A new home for the Budget Blog
As of May 2025, the Budget Blog is available exclusively for WisPolitics subscribers on the State Affairs Wisconsin platform.
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Visit this page to get the app and see a short video on how to use its features.
Posts from before May 2025 can be viewed below.
AG Brad Schimel today disputed his agency has a backlog of untested rape kits, even though earlier this year there were some 6,000 stored at Wisconsin hospitals and police departments that had not been submitted for testing. Schimel told the
Joint Finance has wrapped up for the day after hearing from DSPS Secretary Laura Gutierrez, who said the agency wants to eliminate unnecessary licensing requirements and “remove barriers” to entering the workforce. JFC Dems said they were alarmed with Gov.
JFC Dems today hammered at the Department of Corrections, though they credited Secretary Jon Litscher for making significant progress on several issues. Litscher highlighted some of those improvements, particularly in improving staff training, verbal de-escalation of incidents and boosting psychological
Chief Justice Pat Roggensack made a pitch today to the Joint Finance Committee to increase judicial pay, but nix the plan Gov. Scott Walker laid out to give judges a raise. She also urged lawmakers to reject his call to
Lawmakers on both sides said they have deep reservations on Walker’s self-insurance proposal, questioning Department of Employee Trust Funds officials on whether the agency’s savings estimates will pan out. Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, noted a consultant had estimated that the
DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel today defended the guv’s call to move state employees to a self-insurance model as Joint Finance Committee members raise concerns the projected savings will not materialize. Neitzel, who was first to testify before the committee as
The Joint Finance Committee signed off eliminating the requirement that minors aged 16 or 17 obtain a child work permit over Dem objections it would remove protections to make sure minors aren’t exploited. Under the bill, which passed 12-4, those
The Joint Finance Committee unanimously backed a series of bills today designed to combat opioid addiction after shooting down several Dem amendments. That included one from Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, that would have directed the state to accept the Medicaid
The Joint Finance Committee today 12-4 rejected using $346,100 from the Stewardship Fund to help buy 102.5 acres in Dane County after GOP members raised objections to the price. The Stewardship money would be used along with local funds for
In response to Kwik Trip, Gov. Scott Walker added a provision to his budget that would save the company from having to collect the sales tax on the frozen pizzas it produces and then ships to convenience stores across the
The Joint Finance Committee has locked in its schedule for public hearings on the budget, kicking things off April 3 at UW-Platteville and making several changes to tentative plans previously sent to committee members. After the Platteville hearing, the committee
The Joint Finance Committee plans to get in all of its agency briefings over three days, starting March 28 with DOA. The plan released by the co-chairs is: March 28, 9 a.m. • Department of Administration (budget overview and agency
Joint Finance tentatively plans to kick off its public hearings on the budget April 3 in Platteville with the first executive session possible May 2, according to a tentative overview sent to members and shared with WisPolitics.com. The offices of
Gov. Scott Walker is proposing $803 million in building projects as part of his 2017-19 capital budget. The proposal includes nearly $449.9 million in new bonding and $128 million for UW System projects. See the proposal: https://t.co/iKxawQ59JR See more in
Gov. Scott Walker today downplayed concerns from lawmakers who’ve been skeptical of his proposal to self-insure state employees, calling the expected savings an “incredible amount” that would be re-invested in public schools. Walker’s office says the proposal would save $60
Critics are taking aim at Gov. Scott Walker’s transportation budget and say it does little to solve the state’s long-term funding issue. They cited, for example, the roughly $293 million cut that the southeast megaprojects would take under Walker’s budget
A DNR reorganization plan proposed by its secretary would get the green light under Gov. Scott Walker’s budget, which also gives the agency the authority to increase state park fees. But a former DNR secretary is skeptical of many
Wisconsin business groups are applauding Gov. Scott Walker’s biennial budget proposal. In the budget plan unveiled Wednesday, Walker proposes increasing the cap on investments that companies can receive and still be eligible for state investor tax credits; the cap would increase
Republican legislative leaders say they may make major tweaks to Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget in the coming months, possibly shifting money to address lawmakers’ priorities. “I like the way the governor laid it out,” said Senate Majority Leader Scott
Gov. Scott Walker previewed a piece of his state budget this afternoon, announcing he is calling for a $592 million cut in taxes and fees. Walker tweeted details for a $204 million income tax cut that would benefit those now
