Is the Recovery Leaving Wisconsin Behind?Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJanuary 25, 2012Wisconsin lagged behind other states in job creation in 2011, raising questions of whether the economic recovery is leaving Wisconsin behind. State policymakers have placed a high priority on private sector job creation in Wisconsin, with frustratingly little to show for it. Between December 2010 and December 2011, Wisconsin added just 13,500 private sector jobs – barely keeping up with population growth. Jobs figures for December 2011 are preliminary and will be replaced with final figures in March.
Is the Wisconsin Budget Still in the Red? Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJanuary 23, 2012The Department of Health Services (DHS) says Wisconsin has a deficit, notwithstanding the fact that the Governor has repeatedly said that he got the state budget into the black. A new WCCF blog post explains that DHS is using different accounting than the state typically uses because certifying that Wisconsin has a deficit would allow the department to eliminate or restrict BadgerCare eligibility for 53,000 adults.
Wisconsin’s State Government Job Losses Lead the Nation Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJanuary 12, 2012Wisconsin has lost a higher percentage of its state government employees than any other state, according to quarterly figures newly released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wisconsin had nearly 8,000 fewer workers in state government in June 2011 than in June 2010. There are currently about 225,000 unemployed people in Wisconsin searching for jobs.
Falling Support for Schools Threatens Wisconsin's Economic Future Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJanuary 12, 2012Massive reductions in state and local support for education could inflict severe damage to Wisconsin’s public schools, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Budget Project. Wisconsin’s well-educated workforce has long been a foundation of the state’s economy. This blow to Wisconsin’s educational system threatens to undermine that key driver of economic development.
2012 Brings Numerous Changes Adversely Affecting Working Families Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJanuary 9, 2012“The range of changes that will make things tougher for Wisconsin families starting this year is startling,” said Ken Taylor, executive director of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. “At a time when so many working families are just starting to get back on their feet in the wake of the recession, it’s troubling to see just how many policy changes are going to make it more difficult for them to bounce back economically.”
Taking a Closer Look at the Pace of Job Creation in WisconsinWisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 29, 2011Recent jobs figures show that Wisconsin is making only minimal progress towards Governor Walker’s goal of 250,000 new private sector jobs. If Wisconsin continues to create jobs at the same rate as it has over the first 11 months of 2011, it would take more than 14 years to create that number of jobs in the private sector. The number of private sector jobs in Wisconsin has been growing at a snail’s pace, but the total number of jobs has grown even more slowly. Wisconsin has been shedding jobs in the public sector, leading to layoffs and job loss for our teachers, librarians, and bus drivers. The result is that it would take more than half a century to add 250,000 jobs – public or private – to the Wisconsin economy at the current pace.
Looking ahead to the 2012 State Budget: How Green is the “Recovery”? Wisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 28, 2011News from Within and Outside Wisconsin Sends Mixed Signals on Revenue Growth As I monitor Wisconsin’s fiscal prospects, I try to decipher any tea leaves (not tea bags) I can find, including omens of fiscal health outside our state. The news over the last few weeks has been mixed –making me a little bit less worried about the prospects for getting through 2012 without a new deficit, but still apprehensive about the state’s fiscal health over the next several years.
DOA Announces $123 million of Funding Lapses (Cuts); More to ComeWisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 23, 2011UW System and Children’s Programs Hit Hard by Lapses Announced Today This afternoon the Walker Administration announced its plans for lapsing $123 million to the General Fund. (I wonder why news like this so often comes out late on a Friday before a big holiday?) The biennial budget requires the Department of Administration to allocate $174 million of lapses, and today’s announcement covers just the first fiscal year – meaning that there will be at least $51 million in additional lapses sometime during the next 18 months.
The Link Between Budget Cuts and Job Loss Wisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 20, 2011In tough times, the worst thing the state can do is further shrink the economy. Yet that’s just what the Governor and Legislature seem intent on doing, according to a new report from the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future (IWF). The resulting job loss has thrown 18,000 Wisconsin residents out of work in the private sector alone. There’s no question Wisconsin’s economy is stuck in neutral. New jobs figures show that Wisconsin has lost jobs for five straight months, and Wisconsin ranks last among the states in recent economic performance.
The Five Worst State Budget Ideas of 2011Wisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 16, 2011In 2011, the Legislature made many ill-advised budgeting decisions, decisions that will have long-term negative effects on Wisconsin’s ability to create family-supporting jobs. The Wisconsin Budget Project takes a look back at 2011 to identify the five worst budgeting ideas of the year.
Lemons, Lemonade, and the State’s New Job Numbers Wisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 15, 2011The latest example comes from the DWD press release about today’s Wisconsin employment numbers. That release is a stark contrast to the Journal Sentinel article today, which states in the headline that Wisconsin lost an estimated 11,700 private-sector jobs in November. The article by John Schmid goes on to note that the October to November drop was “the deepest since April 2009 when the nation was in the throes of the recession.”
Turning Down Federal Rail Money Leaves State Taxpayers on the Hook Wisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 14, 2011A year ago, Wisconsin turned down a federal grant for high-speed rail. Now, a new memo shows that Wisconsin taxpayers have incurred or will incur between $65 and $84 million in costs that would have been covered by the federal grant. This leaves the state with fewer resources to shore up Wisconsin’s transportation system.
How Wisconsin Surrendered $1.3 Billion in Federal Money Wisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 13, 2011According to a new report from the Wisconsin Budget Project, Wisconsin families will lose out on more than $1 billion in federal money for health care, job training, child support, education, and transportation as a result of decisions at the state level. State budget cuts or incomplete funding of state programs meant Wisconsin did not capture an additional $506 million of federal funds that were available over the current biennium. In addition, Wisconsin turned down $803 million in two large federal grants, including a grant for high-speed rail. Federal spending in Wisconsin was $800 per person below the national average in 2010.
Major, Profitable Corporations Pay Little in State Income Taxes Wisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 7, 2011Many consistently profitable corporations pay little or no state income tax, depriving state residents of the resources needed to support public education, a solid transportation system, and safe communities. A new report by Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy profiles 265 Fortune 500 companies, and determines that 68 of them paid no state income tax in at least one year from 2008 through 2010. The companies reported almost $117 billion in pretax profits in those no-tax years. The New York Times covered the report this morning.
Searching for Bright Spots in the New Wisconsin Job Creation Figures Wisconsin Budget Project BlogFriday, September 16, 2011Wisconsin lost 2,300 jobs in August, according to the figures that came out yesterday. This marks the second month in a row that Wisconsin has lost jobs. (You can read some of our commentary on past jobs figures here, here, and here.) Governor Walker has made much of his pledge to create 250,000 private sector jobs in Wisconsin. Between January and August 2011, the number of jobs in the private sector rose by only 18,300. At that pace, it will take nearly seven years to add 250,000 jobs. With new evidence the economic recovery may be slowing, we should be prepared for more months with negative job creation figures.
What the American Jobs Act Would Mean for Wisconsin Wisconsin Budget Project BlogWednesday, September 14, 2011President Obama has announced his American Jobs Act, a package that includes $447 billion in tax cuts and new spending aimed at increasing employment and upgrading infrastructure across the country. Here’s what the American Jobs Act would mean for Wisconsin, in dollar amounts and numbers of jobs supported. The figures are taken from materials posted by the White House.
Researchers Ask, Did the Stimulus Work? Wisconsin Budget Project BlogFriday, September 9, 2011Given that lawmakers are going to be debating the best way to drag the economy out of its current funk, now is a good time to scrutinize the track record of the last significant effort to jumpstart the economy. More than two years have passed since the federal Recovery Act was put into place in 2009, and researchers have had time to study the effects of the stimulus and determine whether the results were worth the cost. The Recovery Act was designed to provide a temporary boost to the economy, and the effect of the stimulus has waned as Recovery spending has lessened. Still, it’s significant that even at this late date the Recovery Act is increasing the number of people employed by more than a million, especially given that the national economy created no net new jobs in August.
Recovery Act Resources Critical to Texas, Despite Rhetoric Wisconsin Budget Project BlogAugust 29, 2011Texas Governor Rick Perry is making waves with his entry into the Republican race for president. He’s also making waves with his anti-Washington rhetoric, vowing to make Washington “inconsequential” to most people’s lives. Fortunately for Texans, he didn’t take that same anti-Washington approach during the recession, when the state made significant use of Recovery Act dollars to stem its budgetary shortfall and lay the groundwork for the subsequent economic recovery. News reports at the time indicated that Texas used stimulus funds to plug 97% of its budget shortfall for fiscal 2010, a figure higher than any other state’s.
As Recovery Act Expires, More Could Slide Into Poverty Wisconsin Budget Project BlogAugust 11, 2011Did the Recovery Act reduce the number of people living in poverty during the recession? That’s a natural question to ask, but unfortunately, traditional measures of poverty aren’t of much use in providing an answer. That’s because the official poverty measure doesn’t take into account tax credits, food stamps, or other important forms of Recovery Act assistance that gave a boost to families struggling to lift themselves out of poverty.
Recovery Dollars Still At Work in Wisconsin Wisconsin Budget Project BlogAugust 3, 2011And although you don’t hear much about it these days, there’s still Recovery dollars at work in Wisconsin as well as at the national level. The Wisconsin Recovery website which seems to have been renamed the Wisconsin Federal Funds website, has a list of Recovery Act expenditures by state department, and the percent expended by project.
Spending Cuts Cascade Down to Local LevelWisconsin Budget Project BlogAugust 3, 2011Both the federal government and the state government are reducing spending, in large part by shifting costs to other levels of government. Faced with cascading cuts in spending, local governments have fewer options and are facing the possibility of having to make steep cuts in areas important to keeping our communities safe, well-functioning, and economically viable.
The Mechanics of Cutting $2.1 Trillion from the Federal Budget Wisconsin Budget Project BlogAugust 2, 2011The deal to raise the debt ceiling creates a three-stage process that will lead to damaging program cuts and continued economic weakness, while it increases the debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion. As many others have noted, it shouldn’t have come to this. The final deal should have included revenue increases, and key programs should have been shielded. With the nation teetering on the brink of its second slide into a double-dip recession, America needed a deal that creates jobs, rather than one that will destroy them. And we needed a deal that doesn’t leave safety net programs stretched so thin and left so vulnerable to deep cuts later this year.
Recovery Act Still Lifting Employment LevelsWisconsin Budget Project BlogJuly 27, 2011The Recovery Act seems like a long time ago. For many of us, our attention has turned to other federal issues, such as the negotiations to extend the federal debt ceiling. But even though the Recovery Act is no longer making headlines, the stimulus is still creating jobs and increasing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to a recent report by the Council of Economic Advisors. Two years after it was enacted in 2009, the Recovery Act raised the level of the GDP in the first quarter of 2011 by between 2.3 and 3.2 percent above what it would have otherwise been, according to the report.
Who Does Not Pay Taxes? Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJuly 20, 2011Who does not pay taxes? Some large and profitable state banks, for starters. Associated Bank, the biggest and most profitable bank based in Wisconsin, made $2.6 billion in pre-tax profits from 2001 through 2008. Yet the bank paid no state income tax during that period. Likewise, M&I Bank paid less than one percent of its pretax profit in income tax, and that amount will likely go down to zero based on changes made in the2011-13 biennial budget. This information and more comes from a new newsletter from the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future (IWF), a non-profit, non-partisan statewide organization dedicated to tax policy research, community organizing and education policy.
Approaching Hazards for a Fragile Recovery Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJuly 18, 2011The recovery from the recession continues to be slow. Recent job reports, both nationally and in Wisconsin, are disappointing, with Wisconsin adding just 900 jobs in May. (The Wisconsin Budget Project has more on that in a 6/14/11 blog post.) Wisconsin lost more than 170,000 jobs during the recession and has regained just a fraction of that amount. The feeble nature of the economic recovery is especially alarming considering that several measures aimed at bolstering the economy are slated to end in the coming months.
Economy Faces a Jolt as Benefit Checks Run OutThe New York TimesJuly 10, 2011Close to $2 of every $10 that went into Americans’ wallets last year were payments like jobless benefits, food stamps, Social Security and disability, according to an analysis by Moody’s Analytics. In states hit hard by the downturn, like Arizona, Florida, Michigan and Ohio, residents derived even more of their income from the government. By the end of this year, however, many of those dollars are going to disappear, with the expiration of extended benefits intended to help people cope with the lingering effects of the recession. Moody’s Analytics estimates $37 billion will be drained from the nation’s pocketbooks this year.
Wisconsin Spends an Increasing Amount of Its Money on Corrections Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJuly 6, 2011A new analysis by the Wisconsin Budget Project shows that Wisconsin is spending a greater share of its scarce revenue on corrections. The analysis also notes that Wisconsin spends far more than neighboring states on corrections, despite having similar violent crime rate. The result is that Wisconsin has fewer resources to invest in promoting the well-being of our communities.
Stimulus funding sparks expansion at Waukesha Electric SystemsSmall Business TimesJune 30, 2011Waukesha Electric Systems, an SPX company, is using federal stimulus funding to expand its plant by 154,000 square feet and will ramp up production by adding 250 jobs over the next three years. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited the plant in Waukesha today to view the impact of the clean energy investments from President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Efficient power transformers are a critical component in the development of a flexible and more reliable national electricity grid, and the power transformers built at Waukesha Electric Systems are more than 99.5 percent efficient, Chu said. The plant was selected for more than $12 million in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits from the stimulus act last year.
Saving for a Rainy Day? Wisconsin Budget Project BlogJuly 5, 2011Most of us try to save a little while times are good, stashing away extra funds in case we’re stuck without a job or with extra expenses. In the best cases, this allows us to survive on our savings rather than charging the credit card or falling into poverty. Unfortunately, the state has not chosen to do the same on an important program currently supporting more than 90,000 Wisconsinites – unemployment insurance.
New Analysis Reveals That Low-Income Families Stand to Take a Big Hit The Wisconsin Budget Project BlogMay 23, 2011In the days and weeks leading up to the introduction of his biennial budget proposal, Gov. Walker repeatedly pointed to the need for “shared sacrifice.” Once the Governor’s budget was unveiled, however, it quickly became clear that the sacrifice his budget calls for is not shared equally. A disproportionate amount of the sacrifice is being required of the state’s most vulnerable populations, particularly low-income working families. The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF) today released a brief analysis of the budget’s real-life impact on Wisconsin families, focusing on a number of specific budget measures that would make it more difficult for those households to get by.
Poorer Districts Will Take Bigger Aid Hit in Budget The Wisconsin Budget Project BlogMay 17, 2011The biennial budget proposes decreasing revenue limits by 5.5 percent between fiscal year 2011 and 2012. The budget also reduces general aid to schools by $390.5 million in FY 2012 and $358.8 million in FY 2013. For many schools, the reduction in aid is less than the decrease in the revenue limit. This means most districts – more than 75 percent – will have to cut property taxes to stay under the revenue limits.
Proposed Budget Would Force Most School Districts to Cut Property TaxesThe Wisconsin Budget Project BlogMay 16, 2011We already know that Governor Walker’s proposed budget would result in deep cuts to state aid to public schools. A new study by University of Wisconsin professor Andrew Reschovsky gives a more complete picture about how school funding will change if the Governor’s recommendations are enacted. Not only will schools receive less in aid from the state, but more than three-quarters of school districts will have to reduce the amount of revenue they raise at the local level as well, unless the voters approve a referendum increasing the revenue limit.
Apparently We're Not Broke: Revenue Forecast Climbs by $636 Million The Wisconsin Budget Project BlogMay 11, 2011Based on the most recent revenue estimate from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, which was released today, we can expect an additional $636 million in revenue before the end of fiscal year 2013, compared to previous estimates. The new tax estimates call for $233 million above prior projections for the current fiscal year and about $200 million more in each of the next two years.
Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs. Also: Jobs... A Look at Recent Employment Trends in Wisconsin The Wisconsin Budget Project BlogMay 9, 2011If Wisconsin has jobs on the brain, you can’t really blame us. Between January 2008 and October 2009, Wisconsin lost 171,400 jobs (seasonally adjusted), which amounts to 5.9 percent of all employment. The recession decreased the number of jobs across the spectrum of industries, but the number of jobs in manufacturing in particular saw a precipitous decline. Nationally, the number of jobs in manufacturing declined more than twice as fast as the total number of jobs, according to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Alternative Measure of Poverty Shows Value of Recovery Act The Wisconsin Budget Project BlogMay 4, 2011A new report by University of Wisconsin researchers shows that the Recovery Act helped shelter state residents from the worst effects of the recession. By official measures, poverty in Wisconsin rose from 10.2 percent in 2008 to 12.4 percent in 2009, according to the report. But the official measure of poverty takes only cash income into account. This means that non-cash income like tax credits or food stamps – both of which were significantly expanded by the Recovery Act and both of which can make a big difference to a family’s bottom line – are not considered when determining poverty status.
Getting No Respect: Is the Recovery Act the Rodney Dangerfield of Politics?The Wisconsin Budget Project BlogApril 28, 2011A recent "watchdog" column in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examines a political controversy over who should get credit for some new jobs that are planned at a manufacturing plant in Altoona. Quoting from the column, "Walker recently took credit in a widely reported press conference for creating 125 jobs at a state manufacturing plant, even though then-Gov. Jim Doyle announced the same new jobs back in December." The column examines the arguments and counterarguments of the Walker Administration and former Doyle Administration officials regarding which governor should get credit for the 125 jobs, without coming to a definitive conclusion. Almost lost in the debate is that the jobs are supported at least partly by a bond program created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). News reports indicate that Curt Manufacturing benefited from $11 million in Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds, a temporary economic tool that allowed state and local governments to issue bonds to finance projects with economic development outcomes. The issuer receives a subsidy of 45% of the interest cost from the federal government, which lowers the cost of financing.
Wisconsin Falls Back to 8th Lowest in Public Sector EmploymentThe Wisconsin Budget Project BlogApril 22, 2011One of the issue briefs we write each year is an analysis of state and local government employment statistics collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s a popular brief because it undermines some of the misconceptions about public sector employment in Wisconsin
U.S. House Budget Would Make it Harder to Respond to Future RecessionsThe Wisconsin Budget Project BlogApril 20, 2011The budget plan approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, and spearheaded by Wisconsin’s own U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, would slash federal anti-poverty programs and support for working families. Of the $4.5 trillion in federal spending cuts included in the plan over the next ten years, about two-thirds would come from programs for low- and moderate-income families. The effects on Wisconsin families still struggling to shake off the effects of the recession could be devastating.
Budget Bill Holds Down Property Taxes; Should We Celebrate?The Wisconsin Budget ProjectApril 18, 2011Although today is income tax day, I’ve been thinking about the tax that many people dislike paying even more – the property tax. Its unpopularity helps explain one of the things that makes addressing a large hole in the state budget a very challenging task – i.e., the fact that 55 percent of state General Fund spending is for local aid and property tax relief. Substantial cuts in state spending will almost certainly reduce local aid, which typically pushes up property taxes.
Value of Governor’s “Tools” in DisputeThe Wisconsin Budget ProjectApril 13, 2011To help balance the biennial state budget, Governor Walker is proposing drastic cuts in aid to local governments, including counties, municipalities, and school districts. Cuts proposed by the Governor over the biennium include: • $834 million GPR to public K-12 schools; • $100 million GPR in shared revenue to counties and municipalities; • $64 million in segregated fund state support for local recycling programs; • $48 million in segregated fund state support for local transportation aid; • $10 million GPR for mass transit aid; and • $8 million GPR for juvenile justice at the local level.
A Rainy Day Fund That Can’t Be Used Even When It’s PouringThe Wisconsin Budget ProjectApril 11, 2011The Wisconsin Budget Project has released a new analysis of a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would require the state to make specific contributions to a rainy day fund. Establishing a rainy day fund could help cushion against future economic downturns; however, this proposal would make the fund difficult to access in times of need and could have the side effect of driving up state-imposed fees. Worse, it would enshrine these changes in the state constitution, severely limiting the Legislature’s options for confronting a budget crisis.
Public Policy Forum to focus on impact of Walker budgetBizTimes MilwaukeeMay 1, 2011The Public Policy Forum will present a panel discussion on “Wisconsin's New Budget Paradigm: Will it Help or Hinder Milwaukee's Economic Competitiveness?” The public is invited to attend the event, which will take place Thursday, May 12, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Italian Conference Center in downtown Milwaukee.
Falk, Cieslewicz say Walker's claims of savings for local governments are wrongWisconsin State JournalMarch 17, 2011Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday that savings to municipalities and counties laid out in his budget repair bill will more than offset aid cuts in his biennial budget — a claim local leaders called incomplete and inaccurate. Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk blasted Walker, saying his press release is based on the "false assumption" that local leaders want to balance the state budget on the backs of employees and that the governor has stolen tools that let local governments save money.
Walker touts budget help for schools, but others dispute his figuresWisconsin State JournalMarch 17, 2011Description Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday trumpeted a new analysis by his budget office that shows school districts would save more from employee benefit concessions than they would lose in proposed aid cuts, preventing the massive teacher layoffs experienced by other states. So why are some districts where employees have agreed to those concessions still considering layoffs, larger class sizes and program cuts — something State Superintendent Tony Evers called "a crushing challenge" this week?
Fiscal estimate projects lost revenue for school districtsBizTimes DailyMarch 13, 2011Gov. Scott Walker's proposed reduction in per pupil spending limits would mean $1.68 billion less for schools in Wisconsin over the next two years compared with what they could expect under current law, according to new estimates by the Department of Public Instruction and the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Under the projections, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) would see the largest reduction in how much it could spend over the next two school years at a loss of $165.9 million between state aid and property taxes. The Madison district is next at $51.6 million, followed by Kenosha ($43.9 million), Racine ($40.8 million) and Green Bay ($38.9 million).
In Madison, Nearly 100,000 Protest Gov. Walker’s Corporatist VisionIn These TimesMarch 14, 2011Last week, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and his Republican allies fittingly resorted to blatantly undemocratic means to ram through Walker’s anti-democratic proposal to deny public employees a union voice on the job and in the political arena, legislation designed to both permanently weaken both labor and the Democratic Party. But in their desperate and almost-certainly illegal rush to pass the bill, Walker and the Republicans incinerate their own claims that the anti-union bill was an apolitical measure aimed only at bringing state and local budgets under control.
Republicans ram through bill to revoke collective bargainingMilwaukee BizTimesMarch 9, 2011Republicans in a hastily called state legislative conference committee approved a resolution Wednesday night to revoke the collective bargaining rights for thousands of public employees in Wisconsin, leaving Democrats and thousands of screaming protesters outside the Capitol to cry foul. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and his brother, Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) led the committee, which met for less than five minutes and then approved the resolution.
Walker's elimination of family planning funds could jeopardize federal dollars, close clinicsThe Capital Times March 7, 2011Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal to eliminate all state funding for family planning services for low-income residents could also jeopardize federal dollars for pregnancy prevention. "We just don't know yet how that would work," says Beth Kaplan, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Health Services.
Walker wants to increase tourism marketing budgetWisconsin State JournalMarch 7, 2011Gov. Scott Walker has proposed controversial plans to reduce aid to local governments and schools, but his vision for the state’s tourism industry drew a welcome response Monday.
Thousands of state workers to receive 'at risk' notices starting FridayWisconsin State JournalMarch 3, 2011The deadline for state worker layoffs may still be a month away, but thousands of "at-risk" notices will begin going out Friday.
Municipal, county governments targets of large cuts in Walker's budgetWisconsin State JournalMarch 1, 2011As local officials feared and expected, Gov. Scott Walker is proposing deep cuts in state aid to municipalities and counties and limits on their ability to cover cuts with increased property taxes. In his proposed 2011-13 biennial budget released Tuesday, Walker is proposing a $59.5 million, or 8.8 percent, cut in state aid to municipalities and a $36.5 million, or 24 percent, cut for counties in 2012.
State recycling mandate, funding eliminated under Walker's budgetWisconsin State JournalMarch 1, 2011State-mandated recycling, in place in Wisconsin since 1995, would be eliminated under Gov. Scott Walker's budget. And payments to local governments to run those programs — a total of $32 million this year — would be halted. The change is likely to dramatically affect many of the 1,018 counties, cities and villages to which the state Department of Natural Resources now provides recycling grants, said Mary Teves, community financial assistance director for the agency.
Budget cuts hundreds of millions of dollars from schoolsWisconsin State JournalMarch 3, 2011Just as school districts had feared, Gov. Scott Walker's biennial budget proposal would slash local school funding by hundreds of millions of dollars and prevent them from making it up with higher property taxes. Walker's budget cuts state school aid by $834 million over the next biennium, a 7.9 percent decrease. That accounts for about one fifth of proposed cuts in the budget.
Senate Democrats call for compromise on debt restructuringWisconsin State JournalMarch 1, 2011Senate Democrats on Monday provided Gov. Scott Walker with options to avoid a deadline looming early this week for restructuring the state's debt. Whether Walker takes one of those options will show whether he's serious about avoiding a financial crisis — or wants to "scare people" into accepting his controversial bid to end most collective bargaining for public employees, Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller said.
Scott Walker seeks sweeping Medicaid powers: Plan could lead to 63,000 losing benefitsPostCrescent.comMarch 1, 2011But health care advocates fear little-noticed provisions in the proposal could kick 63,000 people off Medicaid rolls next year and grant the administration near-unilateral authority over the state's Medicaid system through 2015. "This would be an unprecedented shift in power from the legislature to an administrative agency to write the law," said Jon Peacock, research director for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, an advocacy group
Governor to propose massive cuts in aid to schools, local governmentSheboyganPress.comFebruary 28, 2011Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's explosive proposal to take nearly all collective bargaining rights away from most public workers represents just one piece of his vision for the state's future. Now he's ready to reveal the rest. With the union rights proposal stuck in a legislative stalemate thanks to runaway Senate Democrats, Walker planned to forge ahead with the release today of his two-year spending plan that will include major cuts to schools and local governments to help close a projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall.
Walker’s agenda is damaging WisconsinMilwaukee Biz BlogFebruary 28, 2011Few businesspeople like taxes, but we like what taxes do for us. Few of us like regulation, but all of us know that often these regulations put competitors on an even footing with us and keep the crooks out. We start and operate businesses because we have an idea or invention that we are passionate about. We might want to be independent or we want to acquire wealth for ourselves and our families. These are our motivations. Taxes and regulations do not top this list. So look closely at what is happening to our state and how this damages our ability to attract the people who will create and build our future.
More state employees looking at retirement in wake of collective bargaining proposalWisconsin State JournalFebruary 23, 2011The agency that administers the retirement system for state employees has seen a 50 percent increase in retirement estimate requests from state employees so far this year compared to the first seven weeks of 2010, officials said Wednesday.
Prank call, effort to sell power plants prompt worries about GOP ties to Koch brothersWisconsin State JournalFebruary 23, 2011Assembly Democrats tried but failed Wednesday to prevent Gov. Scott Walker from selling state-owned power plants without bids amid growing concerns by Democrats that the owners of a multi-billion dollar oil-and-gas company are driving the governor's legislative agenda. That suspicion grew Wednesday after Walker was secretly recorded revealing his strategy for pushing through his anti-union budget repair bill during a 20-minute phone conversation with a blogger who purported to be David Koch, executive vice president of the Wichita, Kan.-based Koch Industries.
Ex-AG sees violations by Walker in stunt callThe Cap TimesFebruary 24, 2011When Gov. Scott Walker discussed strategies to lay off state employees for political purposes, to coordinate supposedly “independent” political expenditures to aid legislators who support his budget repair bill, and to place agent provocateurs on the streets of Madison in order to disrupt peaceful demonstrations, he engaged in what a former attorney general of Wisconsin says could turn out to be serious ethics, election law and labor violations.
Local officials wait to see fallout from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposalGreen Bay Press GazetteFebruary 21, 2011Local governments and school districts are poised to save considerable dollars if Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill wins approval. Additional information (Links will open in a new window) ♦ Photos: Budget protests at Capitol, Day 5 ♦ Photos: Budget protests at Capitol, Day 4 ♦ Political Booyah blog: the latest on rallies and protests ♦ Read summary of Walker’s budget repair ♦ More stories, photos and video about the budget repair bill and protests over it. ♦ Database: Search Wisconsin teachers salaries ♦ Sign up for news, weather, sports, Green Bay Packers and high school sports text alerts. They're also on track to lose quite a bit when Walker introduces substantial cuts to education and local aid in his budget.
Medicaid looms as next big budget battleWisconsin State JournalSunday, February 20, 2011Debate over Gov. Scott Walker's budget-cutting plan could soon shift to a program that accounts for half of the state's $3.6 billion budget gap over the next two years: Medicaid.
Budget Adjustment Bill Imperils $47 Million in Federal Transit Aid Wisconsin Budget Project BlogFriday, February 25, 2011A provision in the budget adjustment bill that severely restricts collective bargaining rights for public employees could have the side effect of reducing federal aid available for public bus systems in Wisconsin.
Debt Restructuring Could Bridge This Year’s Budget Gap, But Comes at a Cost Wisconsin Budget Project BlogWednesday, February 23, 2011Among the items included in the budget adjustment bill is a provision to restructure $165 million in GPR debt. Restructuring this debt is a quick and relatively easy fix to get the state through the projected shortfall for this fiscal year, which Republican leaders have said is $137 million. Like many easy fixes, though, this action comes at a cost: the state will need to pay additional interest associated with repaying the debt over the next ten years.
Recovery Act Keeps 4.5 Million People Out of PovertyCenter on Policy and Budget PrioritiesJanuary 5, 2011The federal Recovery Act kept 4.5 million people out of poverty, according to a recent Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) analysis of Census Bureau figures.
Republicans reject offer by unions to compromise on concessionsMilwaukee Biz Times DailyMonday, February 21, 2011Although union leaders and Wisconsin Democratic Senators are offering to accept the wage and benefit concessions Gov. Scott Walker is demanding, Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) said today a bill taking away collective bargaining rights from public employees is not negotiable. Democrats and union leaders said they're willing to agree to the parts of Walker's budget repair bill that would double their health insurance contributions and require them to contribute 5.8 percent of their salary to their pensions.
Walker’s bill is ‘un-American’Milwaukee Biz BlogMonday, February 21, 2011We all can appreciate that every worker and every resident shares in the struggles that our communities and our state face together. This budget repair bill though, stripping workers of the ability and the right to negotiate with their employer for the fairest possible deal, is not only unfair, it’s un-American.
Wisconsin is ‘ground zero’ for national debateBiz Times DailyMonday, February 21, 2011Wisconsin has become “ground zero” in a collision of forces in the debate over the way forward as states and the nation face ballooning budget deficits and organized labor attempts to fend off attacks from conservatives. Thousands of people again swarmed to the Capitol in Madison today to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill, which would revoke the collective bargaining rights for 175,000 public employees in the state, including teachers and nurses. The clash is drawing the attention of national politicians and national media.
Madison chamber denounces Walker’s ‘adversarial’ approachBiz Times DailyMonday, February 21, 2011The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) is supporting Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to cut the wages and benefits of public employees, but the business organization stands against his "adversarial" revoking of the worker's rights to collectiively bargain.
School officials: Anticipated education cuts could be 'devastating' Wisconsin State JournalFriday, February 18, 2011School officials fear anticipated cuts to K-12 education in Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal next week could have a "devastating" effect on public education — from up to 85 teacher layoffs in Janesville to a $17.5 million hole in Madison's K-12 budget.
Governor delays introduction of budget; legislative stalemate continuesWisconsin State JournalFriday, February 18, 2011With the state Senate at an impasse over his temporary budget fix, and tens of thousands of protesters clogging the Capitol day after day, Gov. Scott Walker has pushed back his planned introduction of a new two-year budget from Tuesday to March 1.
Walker bill has legal, historical and moral implicationsMilwaukee Biz BlogWednesday, February 16, 2011If the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature approves Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget repair bill that revokes the collective bargaining rights of public employees, the state can surely expect robust legal challenges, according to several labor law experts and attorneys.
Opposition grows louder against Walker billBizTimes.comWednesday, February 16, 2011Thousands of people from across the state boarded buses and jammed into the Capitol Square in Madison today, marking a second day of public protests against Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget repair bill that would revoke collective bargaining rights from thousands of public employees.
Walker defends public worker proposal amid protestsEau Claire Leader-TelegramTuesday, February 15, 2011At least 200 protesters greeted Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday afternoon as he stopped at McDonough Manufacturing Co. to promote his budget repair bill that would remove collective bargaining rights for most of Wisconsin's public employees.
Walker says he will call in National Guard if state employees balk at his proposalBizTimes DailyFebruary 11, 2011Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker made the dramatic announcement this morning that he is prepared to call in the Wisconsin National Guard to respond if there is any unrest among state employees in the wake of his announcement that he wants to revoke nearly all of their collective bargaining rights.
State returning federal funding for broadbandAssociated PressFebruary 15, 2011Stimulus money that would have improved broadband connections in hundreds of Wisconsin communities will be returned to the federal government. State officials say requirements for the $23 million would be tough to meet. And, that would mean Wisconsin taxpayers would have to absorb the cost if those requirements weren't met. The federal funding was targeted for libraries and schools and would have improved police, fire and hospital communication in rural areas.
School districts expect cuts to outweigh savings from Walker's proposalWausau Daily HeraldFebruary 15, 2011he Wausau School District, for example, would save about $2.8 million if its employees were to pay half the annual contributions toward their pensions, said Cherna Gorder, assistant superintendent of business. Merrill Area Public Schools would save about $800,000 a year, said Louise Fischer, director of finance for the Merrill school district. "The retirement piece, that's big," Fischer said. "That's a substantial savings for us." But Fischer and Gorder immediately followed explanations of savings with a proviso: Both expect coming cuts in state funding to exceed their savings, which still will leave districts and taxpayers scrambling to balance budgets.
Wisconsin lawmakers face major budget challengeAppleton Post-CrescentFebruary 14, 2011A $137 million budget gap for the current fiscal year takes center stage this week, with Gov. Scott Walker poised to decimate state employee collective bargaining rights to slay the shortfall. But the state also faces a looming $3.6 billion structural deficit in the 2011-13 budget, which the governor will address in a speech Feb. 22.
Health care reforms are helping small businessesMilwaukee Biz BlogFebruary 10, 2011Small business owners are already taking advantage of provisions in the Affordable Care Act, particularly the small business tax credits that they can claim on their 2010 taxes. As other components of the law are implemented, including state health insurance exchanges, small businesses will see even more relief in the form of lower costs, more choice and less administrative hassles.
Walker’s tighter wind farm regulations will kill more jobsMilwaukee Biz BlogJanuary 26, 2011Wisconsin’s wind energy and manufacturing community is bracing for what could be a major blow to the industry. Gov. Scott Walker has introduced “Special Session Assembly Bill 9,” a bill that would trash state wind farm siting reform statutes developed in a consensus-based process just last year.
Gov. Scott Walker says his tax cut plan will benefit 98 percent of small businesses in the state, freeing them to create jobsJS Politifact WisconsinTuesday, January 21, 2011The overall average for all the 252,000 filers who could qualify for the credit -- $145. More than two-thirds would get less than $100 on average. From both sets of statistics, it’s apparent that -- for the majority of those eligible -- the tax credit is enough to stock up on a limited supply of paper clips and printer paper, but not nearly enough to create a job.
Small Business Tax Credit Bill Gets an Overhaul Wisconsin Budget Project BlogTuesday, January 21, 2011Would job growth in Wisconsin get a boost from a bill that would give roughly 250,000 “small businesses” tax credits averaging $145 each? That was one of the questions faced Thursday by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) as it considered the Governor’s proposal (Special Session SB 7 and AB 7) to provide a new 15 percent tax break to small businesses or individuals with less than $500,000 per year of business income.
Wisconsin, I’m Ready for My Closeup NowWisconsin Budget Project BlogTuesday, January 14, 2011A growing body of evidence suggests that film subsidies are not a cost-effective means for states to promoting economic growth. The Center on Policy and Budget Priorities (CBPP) issued a report last month that declared tax credits for film production to be as ineffective as they are widespread.
Will Recent Changes to Capital Gains Tax Be Rolled Back? Wisconsin Budget Project BlogTuesday, January 11, 2011As policymakers contemplate how to create jobs in Wisconsin and how to finance state services and local aid, they might want to take a look at A Capital Idea: Repealing State Tax Breaks for Capital Gains Would Ease Budget Woes and Improve Tax Fairness, a new report issued by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP).
Talgo to end manufacturing in MilwaukeeBizTimes.comDecember 10, 2010The federal government’s announcement Thursday that it is cancelling the Milwaukee-to-Madison high-speed rail project and transferring almost all of the $810 million in federal funds for the project to high-speed rail projects in other states means that Spanish train manufacturer Talgo Inc. will have to end its Milwaukee manufacturing operation in 2012, according to a company spokeswoman.
High-speed rail in Wisconsin? R.I.P.BizTimes.comDecember 16, 2010Comments on the high-speed rail in Wisconsin from politicians and community members.
Doyle allocates $8 million in stimulus funds for green energy projectsBizTimes.comDecember 16, 2010Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle today announced $8 million in federal stimulus funding for two green energy projects in the Milwaukee area.
New Report Shows Recovery Act Decreased Poverty in Wisconsin Wisconsin Budget Project BlogDecember 7, 2010A new report estimates that portions of the 2009 Recovery Act cut poverty levels in Wisconsin by 1.4 percentage points for all families and by 2.6 percentage points for children. The Institute for Research on Poverty at UW-Madison built a model to analyze the effect of four programs created or expanded by the Recovery Act: food stamps, refundable tax credits, Making Work Pay Credit, and Economic Recovery Payment. This Wisconsin Budget Project paper shows that Wisconsin residents received more than $3 billion from a variety of Recovery Act direct benefits between February 2009 and May 2010.
Governor-elect Walker should get on boardMilwaukee Biz BlogNovember 19, 2010If Wisconsin is really open for business, we would not chase Talgo Inc. and those businesses that will be supporting Talgo out of town - or out of state.
Wisconsin should be open for business by railMilwaukee Biz BlogNovember 18, 2010If spending billions of dollars on highway expansion is a worthy taxpayer expense, then surely spending millions of dollars on a modern public transportation system can be as well. Buses and trains are not just for the poor – they are not subsidies or social programs – they serve all of us. There are thousands of white-collar executives, college students, factory workers and industry professionals who simply prefer public transportation. In America, we often say that the car is king, but that does not mean that public transit must play the pauper.
Schools find good use for stimulus moneysheboyganpress.comNovember 10, 2010 While Gov.-elect Scott Walker won't propose his first state budget until February, he faces a huge shortfall, too. So the likelihood of an increase in state aid is slim at best and a further reduction is more likely. This makes it imperative that local districts do their best now to anticipate getting less in state aid. Plus, district enrollment isn't likely to grow in the short term, nor are local property values likely to spring back quickly.
Canceling high-speed rail is economic treasonMilwaukee Biz BlogNovember 09, 2010Given the nearly 15,000 construction and permanent jobs that would be created by the federal investment in Wisconsin in high-speed rail, and the high fiscal cost of cancellation, it would be incredibly short-sighted for Governor elect-Walker to follow through on his campaign posture just to provide more red meat for right-wing talk radio audiences. It amounts to economic treason at a time when everyone, regardless of political and ideological perspective, should be working together to bring desperately needed family supporting jobs back to Wisconsin.
50 Northeastern Wisconsin firms get $7M in state loans to help create 83 jobsGreen Bay Press GazetteOctober 20, 2010Funding from the state comes from federal stimulus money used as part of a state revolving loan program to help develop sustainable and alternative energy-based businesses in the state.
New website launches to promote the well-being of the middle class. Our Fiscal Security is a collaborative effort of Demos, the Economic Policy Institute, and The Century Foundation. Our institutions are dedicated to promoting an economic path that achieves fiscal responsibility without undermining our national strength. Today, the foundation of that strength—a secure and growing middle class—is being tested by falling incomes, lost wealth, high unemployment and record foreclosures. Yet instead of rebuilding the public structures that could fortify our economy, our elected leaders are facing misguided pressure to reduce the federal budget deficit.
Journal Sentinel Article: Stimulus funds spruce up Wisconsin's national forest JSonline Oct. 17, 2010 "What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does is it gives us the opportunity to catch up on deferred maintenance, and it means we don't have to spend so much money in any one year. The benefits will last for a number of years."
Newsweek: Now's the time to invest in infrastructure. Newsweek October 02, 2010 In 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a.k.a. the stimulus. Billions went to the Transportation Department to improve our roads, rails, and runways. That money was, in turn, given to the states, which drew up lists of what they needed to do and how much it would cost.
Krugman, Feldstein, and Hatzius Agree: More Stimulus Needed blip.tv Oct 6, 2010 Goldman Sachs' Jan Hatzius, New York Times' Columnist and Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, and Harvard Economist Martin Feldstein discuss budget policy, short-term recovery and prospects for long-term growth, moderated by the New York Times' Jackie Calmes. America's Fiscal Choices Summit, October 5th at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Journal Sentinel Article: Stimulus funds spruce up Wisconsin's national forest The Milwuakee Journal Sentinal Oct. 17, 2010 "What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does is it gives us the opportunity to catch up on deferred maintenance, and it means we don't have to spend so much money in any one year. The benefits will last for a number of years."
Federal stimulus dollars jump-start stalled infrastructure projects The Cap Times October 15, 2010 "There's no question that the Recovery Act helped prevent the recession from being even worse,” says Bob Jacobson of the Wisconsin Council on Children & Families, an advocacy group. “No, it didn’t cure the economy all by itself overnight; but the idea that the Recovery Act hasn’t worked is simply not supported by the facts.”
News from Appleton theNorthWestern.com October 9, 2010 Eight buildings along the Fox River are being refurbished with federal stimulus funds.
Stimulus funds put to good use in Oshkosh theNorthWestern.com October 2, 2010 Local officials say the $787 billion federal stimulus program will leave a positive legacy in Oshkosh and Winnebago County.
Why We Need a Second Stimulus The New York Times August 28, 2010 Our national debate about fiscal policy has become skewed, with far too much focus on the deficit and far too little on unemployment, says economist Laura Tyson. There is too much worry about the size of government, and too little appreciation for how stimulus spending has helped stabilize the economy and how more of the right kind of government spending could boost job creation and economic growth.
Milwaukee County Evictions Fell with Stimulus The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Aug. 30, 2010 The influx of federal stimulus money to help stem homelessness coincided with 836 fewer evictions filed in Milwaukee County from August 2009 to March 2010, compared with the same period the previous year, according to a new study by a Harvard researcher.
Stimulus to Fuel Ace Upgrade The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Aug. 26, 2010 Ace Ethanol will receive a $595,000 loan from the State Energy Program, an initiative of the federal stimulus package, to help it expand its operations in Stanley and retain 40 jobs.
Wisconsin to get $365 million in aid for teachers, health programs The Milwuakee Journal Sentinal Aug. 10, 2010 Congress passes watered-down help for state budgets.
Obama Signs Measure for $26 Billion in State Aid Bloomberg News Aug 10, 2010 New federal law is designed to help cash-strapped state governments.
U.S. Job Market Loses Steam The Wall Street Journal AUGUST 7, 2010 The government's latest snapshot of the job market was bleak, a sign the economic recovery is running out of steam with 14.6 million Americans still searching for work.
Governments Go to Extremes as the Downturn Wears On The New York Times August 6, 2010 Faced with the steepest, longest decline in tax collections ever, state and local governments have resorted to major life-changing cuts in core services that not too long ago would have been unthinkable.
A Political Clash Over Deficits Stalls Legislation to Address Jobs. The New York Times July 4, 2010 Congress fails to address recovery needs.
Punishing the Jobless. The New York Times July 4, 2010 Economist Paul Krugman on the need to focus on unemployment.
Slouching Towards a Double-Dip or a Lousy Recovery at Best. The Huffington Post July 3, 2010 Economist Robert Reich on the likelihood of another recession.
Economic Recovery Is Losing Traction. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel July 1, 2010 Associated Press on the stalled economic recovery.