Benjamin Yount

Report: Milwaukee Public Schools budget ‘precarious’

Posted by Benjamin Yount | May 27, 2019 | Features

The Policy Forum report says the new salaries and added costs for healthcare and other benefits will cost $16 million more next year alone. Those costs will likely only grow over time.

Wisconsin Republicans begin trek toward their new state budget

Posted by Benjamin Yount | May 9, 2019 | Features

It’s a good bet the new two-year spending plan won’t expand Medicaid, move toward medical marijuana, or raise the minimum wage in the state.

Gas tax still a part of Wisconsin’s budget conversation

Posted by Benjamin Yount | May 5, 2019 | Features

Both state Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and state Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, were silent about the gas tax increase’s future

Budget group says Wisconsin needs minimum wage hike; business group says Wisconsin needs skilled workers

Posted by Benjamin Yount | May 5, 2019 | Features

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s largest business group, says workers in the state don’t need a government-mandated pay raise, they need new skills.

Western Wisconsin lawmakers: Take stolen taxpayer money from thief’s pension

Posted by Benjamin Yount | Apr 30, 2019 | Features

Former county treasurer Larry Lokken and his then-deputy Kay Onarheim are serving prison terms for stealing about $1,000,000 from county taxpayers over a number of years. But the state of Wisconsin and Eau Claire County cannot touch their public pensions to collect the money.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker pitches lottery privacy

Posted by Benjamin Yount | Apr 23, 2019 | Features

The next time someone wins a $768 million Powerball jackpot in Wisconsin, the state’s top Republican wants to let them remain anonymous.

Hagedorn: Recount wouldn’t make sense at this point

Posted by Benjamin Yount | Apr 9, 2019 | Features

“No recount in history, in recent American history since we’ve been doing modern voting over the last couple of decades, has seen 6,000 votes. You’re lucky if you get 1,000,” Hagedorn said.

Wisconsin voters approved three-quarters of a billion dollars in local tax hikes

Posted by Benjamin Yount | Apr 7, 2019 | Features

The state’s Department of Public Instruction says that 75 percent of school districts in Wisconsin that asked voters for more money got what they wanted.

Wisconsin Republicans critical of gap in Evers’ proposed budget

Posted by Benjamin Yount | Apr 7, 2019 | Features

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau last week said Evers’ two-year state budget would spend $2 billion more than Wisconsin has to spend.

Still talk of recount as conservative Hagedorn edges liberal opponent to win Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Posted by Benjamin Yount | Apr 3, 2019 | Features

The results in Wisconsin’s race for state Supreme Court won’t be certified for a week. Maybe by then voters will know if there’s going to be a recount.