New attempts to allow hidden loaded guns in Wisconsin communities will increase the exposure of children to handguns by permitting concealed weapons to be carried into many places where children play and learn, including day care centers, churches, little league games and the many private, non-profit organizations that provide direct...
A new state-by-state analysis of Congressman Ryan’s House Budget Plan by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that the proposed Medicaid Block Grant (approved by the House) would result in substantial Medicaid cuts for states and large increases in the number of uninsured. The Kaiser and Urban Institute analysis includes both the impact...
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) has scheduled two executive sessions on the budget bill next week – Wed. May 18 and Thurs. May 19. Both meetings will begin at 11 AM in the JFC meeting room -- 412 East, State Capitol. The agenda Wednesday includes four papers relating to DHS issues, and 8 papers concerning the Department of Children...
This two-page brief analyzes the effects of not adjusting the credit for inflation between 1990 until 2010.
According to a study released today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on average, uninsured families are only able to pay in full for about 12% of the hospital bills they may incur. Even those uninsured families with incomes over 400% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) can only afford to pay 37% of their bills in...
The Wisconsin Budget Project has updated our comparative budget summary, (LINK) which shows how selected provisions in the budget have been modified in the budget process. Yesterday’s update includes the recent decisions made by the Joint Finance Committee. We’ll be updating the budget summary on a regular basis, so watch this blog (or...
The Joint Finance Committee continues to meet and vote on state budget issues. The next meeting is on Thursday, May 12th. At that time, the Committee is scheduled to make decisions on 28 different topics, including issues related to the Justice Information System Surcharge, veteran affairs, and the Government Accountability Board. Of...
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed a measure that allows them to more completely capture the effect of the Recovery Act on Wisconsin poverty levels. By official measures, poverty in Wisconsin rose from 10.2 in 2008 to 12.4 percent in 2009, according to the report. But the official measure of poverty takes only...
This morning, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) held a public hearing to consider the permanent adoption of an emergency rule which repeals previous improvements that were made relating to readability of and access to private insurance policies. Adoption of this rule would be a step backwards for consumer initiatives in...
While those of use working in the juvenile justice system often see the behaviors and challenges that children with mental health problems bring to us, we often see them too late, perhaps do a cursory job of assessing needs, and often turn to an ill-equipped service system too late. Advocates note that (1) only a small percentage of...
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