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 […]
Joint Finance Committee
Date Thu, Dec. 19, 2024 - 2:24pm By Hamilton
The powerful 16-person committee, which includes eight Assembly and eight Senate lawmakers, is responsible for crafting the state’s biennial budget for July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027. Co-Chair – Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) Co-Chair – Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) Vice-Chair – Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay) Patrick Testin (R-Stevens […]
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 […]
State Ended Fiscal Year 2023-24 with $4.6 billion surplus
Date Tue, Oct. 22, 2024 - 2:07pm By Hamilton
The Department of Administration reported the state ended the 2023-24 fiscal year with $4.6 billion in the general fund, about $400 million more than expected, due in part to higher-than-anticipated revenues and deferred spending. The current fiscal year 2024-25 is also looking positive, with revenues up 4.3% compared to the previous year, driven by increases […]
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 […]
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 […]
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on JCF Oversight of Stewardship Program
Date Tue, Apr. 30, 2024 - 12:09pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is considering a legal challenge from Gov. Tony Evers (D) to the Wisconsin Legislature’s committee oversight power over the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Oral arguments before the court were held April 17; news coverage is available here, here, and here. Specifically, the lawsuit from Gov. Evers alleges that a provision giving the […]