Advocates were surprised this year when a sweeping package of changes to public assistance was introduced late in the legislative session and was quickly approved by the legislature. Within just a few weeks of when they were introduced, the legislature approved nine of the ten special session bills proposed by Governor Walker.
Tax and Budget
The state budget and the taxes that help finance it have a huge impact on children and families. The budget provides most of the funding for vital government services, such as education, health care, transportation, child welfare and other safety net programs.
For more detailed analysis, visit the Wisconsin Budget Project website.
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.
The Contributions of Immigrants in Wisconsin are Critical to Shared Prosperity
Immigrants are an intrinsic part of our nation, our state, and our communities. Every day immigrants care for family members, go to school, advocate for positive changes, and connect with other residents in the farmlands, small towns, and cities of Wisconsin. Their contributions help Wisconsin maintain strong, vibrant communities that...
A Constitutional Convention Is A Risky and Dangerous Way to Amend the U.S. Constitution
Kids Forward Executive Director Ken Taylor delivered the following remarks on November 7, 2017 at the Wisconsin State Capitol at an event organized in opposition to Assembly Joint Resolution 21, which would call for a constitutional convention—something that would put all of our fundamental freedoms and basic rights at risk. "Thank you...
Trump Budget Forces States to Plan for Community Mental Health Cuts
While the debate around the fate of the Affordable Care Act has dominated the news over the past few months, other threats to health care have been brewing. In Wisconsin, advocates, providers, lawmakers, and individuals and families affected by mental health challenges know that every dollar is crucial when it comes to ensuring that the...
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