Democratic Governor Tony Evers announced this week plans to include a proposal in his 2025-27 budget to establish a binding referendum process in Wisconsin, allowing voters to propose and repeal state laws. This effort is like an initiative from 2022, which did not advance due to Republica opposition. Evers argues that such a process would […]
State Projects $4 Billion Budget Surplus but Faces Challenges Ahead
Date Thu, Dec. 19, 2024 - 2:25pm By Hamilton
On November 20, the Department of Administration (DOA) released updated state revenue estimates heading into the 2025-27 biennium. According to DOA, Wisconsin is on track to conclude the 2023-25 biennium (which ends in June 2025) with a $4 billion surplus, an increase of $500 million from earlier projections. The Evers administration expects an additional $1.7 […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Holds Oral Arguments on “400-Year” Partial Veto
Date Tue, Oct. 22, 2024 - 2:23pm By Hamilton
October 9, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held oral arguments in a case challenging Gov. Tony Evers’ partial veto that extended school revenue increases for 400 years. The lawsuit challenging the partial veto was brought by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), the state’s largest business lobbying association. In the 2023-25 state budget bill, the legislature included […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court to Consider Legislative Review Over Administrative Rule-Making
Date Tue, Oct. 22, 2024 - 2:08pm By Hamilton
Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an unsigned order agreeing to take up another issue in a lawsuit filed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers in October 2023. Earlier this year, the court divided the case into three separate issues, all centered around the scope of the legislature’s authority. The recent order focuses on whether […]
State Agencies Submit 2025-27 Budget Requests
Date Wed, Sep. 18, 2024 - 9:42am By Hamilton
The 2025-27 state budget development process is now underway. On September 16, Wisconsin state agencies submitted their 2025-27 state budget requests to the governor and Department of Administration (DOA). In his June budget instructions to the state agencies, Governor Evers directed agencies to assume zero budget growth (with a few exceptions like exceptions for K-12 school aids […]
Dane County Judge Upholds Gov. Evers’ Partial Veto of Literacy Bill
Date Fri, Sep. 13, 2024 - 2:32pm By Hamilton
Late August, Dane County Judge Stephen Ehlke rules Gov. Evers’ partial veto of 2023 SB 971 (signed into law as 2023 Act 100) was consistent with the Wisconsin Constitution granting governors the ability to partially veto appropriation bills. 2023 Act 100 in conjunction with the 2023-25 state budget act created an early literacy program designed […]
Governor Evers Announces New Cabinet Members
Date Fri, Sep. 13, 2024 - 2:24pm By Hamilton
Gov. Tony Evers has appointed Kristina Boardman as the first female Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT). She succeeds Craig Thompson, who stepped down on September 11 to become the Vice Chancellor of University Relations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Boardman’s tenure with the DOT includes roles such as Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Director of […]
Wisconsin Primary Election 2024: Constitutional Amendments
Date Tue, Aug. 13, 2024 - 10:08am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin state primary election is being held today: Tuesday, August 13. State legislative and U.S. congressional races with competitive partisan primaries will be decided today. A full list of the federal and state candidates running in Wisconsin this year is available here. See this article for analysis of the primary and key races to […]
SCOWIS Finishes 2023-24 Term with High-Profile Cases, Record Low Number of Decisions Overall
Date Mon, Jul. 22, 2024 - 2:20pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court appears to have concluded its 2023-24 regular term. The court typically finishes an annual term by releasing a series of decisions in June and July. According to one Wisconsin historian, the court issued the fewest decisions during this one-year term since at least 1900. Undoubtedly the most high-profile decision issued by […]
Evers v. Marklein (Separation of Powers)
Date Mon, Jul. 22, 2024 - 2:10pm By Hamilton
In Evers v. Marklein (2024 WI 31), the court held that oversight power exercised by a legislative committee over decisions made by a state agency to use already-appropriated funds violated the separation of powers established by the Wisconsin Constitution. This decision may have significant implications for Wisconsin politics and policy. While the immediate effect of […]