Wisconsin was recently awarded nearly $10 million for early childhood efforts. The Preschool Development Grant - Birth to Five (PDG B-5) is a one-year federal grant which allows Wisconsin to complete a needs assessment and a strategic plan to improve our early care system. The grant focuses on addressing pervasive challenges...
Proposed State Legislation for Short-term Health Insurance Has Many Shortcomings
A bill in the Wisconsin state senate expanding short-term health insurance plans would make things worse for Wisconsinites. Short-term Health Insurance Plans, which currently offer limited health coverage for periods of less than a year, are being marketed more aggressively this year in part because of policy changes by the Trump...
The Top Ten Problems with Increasing Opportunity Zone Tax Breaks
Wisconsin legislators are considering a bill that would double a capital gains tax break approved two years ago, which was intended to encourage very wealthy people to invest in “distressed” areas. Although that strategy for incentivizing investments in “Opportunity Zones” was well intended, commentators across the political spectrum...
Despite Growing Concerns about Opportunity Zones, Wisconsin Legislators Rush to Pass a Bill Doubling the State Tax Break
As the 2020 legislative session winds down, the Wisconsin Legislature is rushing to pass a bill this week (SB 440)/AB 532) that would double a current state tax break for very wealthy investors who reinvest money in “Opportunity Zones.” A new issue brief by the Wisconsin Budget Project explains why the existing tax breaks for the rich...
2020 Poverty Guidelines Shed Light on Health Policy Debates
The new federal poverty guidelines, which are adjusted for inflation each January, provide an opportunity to reflect on the challenges faced by low-income working families, and they help illustrate why state and federal policymakers ought to help more Americans gain access to health care. These guidelines largely control who is...
BadgerCare Changes Move Health Care Backwards in Wisconsin
Beginning in February, Wisconsin will start implementing changes to BadgerCare (Wisconsin’s Medicaid program for low-income families) that make health care less accessible for low-income Wisconsinites who do not have children. Medicaid helps people with disabilities, older adults, children and parents with low-wage jobs, and adults who...
A Decade After Historic Cuts, Wisconsin Still Hasn’t Fully Restored State Aid for Public School Districts, New Report Shows
For immediate releaseJanuary 29, 2020Contact: Tamarine Cornelius, 608-284-0580 x 305 Despite recent increases, Wisconsin’s public K-12 school districts still receive less in state aidthan they did a decade ago, prior to historic cuts to education, a new analysis from the Wisconsin Budget Project shows. The analysis shows that in 2021,...
Lost Decade: After Enormous Cuts, Lawmakers Still Haven’t Fully Restored State Aid to Public School Districts
For Wisconsin to have a well-educated and skilled workforce, we need to invest resources to make sure that every student has access to an excellent public education. But Wisconsin’s public school districts still get less state support than they did a decade ago despite recent increases, a new analysis from the Wisconsin Budget Project...
A Decade After Historic Cuts, Wisconsin Still Hasn’t Fully Restored State Aid for Public School Districts
Despite recent increases, Wisconsin’s public K-12 school districts still receive less in state aid than they did a decade ago, prior to historic cuts to education. During that timeframe, state lawmakers chose to pass large tax cuts instead of investing the money in local schools. Lawmakers are also increasingly diverting resources...
Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Going to the Ballot Box
As our community reflects and celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Kids Forward would like to share our ongoing and steadfast commitment and energy to advocating for every kid, every family, and every community within Wisconsin. As we consider Martin Luther King’s legacy and the distance that we have traveled...
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