Taxes: 2017-2018 Legislative Summary

The second half of a two-year legislative session typically includes debate on a number of tax bills, especially when updates to budget projections increase the size of the state’s estimated closing balance. That was true again this year, and as the legislature often does in an election year, it enacted tax cuts that are expected to leave the state with a perilously slim budget cushion.

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Health Care: 2017-2018 Legislative Summary

The Wisconsin State Legislature considered a very wide range of bills relating to health care during the 2017-2018 legislative session. This overview summarizes a small but significant portion of that legislation, specifically bills related to access to health insurance and access to health care services.

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President Trump: Don’t Play Politics with Our Census

The U.S. Department of Commerce plans to add a question about citizenship status to the census. This may sound benign, but it is in fact a reckless, political tactic designed to suppress the counts of immigrant kids and families. This is being done despite clear direction in the Constitution that the census is supposed to count everyone, regardless of citizenship status. 

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Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Winning in Wisconsin!

By Dave Edie, Early Care and Education Policy Analyst Wisconsin continues to be near the top among states in providing four-year-old kindergarten (4K), ranking 5th in the nation, according to a 2017 report by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). The report for Wisconsin, NIEER Analysis of Wisconsin's PreK...

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Fact Sheet: Wisconsin Health Care Stability Plan

Following years of sabotage and hostility directed towards the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Governor Walker and the legislature pivoted to pass a $200 million reinsurance program, which is expected to slightly lower premiums for those relatively few people who earn too much to qualify for premium tax credits that help defray the costs of...

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The Diversity of Wisconsin’s Immigrant Experience

The diversity of Wisconsin’s immigrants means that the immigrant experience in Wisconsin is a varied one, with no single narrative able to tell the entire story of Wisconsin immigrants. It's important for us to go beyond simple rhetoric and understand the real diversity and rich history of Wisconsin's immigrant experience. If there is a...

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Eight Years of Progress Under the Affordable Care Act: We Can’t Go Back

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) turns eight tomorrow, Friday, March 23. Despite Republicans’ ongoing efforts to repeal, replace, or sabotage the ACA, the health reform law has some impressive accomplishments. During this challenging year, public sentiment regarding the health care law has become more and more positive. In February, more...

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New Report: Getting More Kids into Quality Child Care

Research has shown that when children receive high-quality child care, they are much more likely to perform well in school, graduate on time, and be productive members of society. This is why it’s critical that there are investments made into early care and education programs and that efforts are made to get low-income children, who...

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YoungStar: Key Obstacles Are Blocking Progress

High-quality early care and education is one of the most effective tools in ensuring a child succeeds in life. Research has shown that when children receive high-quality child care, they are much more likely to perform well in school, graduate on time, and be productive members of society.

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