit to blindly giving money to an organization that has been unable to reliably provide transparency to the Legislature and the general public,” LeMahieu said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Gov. Tony Evers said he didn’t participate in talks that led to the announcement and hadn’t seen the proposal. A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein said the Middleton Dem hadn’t seen the bill yet either and conversations were ongoing.
Vos said a “revamped board of directors” would control how money from the trust fund is spent, but the nonprofit network would remain “transparent and private.”
WisEye will still be expected to raise a “few hundred thousand dollars a year,” Neubauer said. She added network leadership has said it’s optimistic about raising that much.
“It’s very important for the public to have access, and so we’re optimistic that we’re going to reach a bipartisan solution there soon,” Neubauer said.
The bill will also include provisions for “a little additional transparency” into the network’s operations, including an expectation to report to the Legislature, Neubauer said, citing the “significant” planned investment.
Vos also said there’s a plan to sign a short-term contract with WisEye so the network can broadcast the February floor period.
“When we don’t always find consensus, it is nice to have something like transparency and open government where I think we’re in sync,” Vos said.
He noted that part of the impetus for the bill was the Supreme Court’s concerns about broadcasting February oral arguments.
“The idea of having one network and one operation for the courts, another for the Legislature, another for the executive branch is certainly going to cost more than any amount we give to WisconsinEye,” he said.
Note: This item was updated Jan. 23, 2026 at 11:05 a.m. with additional information and comment.
