K-12 Education

Gov. Scott Walker’s education policies would earn him an F grade from anyone concerned with quality public education. In his first budget, Walker enacted the largest per student K-12 education cuts in the nation. He has also aggressively pursued privatization, pushing more money towards unaccountable taxpayer funded voucher schools while cutting money from Wisconsin’s public schools.

Of the students attending voucher schools through a limited statewide expansion of vouchers in the 2013 budget, roughly 75 percent were already attending private schools without a taxpayer-funded voucher. Walker’s 2015 budget proposed removing any cap on vouchers, allowing unlimited statewide expansion of unaccountable voucher schools.

Walker has close ties to voucher advocates, snagging nearly $2 million in gubernatorial campaign contributions from voucher backers since 2008. In addition, Walker’s campaign co-chair, Michael Grebe, heads the Bradley Foundation, which has funded a $31 million-plus propaganda campaign in support of education privatization in Wisconsin.

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The Wisconsin Governor’s Race Might Be Decided by Education Voters think about a lot of things at the polls: immigration, the economy, health care, gun policy, and—more cynically—party affiliation. But education is an issue that doesn’t typically poll near the top of the list, even though it’s often thought of as a bedrock of society. Tony Evers, Wisconsin’s public-schools chief, and the most likely […] [The Atlantic, 08/08/2018]
In gubernatorial election, Delavan-Darien a hot-button topic for Democrats Analiese Eicher, program director at the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, said Delavan-Darien is an easy target for Democrats running for governor. Aside from being Walker’s home district, Eicher said Delavan-Darien is the most recent district in the state suffering from cuts. … “It is a primary example, especially given how Walker likes to […] [Janesville Gazette, 08/05/2018]
Scott Walker’s claim of ‘record’ state spending on schools doesn’t account for inflation Our rating Walker says he made “a record investment in schools.” He refers to the $11.5 billion being spent on kindergarten-through-12th grade schools in his 2017-’19 state budget. In raw dollars, that is a record in Wisconsin. But inflation, of course, is crucial in measuring dollars over time. On that score, seven state budgets spent […] [PolitiFact, 08/03/2018]
Scott Walker broke the unions. Now he says he’s the ‘education governor’ Republican Gov. Scott Walker became a conservative icon by breaking the teachers union in Wisconsin. Seven years later, he’s facing the political fight of his life against the state schools superintendent, and trying to reinvent himself. His likely Democratic opponent is head of the Wisconsin school system, Tony Evers, meaning the election likely will be […] [Politico, 07/31/2018]
Scott Walker Is Fucking Desperate Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin and a very sleepy-looking man, is running for a third term in November after spending his first eight years in office fucking over public workers by eliminating their collective bargaining rights, gutting education spending, and signing fat giveaways to corporations. Surprisingly, people in Wisconsin aren’t super stoked about this […] [Splinter, 07/31/2018]
Tony Evers’ first ad promises to boost education; Gov. Scott Walker defends Foxconn deal Walker’s campaign has booked $2.3 million in television ads across the state between May and mid-August, according to research by liberal group One Wisconsin Now. [Associated Press, 07/31/2018]
Worst Governor on Public Education Hosts Worst Secretary of Department of Education The worst governor for public education in state history, Scott Walker, is hosting the worst Secretary of the Dept. of Education in U.S. history, Betsy DeVos. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/24/2018]
Gov. Scott Walker says state schools chief Tony Evers is ignoring his ability to take over schools Walker said “Democrats gave the superintendent of public instruction, back in 2009, the ability to take over failing schools. … The current superintendent has failed to do that.” While the law in questions allows the superintendent to order various interventions, it does not have a provision for a complete takeover. A different law allows the […] [PolitiFact, 07/05/2018]
Bice: Teacher revocations spike under Tony Evers after GOP accuses him of being tardy on issue Shortly after Republicans accused him of being soft on teachers guilty of improper and immoral conduct, state schools Superintendent Tony Evers cracked down. Records show Evers, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for governor, and his agency revoked or negotiated the surrender of the licenses of 12 educators last September — by far the most […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/05/2018]
A new public education movement is emerging in Wisconsin, a rebuke to Gov. Walker’s war on labor and school privatization Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) launched a war on labor in 2011, enacting a law called Act 10 that decimated the power of public employee unions to bargain, and it also cut pay for most public sector workers. It was clear that the law was largely aimed at the teachers unions, because Walker exempted the […] [Washington Post, 07/03/2018]
New state data: Post-Act 10, teachers’ health care costs soared Wisconsin school districts ratcheted up health care costs on teachers and other employees after the state’s Act 10 collective bargaining changes, with the average district now requiring teachers to pay about 12 percent of their health insurance premiums, newly released data show. Madison schools are near the low end of what districts now require for […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 07/03/2018]
Wisconsin Supreme Court sides with Tony Evers in fight over attorney The case hangs heavy with political implications as Republican Gov. Scott Walker wanted the GOP-led Wisconsin Department of Justice to represent Evers in the case. Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel, who runs the agency, sided with a conservative firm that filed the lawsuit challenging Evers’ authority. [Wisconsin State Journal, 06/28/2018]
Supreme Court gives win to Tony Evers over Gov. Scott Walker in case challenging authority The Wisconsin Supreme Court leveled an election-year blow against Gov. Scott Walker in a case involving Walker and his top Democratic candidate challenger. In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled Wednesday state schools Superintendent Tony Evers may choose his own attorney to defend him in a lawsuit filed by a conservative law firm challenging Evers’ […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 06/27/2018]
Scott Walker: ‘I’m a pro-education governor’ Gov. Scott Walker in his re-election bid is planning to “aggressively” stake a claim that is sure to draw fire from his biggest critics while speaking to a key issue for voters. “I’m affirming the fact that I’m a pro-education governor,” Walker said in an interview Monday. “I’m going to continue to be a pro-education […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 06/19/2018]
Walkers tour Two Rivers schools; Gov., First Lady promotes trauma-informed care Wisconsin First Lady Tonette Walker, along with her husband, Gov. Scott Walker, visited classrooms in both the Two Rivers High School and at Koenig Elementary School Friday to see firsthand the work the Two Rivers School District has done to incorporate trauma-informed care into the classrooms… Gov. Walker said by introducing trauma-informed care into schools, […] [Harold Times Reporter, 05/18/2018]
Gov. Scott Walker hints at state action on Milwaukee Public Schools, says it might be time to ‘shake things up’ As Milwaukee Public Schools are in the midst of a contentious budget battle, Gov. Scott Walker says it might be time to “shake things up” in the district. Walker also left open the possibility of breaking up the district into smaller sections during an interview Sunday on “Up Front with Mike Gousha,” which aired on […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/13/2018]
Gov. Walker to sign $100M school safety plan into law Monday in Kaukauna Gov. Scott Walker signed a $100 million school safety measure Monday that allows schools to apply for grants to make their buildings more secure following recent school shootings. State lawmakers passed the measure last week…Some have criticized the package for not addressing restrictions on gun sales in Wisconsin. Walker equated the plan to increased airport […] [WPR, 03/26/2018]
No gun control or arming teachers in Scott Walker’s $100M school safety plan Gov. Scott Walker on Thursday called on lawmakers to take up a $100 million package aimed at providing more security in school buildings across Wisconsin. But the plan doesn’t call for imposing stricter controls on gun ownership as Democrats have called for, or for arming teachers as some Republicans have said could be a solution […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 03/16/2018]
Walker opposes arming teachers, looking at other ideas Gov. Scott Walker came out Wednesday against putting guns in the hands of teachers to defend against school shooters, but he’s also talking with lawmakers about passing a comprehensive school safety agenda this year. [Chicago Tribune, 02/28/2018]
Governors divided on path forward on school safety As the nation’s governors gathered in Washington this weekend for their annual meeting, their conversations on the sidelines and even during a high profile meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday showed that they are as deeply conflicted as federal lawmakers on what to do about gun violence and safety in schools… Still, some governors […] [ABC News, 02/26/2018]
Wisconsin ACT scores plummet Newly released ACT scores show a steep decline in student test results. The drop in average test score from 22.2 to 20.0 coincides with an increase in the number of Wisconsin students taking the exam and comes after several years of Republican budget cuts that have impacted public education in the state. These scores dropped […] [Urban Milwaukee, 01/13/2018]
Walker gets behind funding boost for low-spending schools Gov. Scott Walker got behind a proposal Monday to boost aid for rural schools and allow low-spending districts to raise their property taxes without a vote, similar to a change he vetoed from the state budget. [Associated Press, 01/09/2018]
Fewer than half of Wisconsin school districts have certified teachers unions Six years after Gov. Scott Walker and state Republicans made labor unions’ ability to retain members much more difficult, fewer than half of the state’s 422 school districts have certified unions. [WiscNews.com, 12/31/2017]
Gov. Walker visits Sevastopol schools A project created by a team of six elementary school students was in the spotlight Tuesday morning when Gov. Scott Walker visited the Sevastopol School District to honor Sharing is Caring. The Sharing is Caring project, a clothes closet for low-income students, was created by Destination Imagination team members Nicole Olson, Danica Schultz, Oliver Matthews, […] [Green Bay Press-Gazette, 05/30/2017]
Gov. Scott Walker visits Galesville Elementary, promotes summer reading Gov. Scott Walker stopped by with gifts Monday at Galesville Elementary School. Walker, whose wife Tonette is a Scholastic Reading Ambassador, presented the school with a number of books, including “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” and “The Alphabet Book of Construction” as part of the organization’s summer reading program. He spoke about both his […] [La Crosse Tribune, 05/22/2017]
Testing Scott Walker claim on record education funding in Wisconsin Our rating Walker said in his budget address — and in the weeks and months since — that Wisconsin is investing more in education than ever in the history of the state. This is true in raw dollars but the statement doesn’t account for inflation-adjusted numbers, which is the best way to look at figures […] [PolitiFact, 05/17/2017]
PolitiFact: Testing Scott Walker on record education spending Gov. Scott Walker says “We are investing more money into education than ever before in the history of Wisconsin.” Is he right? PolitiFact Wisconsin found one major issue: Inflation. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 05/17/2017]
Gov. Walker: School won’t start before Sept. 1 Gov. Scott Walker says there’s no way state lawmakers will repeal a law blocking public schools from starting classes before Sept. 1 this session. The La Crosse Tribune reports that Walker made the remarks during a stop at Lemonweir Elementary School in Tomah on Tuesday. That school will start a year-round schedule this July. School […] [WITI-TV, 05/03/2017]
Plain Talk: Good teachers don’t come free, Scott Walker notwithstanding Scott Walker is sticking to his guns that his plan to restore some of the cuts he and his legislative allies made to public education six years ago will be limited to school districts that require their teachers to pay at least 12 percent of their health care costs. His rationale? He wants to make […] [Capital Times, 05/01/2017]
Governor Scott Walker makes a stop at North Lakeland School Governor Scott Walker has been traveling to different schools around the state in an effort to promote his proposed $649 million increase for all K-12 schools in Wisconsin in his biennial budget proposal. Walker addressed fourth and seventh grade students, teachers, and school board members on Friday, April 21, discussing future job opportunities and how […] [LakeLand Times, 04/28/2017]
Walker’s tax handout for private school kids The annual tuition for Madison Country Day School in Waunakee is $16,490 for first grade and rises to $17,800 for high school. That’s unaffordable, of course, for most people. Wealthy families choose to pay this because they feel it’s worth it for such a specialized institution. But beginning with the 2014 tax year, the situation […] [Isthmus, 04/27/2017]
Gov. Walker visits Neenah High School under heavy security Tip continue to pour in as the nationwide manhunt for Joseph Jakubowski continues. The Wisconsin Lottery is now helping in the search, and political officials are taking steps to keep themselves and their constituents safe. … That alert came out as word spread from Governor Scott Walker’s office that he would be keeping his public […] [WBAY-TV, 04/13/2017]
Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal axes state farm-to-school post The cafeterias in the Germantown School District take a decidedly fresh turn in the fall. For as long as it lasts, food and nutrition director Shelley Juedes brings in a bountiful array of fresh produce: scrumptious apples from nearby Rim’s Edge Orchard and fresh vegetables — broccoli, onions, potatoes and more — from longtime area […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 04/12/2017]
Failed Presidential Candidate Scott Walker Wants to Hack Public Schools As the administration goes stumbling forward at its own pace, and in its own distinctive stumbling style, the mischief being worked in the states can no longer be confined to our semi-regular weekly survey of what’s goin’ on down there. For example, a couple of Republican governors are waging enthusiastic combat against higher education in […] [Esquire, 04/11/2017]
Scott Walker wants to let schools cut down on class time. That’s really risky. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker doesn’t seem to care how many hours schoolkids are in the classroom, as long as they can pass standardized tests — a proposal that could go against the academic consensus that time in the classroom matters. In his recent budget proposal, Walker called for state lawmakers to get rid of the […] [Vox, 04/11/2017]
Gov. Scott Walker sings praises of Project SEARCH The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a one-year, business-led program that takes place entirely in the workplace. Participants are fully immersed in their jobs, and their employers facilitate a combination of classroom instruction, career exploration and hands-on training. Gov. Scott Walker toured a classroom at St. Vincent, visited Novitski and other interns, and […] [Green Bay Press-Gazette, 04/10/2017]
Walker wants Wisconsin to be first state to stop dictating how much time kids should go to school If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has his way, the Badger State will become the first to stop requiring students in public schools to spend a minimum number of hours in class. A proposal in Walker’s new budget plan calls for ending the state’s current minimum requirements — 437 hours for kindergarten, 1,050 hours for […] [Washington Post, 04/09/2017]
Education Issues Take Center Stage At First Public Hearing On Budget Education issues took center stage at the first public hearing on the 2017-2019 state budget Monday in Platteville. Dozens of citizens testified on issues including funding for a new engineering building on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus, increased spending on K-12 education statewide and a proposed opt-out for student fees on UW System campuses. [WPR, 04/03/2017]
Scott Walker’s K-12 budget drops hours of instruction mandate A proposal in Gov. Scott Walker’s state budget appears to make Wisconsin the only state with no law aimed at guaranteeing students a minimum number of hours and days of instruction. Walker’s budget plan eliminates the state law that calls for public schools and private voucher schools to provide a minimum number of hours of […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 04/03/2017]
Scott Walker: ‘Overwhelming majority’ of school districts would get proposed new funding The comments come after Kim Eparvier, superintendent of the Peshtigo School District, told the Wisconsin State Journal that Walker’s proposal tie the proposed $649 million in new funding to a fixed percentage of employee health care contributions diminishes school administrators’ and school boards’ power in crafting benefit packages for their employees. Walker, who visited Eparvier’s […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 04/01/2017]
Wisconsin Republicans split over K-12 spending in Scott Walker budget Gov. Scott Walker’s 2017-’19 state budget plan includes a significant boost in school funding, but members of his own party may not let that sail through as proposed.Given that K-12 spending makes up a huge part of the state budget, how much to give schools and under what conditions is likely to attract more discussion […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/31/2017]
State Payments Per Pupil for Private School Vouchers Set to Exceed Public Schools As reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin public schools are now feeling financial pressure as the voucher program drains resources from them [One Wisconsin Now, 03/23/2017]
Voucher Money to Republicans Buys Voucher Cartel More of Our Money The school privatization industry has given millions of dollars to Scott Walker’s political campaigns and he’s returning the favor. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/20/2017]
Memo: Voucher Schools Receive More State Funding Per Student Private voucher schools would receive an additional $1,000 or more in state funding per student compared to public schools under Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget, although voucher school advocates say that only tells part of the story. A memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau shows choice schools will receive between $7,757 and $8,403 in […] [WPR, 03/20/2017]
Gov. Walker’s budget cuts nationally recognized program to bring locally grown foods to schools to save $86,000 annually Gov. Scott Walker’s budget cuts funding for a program that brings locally grown food into public schools, reversing a trend the state helped pioneer eight years ago. In 2009 Wisconsin was one of the first to create a statewide farm-to-school program coordinator, said Helen Dombalis, programs director for the National Farm to School Network. The […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/25/2017]
Gov. Walker touts budget proposals to benefit rural schools Gov. Scott Walker is making stops at schools around the state after proposing his two-year budget to the Legislature last week, which includes an $11.5 billion investment in K-12 schools and roughly $20 million in sparsity aid for rural schools. “Part of what we’re hoping for,” Walker told a room of Elk Mound High School […] [Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 02/17/2017]
DPI Superintendent Evers calls Walker increase in state education funding ‘good sign’ Wisconsin’s top education official told Sauk County Democrats on Thursday that a $650 million increase in state support for public education included in Gov. Scott Walker’s biennial budget proposal caught him by surprise. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers had asked the Republican governor for a $700 million increase in state aid to in […] [Baraboo News Republic, 02/17/2017]
Gov. Walker’s budget proposes funding boost for anti-bullying programming Gov. Scott Walker’s budget includes a $300,000 boost for an online program designed to help school districts deter bullying. If approved by legislators, the $300,000 would be used over the next two fiscal years to continue and expand a program called Act Now!, an online curriculum developed by the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. The Children’s […] [Wausau Daily Herald, 02/16/2017]
Strings attached to Gov. Walker’s proposed education aid increase could snag Beloit school district With Gov. Scott Walker proposing school aid increases, the School District of Beloit may find itself facing a tough decision — assess staff with bigger insurance premium payments or leave the state money on the table. Walker’s Assembly Bill 64 offers more money — but only if districts are in full compliance with Act 10 […] [Beloit Daily News, 02/16/2017]
Gov. Walker budget plan could prevent school districts from getting increased aid At least a handful of school districts outside of Madison would not be eligible for additional state funding under a proposal from Gov. Scott Walker requiring school district employees to pay at least 12 percent of their health insurance costs as a condition to receive extra money.Walker’s office said Wednesday it had not done an […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/10/2017]
After making largest cuts in state history, Gov. Walker to propose increase in K-12 school funding Six years after engineering massive cuts to public schools, Gov. Scott Walker will propose a record level of K-12 education funding in his upcoming budget proposal. In total, Walker would send $11.5 billion to public, charter and private voucher schools in the two years starting July 1, including $649 million in new spending. The governor […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/06/2017]
Scott Walker, Lowell Holtz and John Humphries Standing by Their Woman, Betsy DeVos When these three continue to stand by Betsy DeVos it’s clear they’re most interested in the impact she can have on their campaign war chests. [One Wisconsin Now, 02/01/2017]
Gov. Walker proposes lifetime teacher licenses Teachers in the state would never have to renew their teaching licenses under a plan from Gov. Scott Walker. In his budget released last week, Walker proposed granting teachers lifetime teaching licenses. School administrators who’ve pushed for streamlined licensing to address a teacher shortage say they could be onboard, with a caveat. They want to […] [Associated Press, 02/01/2017]
Walker to unveil ‘dramatic’ plans to help rural schools in Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker promised Wednesday that he has plans to “dramatically help rural schools in the state of Wisconsin,” but he’s not saying yet exactly what he will propose… According to the list, Walker was to discuss sparsity aid that targets rural school, transportation aid for rural schools, expanding broadband internet access, administrative efficiency and […] [St. Paul Pioneer Press, 01/26/2017]
Walker sends letter in support of DeVos for education head Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has sent a letter of support for Betsy DeVos as U.S. education secretary. Walker’s letter sent Monday to the leaders of the Senate committee that held her confirmation hearing Tuesday. DeVos is a billionaire and leading advocate of the school choice movement. Liberal think tank the Center for American Progress says […] [Washington Times, 01/18/2017]
Walker pledges new funding for K-12 Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday affirmed his plans to make funding for K-12 public education his top education priority in the state’s upcoming biennial budget, ahead of higher education needs in the UW System and technical colleges. “Our No. 1 priority is going to be putting more money into K-12 public education,” he told reporters […] [Appleton Post-Crescent, 08/23/2016]
Walker Denies Legal Counsel to Agency Sued by His Campaign Chair’s Legal Fund Gov. Walker is denying legal counsel to a state agency because the lawsuit was brought by his campaign chair’s legal fund. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/16/2016]
Wisconsin Supreme Court deals Walker loss on education case A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court dealt Gov. Scott Walker a defeat on Wednesday, upholding a ruling that preserves the independence of the state’s elected education secretary and denies the governor veto power he sought over the office… The state constitution “requires the Legislature to keep the supervision of public instruction in the hands of officers […] [Chicago Tribune, 05/18/2016]
One Billion Dollars in Cuts to K-12 Public Schools … And Counting Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature have cut over $1 billion from K-12 public schools since taking office. [One Wisconsin Now, 02/10/2016]
Walker’s act 10 cited as concerns rise over teacher shortage In the five years since Act 10 became law, Wisconsin school districts have experienced a dramatic decline in the number of applicants for each teacher vacancy. In 2015, there were an average of 3.2 candidates per vacancy, down from 6.6 candidates in 2012, according to Wisconsin Education Career Access Network data provided by Means. In […] [WITI-TV, 02/09/2016]
Some Neenah teachers can opt out of evaluations Before Act 10, the law championed by Gov. Scott Walker to limit collective bargaining powers, public school districts in Wisconsin used step-and-lane models in which educators advanced on a salary schedule by accruing years of service and graduate school credits. Neenah, Appleton, Little Chute and a number of other school districts throughout the state have […] [Appleton Post-Crescent, 01/30/2016]
Report: Property taxes, rates drop in southeastern Wisconsin Republicans have repeatedly cut general fund support to K-12 schools and the UW System to pay for tax breaks disproportionately benefiting the wealthy and corporations. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 09/03/2015]
Unaccountable Private School Voucher Program a Billion Dollar Boondoggle Under Gov. Walker and Republican Legislature A new analysis finds that under Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature, taxpayers will have to foot a $1.18 billion plus tab for the private school voucher program by the end of the 2016-17 fiscal year. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/01/2015]
Gov. Scott Walker’s Education Speech Debacle The bumbling run of Gov. Scott Walker for the 2016 Republican Presidential nomination stumbled on yesterday with a speech on education in New Hampshire. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/20/2015]
Walker scores big with Koch brothers, other wealthy donors in informal poll Liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now, which opposes school vouchers, described the makeup of the task force as being “packed” with voucher supporters, executive director Scot Ross said in a statement. The group pointed to $20,000 in campaign contributions that went to the GOP members of the committee from pro-voucher groups. [Wisconsin State Journal, 08/08/2015]
The Reality of Scott Walker’s Record on K-12 Education Gov. Scott Walker’s education policies would earn him an F grade from anyone concerned with quality public education. In his first budget, Walker enacted the largest per student K-12 education cuts in the nation. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/06/2015]
A valuable lesson in Gov. Scott Walker’s education record Wisconsin is 35th in the nation in job creation, dead last in the Midwest, and our middle class is shrinking. Wisconsin is divided as never before and in desperate search for leadership that brings us back together. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 06/19/2015]
A Valuable Lesson in Gov. Scott Walker’s Education Record The teachable moment is that behind every "bold" claim by Walker is a very different, cold, hard truth. It's a lesson the school children of Wisconsin know only too well. [Scot Ross, 06/18/2015]
Will College Dropout Gov. Scott Walker Sign Budget Measure to Allow High School Dropouts to Teach in Wisconsin? An amendment to the 2015 state budget adopted by the Republican controlled Joint Committee on Finance in the middle of the night would eliminate almost all standards for teachers. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/28/2015]
Scott Walker to Unaccountable Private Voucher Schools: ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ Back home in Wisconsin it’s “let the good times roll” for the unaccountable voucher program as Republican politicians consider Walker’s scheme for further statewide expansion. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/18/2015]
The Foundations of Scott Walker’s Agenda: Bradley and Koch On issues like public education and the environment the foundations of Scott Walker’s agenda are not us. Instead he’s is shilling for right-wing billionaires and their foundations to advance his own political ambitions. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/15/2015]
Twenty-Five Years of School Privatization, Twenty-Five Years of Failure On its silver anniversary, the Wisconsin school privatization experiment is the gold standard for failure and lack of accountability. But that won’t stop its champions like the Bradley-funded propaganda machine. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/28/2015]
Wisconsin Walker’s shopping tale doesn’t mention taxpayer millions “If you look at the Walker record, it has been cuts to infrastructure like public education to fund a trickle-down economic agenda that hasn’t worked,” said Mike Browne, deputy executive director of One Wisconsin Now. [Bloomberg News, 04/21/2015]
Walker’s 2015 executive budget proposed cutting $127 million from public schools Wisconsin school districts are scrambling to revise their budget estimates after Gov. Scott Walker’s biennial state budget proposed effectively cutting $127 million in education aid next year. Milwaukee Public Schools is facing a loss of at least $12 million next year as a result of that move, but plenty of well-to-do suburban districts — in […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/16/2015]
Arena plan prompts different reactions from area groups Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, a liberal group, said his organization had "serious questions about the priorities of Gov. Walker." [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/20/2015]
Private School Voucher Industry Keeps Giving Big Campaign Cash, Keeps Getting Special Treatment from Gov. Walker and GOP Legislature According to the latest round of campaign finance filings, individuals associated with the private school voucher industry kept busy filling the campaign coffers of Gov. Walker and others, even after Election Day. [One Wisconsin Now, 02/19/2015]
Walker calls for elimination of for-profit college watchdog agency A proposal in Gov. Scott Walker’s two-year budget would likely make Wisconsin the only state without oversight of for-profit colleges, at a time when many others are ramping up their level of supervision over colleges that face heavy scrutiny throughout the nation. “I don’t know of any other state that would not have some kind […] [Capital Times, 02/16/2015]
In Walker’s 2015 budget, he proposed lifting the caps put in place in the 2013 expansion, expanding vouchers across the state without limits An unlimited number of Wisconsin students could use taxpayer dollars to attend private schools in the statewide voucher program, under Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed two-year budget. Walker would also start paying for the program with money that otherwise would go to public schools. In addition to eliminating the 1,000-student cap in the statewide voucher program, […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/04/2015]
Walker proposed $300 million cut to UW system in his 2015 budget. `State lawmakers responded mostly along party lines to Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to cut funding to the University of Wisconsin System by 13 percent over the next two years. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Walker will propose turning the 13 four-year campuses and 13 two-year colleges of the UW System into a public authority, […] [Capital Times, 01/28/2015]
Reaction to Walker’s State of State speech “We see Wisconsin as a state in need of improvement,” said Scot Ross, director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. “Our schools and workforce are among the best in the nation. But the facts show Scott Walker has failed to deliver, leaving us with lagging job growth and stagnant wages.” [Associated Press, 01/15/2015]
GOP Legislature Starts 2015 Payoff to School Privatization Industry Wisconsin legislative Republicans are promising legislation to regulate the private school voucher program that is slated to rake in over $212 million from state taxpayers in the current school year. [One Wisconsin Now, 01/07/2015]
Walker budget would eliminate Special Transfer Program Currently, under the Special Transfer Program (commonly known as Chapter 220), the state provides aid to school districts to support voluntary efforts by school districts to reduce racial imbalance. Aid is provided for both interdistrict and intradistrict pupil transfers. This bill closes the Special Transfer Program to new pupils. Under the bill, however, any pupil […] [2015 SB 21, 01/01/2015]
‘Right-to-Work’ Backer Cites Bradley Foundation-Funded Junk Science to Justify Attack on Middle Class Wages and Workplace Safety Rep. Kapenga used statistics promoted by the Bradley-funded Mackinac Center to claim introducing the measure in Wisconsin would be good for the state economy. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/04/2014]
State Government The Wisconsin GOP Way: Those Who Give, Get and Those That Don’t, Don’t Assembly GOP Speaker Robin Vos and Gov. Scott Walker called for a dramatically expanded private school voucher program in Wisconsin, financed with public tax dollars. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/17/2014]
As Percentage of Wisconsin Graduates With Student Loan Debt Rises, GOP Leaves Borrowers Out in the Cold It is appalling Gov. Walker and the Republican legislative majority have again turned their back on the hard working college graduates saddled with massive education debt. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/13/2014]
One Wisconsin Now slams Scott Walker’s tech school tour Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now questions Governor Scott Walker’s motive as the Republican tours five of the state’s 16 technical colleges just two days after being elected to a second term. “He’s using technical colleges as a photo-op as he prepares to make another run for higher office and it’s a sad indictment on […] [Wisconsin Radio Network, 11/09/2014]
Mary Burke Supports Student Loan Debt Reform Gov. Walker doesn't support common sense Reforms, like allowing Wisconsin's 800,000 borrowers to refinance loans at lower market rates. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/28/2014]
Party Line Howard Marklein Tows the Education Privatization Line for Party Bosses and Special Interests A recent news report reveals $139 million in state tax dollars went to private schools in Milwaukee kicked out of the school voucher program, supported by Rep. Howard Marklein, for failing to meet basic standards. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/14/2014]
Lawsuit challenging teacher contracts politically motivated, says One WI Now A lawsuit accusing the Madison School Board of engaging in illegal collective bargaining to the detriment of children and taxpayers was filed by a Milwaukee-based conservative legal group that is a “front” for Gov. Scott Walker, says the director of a Madison progressive advocacy group. [Capital Times, 09/11/2014]
A Guide to Gov. Walker’s Education Policy: Follow the Money While studies of the voucher program have failed to demonstrate higher achievement for students, pandering to the voucher industry has been lucrative for career politician Scott Walker’s campaign account. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/04/2014]
Gov. Walker Needs to Go Back to School on Education Policy As students across Wisconsin head back to school, it’s Gov. Scott Walker who needs to be educated about the impact of his wrong-headed education policies. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/29/2014]
They’re Back: Wealthy Private School Voucher Boosters Fill GOP Politicians’ Campaign Coffers Supporters of private school vouchers from across the country are dropping big donations on Wisconsin politicians in recent months, including over $113,000 to Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/18/2014]
Where There’s a WILL, There’s a Way… to Promote Gov. Walker’s Best Interests For the years in which Federal IRS records are available for both the Bradley Foundation and WILL, 2011 and 2012, Bradley funds accounted for over 90 percent of the total money WILL reported raising. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/11/2014]
Gov. Scott Walker Still Refuses to Answer the Simple Question: Is He Still Doing It? While Walker refuses to answer if he continues to direct a scheme to avoid campaign laws, the right-wing mega-funder Bradley Foundation’s chief Michael Grebe, might have the answer. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/25/2014]
Private Voucher School Application Data Shows Overwhelming Support for State Public Schools Time and again students in public schools outperform those in voucher schools, while parents and taxpayers alike get more accountability. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/20/2014]
Records Reveal Private School Voucher Industry Lobbyist Wrote Latest Republican Bill Proposing to “Regulate” Voucher Industry Legislation claiming to impose new accountability requirements on schools participating in the private school voucher program was written by the lobbyist for the school privatization industry. [One Wisconsin Now, 02/14/2014]
S is for Shill This report exposes the web of right-wing funders advancing a radical school privatization agenda through the use of Wisconsin-based front groups, with special focus on the Bradley Foundation, headed by Scott Walker's campaign co-chair Michael Grebe. [One Wisconsin Institute, 11/13/2013]
Wisconsin Ensnared in $83 Million National Propaganda and Privatization Web Spun by Radical Right-Wing Funders A new report from One Wisconsin Now exposes a web of right-wing funders advancing a radical privatization agenda through the use of Wisconsin-based front groups. [One Wisconsin Now, 11/13/2013]
Latest Enrollment Statistics Expose Unaccountable Private School Voucher Expansion Scam The state Department of Public Instruction today released official enrollment counts for students in the expanded private school voucher program. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/29/2013]
Latest Walker Tax Scheme Fails to Deliver for Wisconsin Homeowners MADISON, Wis. — In an appearance in Wisconsin today, Gov. Walker unveiled a new tax scheme he claimed would help Wisconsin homeowners and called for passing a bill within the next ten days. But according to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the average Wisconsin homeowner would save a mere $13, or $1.08 per month, in […] [One Wisconsin Now, 10/10/2013]
Facts Are Facts. Gov. Walker’s Agenda an Abysmal Failure for Wisconsin Instead of owning up to the fact that his radical, ‘divide and conquer’ agenda has failed and changing course, Gov. Walker is turning to the special interests he serves to try to re-write history. [One Wisconsin Now, 10/07/2013]
Scot Ross: Gov. Walker and Republican legislators to voucher schools: ‘We’ll pay more for that’ While private schools benefit, courtesy of taxpayer-funded vouchers that in many cases far exceed the tuition paid by other students, it is once again our state public schools that lose out under the agenda of Walker and the Republican Legislature. [Capital Times, 09/29/2013]
One Wisconsin Now to Join ‘Public Education Is a Civil Right’ March, Rally One Wisconsin Now will join public education supporters from across the state at Saturday's 'Public Education Is a Civil Right' march and rally. [One Wisconsin Now, 09/17/2013]
Private School Voucher Scam: 75% of Applicants for Statewide Expansion of Taxpayer Funded Private School Vouchers Not Currently Attending Public Schools Seventy-five percent of the students applying for a taxpayer funded voucher are not coming from public schools, including 67% who were already in private schools. [One Wisconsin Now, 08/14/2013]
Bradley Foundation Dollars Continued to Fuel Right Wing Noise Machine in 2012 According to documents reviewed by One Wisconsin Now, staples of the state right wing noise machine were once again beneficiaries of the largesse of Michael Grebe in 2012. [One Wisconsin Now, 07/17/2013]
Under Walker’s New Tax Giveaway, Families Could Receive Up To $4,000 for Children in Kindergarten Through Eighth Grade And $10,000 For Each Student In High School “Walker’s signing of the budget comes in time for the new fiscal year, which begins Monday. The final version of the budget will: Tax cuts. Cut income taxes by $651 million over two years and provide $30 million a year in income tax savings for the parents of the nearly 100,000 private school students in […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 06/30/2013]
#WalkerAt20: Walker’s Education Agenda a Formula for Failure MADISON, Wis. — In his twenty years in office, Scott Walker has amassed a truly astounding record of failure. To commemorate the looming anniversary of his first election to office, One Wisconsin Now is highlighting a different and depressing failure of Gov. Walker every day, for twenty days. Under Gov. Walker no area has more […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/17/2013]
#WalkerAt20: Bradley Foundation Errand Boy There's no bigger funder of the right-wing noise machine and radical agenda of unaccountable education privatization than the Bradley Foundation. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/12/2013]
Wisconsin Working Families and Middle Class Lose Big as Top GOP Legislative Leaders Flip-Flop Way to Budget Deal MADISON, Wis. — In his 2010 campaign, Gov. Walker signaled support for a bill to ban the legislature from voting after 10pm because, “… nothing good happens after midnight. That’s even more true in politics.” According to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross it’s too bad for the middle class and working families of […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/04/2013]
One Wisconsin Now Travels to Iowa to Share Walker “Resume of Failure” DES MOINES — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is traveling to Iowa today to address a gathering of Republican Party activists in another of an increasing number out-of-state sojourns as he ponders a bid for national office. Also making the trip is One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross, along with copies of the Walker “Resume […] [One Wisconsin Now, 05/22/2013]
State Government and Political Round-up: Budget measure would make all state juniors take ACT test Scot Ross, who heads the liberal One Wisconsin Now group, says Walker is not doing his job in Wisconsin while the state lags near the bottom in creating new jobs. [Pierce County Herald, 05/20/2013]
Walker Campaign Co-Chair’s Foundation Funds Group Suing MATC Over Taxpayer-Finance Savings Plan The lawsuit by the WILL over a contract signed by the MATC comes thanks to the CEO of the Bradley Foundation, which has contributed $500,000 to WILL. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/01/2013]
Prelude to a Raid? Right-wing finger-pointing over reports of University of Wisconsin System surpluses is distracting from the real crisis, the trillion dollar plus student loan debt crisis. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/21/2013]
Massive Bradley Foundation Education Privatization Campaign Exposed New research from One Wisconsin Now reveals a web of right-wing groups are part of a $31 million plus propaganda campaign pushing a massive privatization of public education in Wisconsin. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/19/2013]
Gov. Walker’s Misplaced Budget Priorities: Education Privatization Devastating to Public Schools An analysis of Gov. Walker's 2013-15 budget plan reveals a massive increase in the percentage of state taxpayer dollars going to the unaccountable private school voucher program. [One Wisconsin Now, 03/10/2013]
Walker’s 2013 budget proposed expanding vouchers throughout the state Under Walker’s proposal, districts would be opened up to voucher programs if they have at least 4,000 students and two school buildings receiving a grade of “fails to meet expectations” or “meets few expectations” on state report cards…Walker’s budget plan would set the criteria for bringing school districts into the voucher system, rather than naming […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/18/2013]
State of the State? More like State of Gov. Scott Walker’s Presidential Campaign. It is no coincidence that the first post-November election comments on his policy agenda for the coming year were made by Gov. Scott Walker at the Reagan library in California [Scot Ross, 01/10/2013]
Walker Signed a Law Making It Easier to Continue Use of Race-based Mascots Signed a bill that eliminated the procedure for objecting to and ordering termination of a school’s use of a race-based nickname, logo or mascot. Additionally, the bill allowed school districts to stop complying with existing orders to terminate use of race-based nicknames, logos, or mascots. The measure was passed by both houses and signed by […] [2013 AB 297, Senate Vote, 01/01/2013]
Walker’s 2013-15 Budget Failed to Invest in Higher Education The budget: Flatlined funding in student financial aid, even though tens of thousands of eligible students have been denied aid due to lack of funding Cut the UW System’s budget by $66 million for the biennium while freezing system’s ability to raise revenue from tuition. [2013 Assembly Bill 40, 01/01/2013]
Walker’s 2013-15 Budget Measures Undermine Public Education The 2013-15 budget included measures that: Continue the public education deficit created in the 2011-13 budget; Expand the private school voucher program and increase its funding by $90 million; Create an income tax deduction for private school tuition of up to $10,000, at a cost of $30 million per year; and Eliminate funding for the Farm […] [2013 Assembly Bill 40, 01/01/2013]
Walker’s 2013-15 Budget Played Politics & Middle Class Loses As a result of the budget: Due to the Republican plan to reject Medicaid expansion, taxpayers will pay $206 million more to provide healthcare to 84,700 fewer people Instead of using a balanced approach, this budget takes a surplus built on record cuts to public schools and goes into future deficit in order to give […] [2013 Assembly Bill 40, 01/01/2013]
Walker Proposed Expanding the Private School Voucher Program in 2013 Budget Proposed and ultimately signed the 2013-15 budget which included expansion of the private school voucher program statewide. As approved, the program was expanded for 500 students in its first year and 1,000 students in the next school year. [2013 AB 40, 01/01/2013]
Walker’s Budget Did Not Include Income Limitation on Claimants of Tuition Tax Break “Create a deduction from the individual income tax for amounts paid for tuition to a private school, beginning in tax year 2014. Limit the deduction to tuition expenses of up to $4,000 per year per pupil enrolled in kindergarten through grade eight and $10,000 per year per pupil enrolled in grades nine through twelve. Define […] [Legislative Fiscal Bureau, 01/01/2013]
In Response to Mass Shooting, Walker Said Arming School Officials Should Be ‘Part of the Discussion,’ Along with Addressing Mental Health Needs In the wake of the country’s latest mass shooting, Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday that more should be done to help mentally troubled individuals and that arming school officials should be “part of the discussion.” Walker called for a summit involving top mental health professionals from around the state early next year…And Walker said that […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 12/20/2012]
Wisconsin ‘Money Badger’s’ Paw Prints Uncovered In Attack on Worker Rights in Michigan Wisconsin's 'Money Badger', Michael Grebe, appears to have his paws in the attack on worker rights in Michigan according to One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/06/2012]
Will Wisconsin ‘Money Badger’ Back Gov. Walker’s Quest for Presidential Super PAC Cash? Recent media report included Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on a list of suitors seeking an audience with GOP mega-donor and Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. [One Wisconsin Now, 12/05/2012]
Recall Election Golden Rule: He Who Has the Gold, Rules Post recall election there has been no shortage of attempts to spin what the results mean. One unquestionable takeaway is that in this election, money mattered. A lot. [Mike Browne, 06/07/2012]
In recall, union group says Walker cut school funding to give tax breaks Critics of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker have condemned his funding cuts to schools and tax breaks for businesses and wealthier individuals… We rated Half True a claim by the liberal One Wisconsin Now group that tax breaks approved for corporations and the rich would cost taxpayers $2.3 billion over a decade. The changes aren’t a cost to taxpayers in […] [PolitiFact, 05/24/2012]
Gov. Walker’s Cross Country Cash Grab Takes Off As Wisconsin Economy Crashes and Burns MADISON, Wis. — Under Gov. Walker, Wisconsin’s economy has tanked, ranking dead last in the nation for job creation and suffering the ignominy of being the only state in the nation with statistically significant job losses over the last year. Meanwhile, Gov. Walker’s cross country cash grab has been a stunning success, netting two-thirds of […] [One Wisconsin Now, 04/29/2012]
Walker signed the repeal of the Healthy Youth Act along with several anti-women bills “Gov. Scott Walker signed four bills relating to women’s reproductive health and pay equality without the usual public fanfare last Thursday, a move that came under fire from Democrats and advocacy groups. Walker signed the four bills into law on Thursday and announced their signing, along with 47 other bills, in a statement released the […] [Badger Herald, 04/09/2012]
Gov. Walker: New TV Ad, Same Falsehoods and Failed Policies One Wisconsin Now Deputy Director Mike Browne made the following statement regarding Gov. Scott Walker’s latest special interest funded campaign ad: “Governor Walker’s new special interest funded TV ad is selling the same falsehoods and failed policies. The facts are that Gov. Walker’s policies have cost us jobs, hurt public schools, increased taxes on seniors […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/04/2012]
2010 ‘Lie of Year’ Award Winner in Madison to Address Gathering of Corporate CEOs MADISON, Wis. — 2010 Politifact “Lie of the Year” award winner, GOP pollster Frank Luntz, addressed a gathering of CEOs sponsored by the state’s big business lobby today in Madison. One Wisconsin Now Deputy Director Mike Browne said Luntz will have his work cut out for him trying to boost Gov. Scott Walker’s record of […] [One Wisconsin Now, 02/15/2012]
GOP Stalls Voucher Loophole Fix, Proposed Accountability Standards as Their Campaign Coffers Fill With Cash MADISON, Wis. — Campaign finance records show private school voucher advocates have showered Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP with over $507,000 in campaign contributions in 2011 and 2012. Meanwhile proposed accountability standards that would include voucher schools are on hold and a bill to close a loophole that could allow statewide expansion of the […] [One Wisconsin Now, 02/14/2012]
Scott Walker’s Rhetoric Versus Reality MADISON, Wis. — Governor Scott Walker failed to tackle Wisconsin’s jobs crisis – posting six straight months of job losses here while nationally jobs are being added – and is now poised to take on “the truth” in his second State of the State address. In Gov. Walker’s one year in office he has failed […] [One Wisconsin Now, 01/24/2012]
UW System Responds to Additional Budget Cuts Reilly sent a letter to the DOA on Dec. 14 outlining how the UW System plans to deal with a budget lapse – or additional reduction in state aid – of at least $65.7 million or more than 37 percent of a 174.3 million cut across all state agencies that was imposed in the 2011-13 […] [Capital Times , 12/21/2011]
D is for Dismantle There is a long-held belief among many conservatives that public schools are simply not an appropriate role of government and should be privatized through the use of vouchers. One of the staunchest supporters of this extreme view is Gov. Scott Walker. [One Wisconsin Institute, 12/20/2011]
One Wisconsin Institute Report: ‘D is for Dismantle’ A comprehensive analysis entitled “D is for Dismantle,” authored by the non-partisan One Wisconsin Institute shows that despite claims from Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin schools are not failing, instead his budget cuts and disastrous education policies endanger our proud tradition of excellent schools. [One Wisconsin Institute, 12/19/2011]
Facts Tell Different Story Than Deceptive Walker Education Ad MADISON, Wis. — The Monona Grove school district cited in Gov. Scott Walker’s latest deceptive television ad as being a success story, has lost teachers, seen higher class sizes rise throughout the curriculum as result of Walker’s historic $1.6 billion gutting of public education. “Gov. Walker can’t tell the truth about his record of failing […] [One Wisconsin Now, 12/08/2011]
Rolled back class size reduction program; allows teachers to be evaluated on standardized test scores On December 17, 2011, Walker signed a bill into law that rolled back a major provision of the popular class size reduction program, Student Achievement Guarantee in Education Program, which established class sizes of 18 or under in grades K-3. This bill allows school districts to opt out of class size reductions in grades 2 […] [2011 WI Act 105, 12/07/2011]
Walker acknowledges his ‘reforms’ have hurt schools Gov. Scott Walker would like to think that his agenda has been good for Wisconsin schools. He issued a release on Monday claiming just that. But as the Capital Times points out today, he is actually — and perhaps unknowingly — acknowledging that his reforms are not working for schools. Among the effects of Walker’s […] [Cody Oliphant, 11/15/2011]
Walker Allowed University of Wisconsin to raise tuition by 5.5% annually; Cut $250 million from System 2011 WI Act 32: On June 26, 2011, Walker signed the budget into law, which allowed the UW System to increase tuition 5.5% annually, over $107 million over the biennium. The tuition increase was allowed in part due to the $250 million in cuts made to the general program operations for the UW System by […] [2011 WI Act 32, 11/09/2011]
Walker signed repeal of comprehensive sex education requirement, known as the Healthy Youth Act. Schools in Wisconsin that teach sex education would be required to promote abstinence and marriage under a bill passed by the state Senate Wednesday night on a party-line vote. The controversial Republican-backed legislation would dismantle a new state law passed by Democrats last year, which requires schools that offer sex education to include information about […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 11/03/2011]
UW Chancellors: Higher education cuts unfair UW-Stout and UW Eau Claire Chancellors contend the state’s latest round of budget cuts would unfairly burden Wisconsin’s four-year universities…The UW System comprises only 7 percent of the state budget and will get 38 percent of the cut for at least 174.3 million included in the 2011-2013 state budget. They will also include $65.6 million […] [Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 10/26/2011]
Wisconsin From A-Zia: Walker Cuts to UW System Top $300 Million Cuts are happening right and left in the state of Wisconsin, and the UW system is getting hit especially hard. Between 2011-2013 Walker will force the UW system to cut $65.8 million, and this does not include the $250 million base budget reduction. Overall, there will be about $300 million worth of cuts to the […] [Meena Zia, 10/18/2011]
Students Must Open Wallets a Bit More Students who attend the 26 campuses of the University of Wisconsin System and the state’s 13 liberal arts campuses will pay hundreds more in tuition this fall – ranging from $235 more a year at UW Colleges to $659 more a year at UW-Madison after the UW Board of Regents approved a 5.5 percent tuition […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 07/15/2011]
Walker gets ‘Pants on Fire’ rating after raising college tuition (major fee increase) Politi-Fact gave the Governor a “Pants on Fire Rating” after he promised he would pass a budget without fee increases yet the Legislative Fiscal Bureau had determined the budget would raise nine fees over two years by $133 million and reduce eight other fees by $22 million; a net increase in fees of $111 million. Some […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 07/01/2011]
Walker cut over $71 million from Tech College System In the 2011-13 budget, Walker slashed over $71.6 million in state aid from the technical college system, a 30% reduction, and capped tech college’s ability to raise additional funds through property tax increases. (Legislative Fiscal Bureau Comparative budget summary, Technical College System, #4; 2011 Assembly Bill 40; Senate Roll Call; Assembly Roll Call) [2011 WI Act 32, 06/26/2011]
Walker Cut School Funding by $1.6 Billion Walker signed into law the 2011-13 budget, which cut school aids by approximately $800 million and reduced the revenue limit per pupil by 5.5% in fiscal year 2012. The Department of Public Instruction put the total combined cuts at $1.6 billion over the 2011-13 biennium as compared to previous statute. This is the first decrease […] [2011 WI Act 32, 06/26/2011]
Walker eliminated revenue tax exemption for school nurses In the 2011-13 budget, Walker signed into law the deletion of a revenue tax adjustments available to schools to help cover the costs of having school nurses. (Legislative Fiscal Bureau Comparative budget summary, Public Instruction, #11; 2011 Assembly Bill 40; Senate Roll Call; Assembly Roll Call) [2011 WI Act 32, 06/26/2011]
Walker’s first budget slashed funding for education by nearly $2 billion Headline: Wis. Gov. signs budget cutting education $1.85B. “Democrats assailed the budget as an attack on middle class values since it cuts funding for public schools by $800 million, reduces funding to the UW system by $250 million and cuts tax credits for poor people. It also reduces the amount schools can collect from property […] [CBS News, 06/26/2011]
Walker Reduced Immigrants’ Access to Education Youth who are the children of undocumented immigrants are no longer allowed to pay the resident tuition rate to attend the UW System or a technical college. They had the right to pay resident tuition, if they are graduates of a Wisconsin high school, have lived in the state for at least three years and […] [2011 WI Act 32, 06/26/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Statements on Walker Signing Surrender to Wall Street, Corporations MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding Gov. Scott Walker’s planned signing of the 2011-13 Wisconsin state budget on Sunday. Walker’s budget includes tax breaks for corporations and the rich that will cost the state of Wisconsin taxpayers $2.3 billion over the next decade. At the same […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/23/2011]
Walker’s first budget included deep cuts, tuition hikes for UW System In March, UW-Eau Claire expected a $5.1 million cut based on Walker’s budget proposal, but that went up to $6.3 million with the version approved this week by the state Legislature. UW-Stout’s university’s spokesman, Doug Mell, said the $3.85 million cut estimated for UW-Stout based on earlier budgets would go above $4 million under the […] [Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 06/18/2011]
State Capitol ‘Run Against Walker’ to Focus on Walker, GOP Attacks on Health Care, Middle Class to Pay for $600 Million Corporate Tax Cuts MADISON, Wis. — Massive attacks against health care, education and middle class priorities launched by Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican legislative majority are the focus of a “Run Against Walker,” scheduled at the State Capitol today. The “Run Against Walker,” a run/walk for citizens organized by One Wisconsin Now as part of the “Walkerville” […] [One Wisconsin Now, 06/06/2011]
Allocated $35 Million More for Milwaukee Private Schools, Expanded Vouchers Walker signed into law the state budget, which expanded participation in the Milwaukee voucher program at a biennial cost of $19.3 million, and expanded the voucher program to Racine ($4.8 million) and Green Bay ($1.6 million). (Legislative Fiscal Bureau “2011-13 Comparative Summary of Budget Recommendations,” June 2011; [Racine Journal Times, 06/02/2011]
GOP ‘Corporate Tax Giveaway Day’ Raises Taxes on 270,000 Working Families to Pay for Tax Breaks for 400 Companies The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee voted to raise taxes on as many as 270,000 working Wisconsinites through changes in the Earned Income Tax Credit, while handing out more than $84 million in corporate tax breaks. So far, budget committee Republicans have voted in favor of raising taxes on as many as 500,000 Wisconsin families. The […] [Scot Ross, 05/31/2011]
Walker’s proposal to break off UW-Madison dead Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to break off the Madison campus from the rest of the University of Wisconsin System is dead after a lack of support for the split… The two ongoing topics of debate are what freedoms will be granted to the campuses and how will they be implemented, and how will the governor’s […] [Associated Press, 05/27/2011]
Wisconsin Senators Paying Corporate ALEC Membership with Tax Dollars We obtained documents showing that 12 current Republican members of the State Senate are forcing you to pay the cost for their private membership in ALEC. [Scot Ross, 05/07/2011]
One Wisconsin Institute Report: ‘We’re Not Broke: The Truth About The Wisconsin Budget, Taxes and Governor Walker’s Phony Fiscal Crisis’ A comprehensive analysis authored by the non-partisan One Wisconsin Institute shows that despite claims from Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin is not “broke.” [One Wisconsin Institute, 04/14/2011]
Walker Returns $50,000 in Jack Links’-Related Contributions with $75,000 in Taxpayer Dollars MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker has announced a $75,000 taxpayer-financed grant to a company, who along with its Chief Executive Officer, donated nearly $50,000 in 2010 to the Republican Governors Association, which spent $5 million to elect Walker governor, according to a figures obtained from the Internal Revenue Service by One Wisconsin Now. Walker […] [One Wisconsin Now, 04/04/2011]
Nearly 16,000 Wisconsinites Demand End to Walker Education Cuts MADISON, Wis. — The names of nearly 16,000 Wisconsinites who have signed One Wisconsin Now’s online petition in just over the last week demanding an end to Gov. Scott Walker’s unprecedented attack on public education were deliver today to the Governor and leaders of the state Joint Finance Committee. JFC has a scheduling hearing today […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/29/2011]
School leaders say math ‘doesn’t add up’ in Gov. Scott Walker’s school district budget projections “Walker is taking one of the biggest draws that the state of Wisconsin has, which is the fact that we have great public schools, and trashing that,” said Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin. “Meanwhile, he’s giving more money and more power to the unaccountable private school lobby.” [Appleton Post-Crescent, 03/18/2011]
Walker Education Scheme: Close Middle Class Toolbox, Reward Corporate Class MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker’s unprecedented attack on the public education of children across Wisconsin is part of a dismantling of the middle class tool box to enrich the wealthy and corporate America and Wall Street. Gov. Walker’s budget actions would cut $834 million from public education, skyrocket tuition for students in Wisconsin and […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/15/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Statements Regarding Fitzgerald Rights’ Denial to 2.2 Million Wisconsinites “Considering how the Republicans plan to slash $900 million from our public schools, cut health care for 1 million Wisconsinites, raise prescription drug costs for countless seniors, raise taxes on the working poor by $51 million while at the same time handing $200 million in tax breaks for the wealthy and corporate special interests, Sen. […] [CommonDreams, 03/14/2011]
One Wisconsin Now Statements Regarding Fitzgerald Rights’ Denial to 2.2 Million Wisconsinites MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross released the following statements regarding Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s planned denial of committee voting rights to 14 Senate Democrats, who represent 2.2 million Wisconsin residents and taxpayers. “Sen. Scott Fitzgerald isn’t content with illegally passing a bill which takes away the rights of 175,000 […] [One Wisconsin Now, 03/13/2011]
As Enrollment Shoots Up, funding falls for WI technical colleges State funding for Wisconsin’s 16 technical colleges would drop to a dollar level not seen since the late 1980s, despite enrollment growth of 40% over the last decade, if cuts in Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget ultimately gain approval, college officials said last week. That could lead to longer waiting lists for classes, more limited […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/07/2011]
Walker Put Reading Task Force Outside of Department of Public Instruction In the budget, Walker allocated $1.2 million to the creation of a reading task force to reside within the GOP controlled Department of Administration, rather than in the Department of Public Instruction, where the secretary is democratically elected and accountable to the voters, not Governor Walker. Walker has since used that task force as his […] [Department of Administration, 01/01/2011]
Scott Walker Flip Flops on Immigration; Remains Firm in Refusal to Explain How to Pay for $2 Billion Tax Giveaway to Rich, Big Business Scott Walker's pandering flip flop on the racist Arizona immigration law has One Wisconsin Now asking whether a similar strategy could get him to answer the question he has refused to answer. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/16/2010]
Separate but equal, presumably Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker wants to split Milwaukee Public Schools into 10 to 12 smaller, autonomous school districts, the news media report. Swell idea. There could be eight African American districts, two Latino districts, and two all-white districts, given the makeup of the current MPS enrollment and the city’s housing patterns. Or maybe Walker […] [Bill Christofferson, 03/14/2010]
Will $2 Billion Buy Walker a Standing Ovation from WMC? MADISON, Wis. — At Tuesday’s Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce lobbying luncheon Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will likely find support from the corporate lobby for his $2-billion, budget-busting, deficit-doubling plan for tax breaks that mostly benefit corporations and the wealthiest Wisconsinites. What is less likely, is that Walker will explain which drastic cuts he would […] [One Wisconsin Now, 02/22/2010]
Walker’s Plan for State’s $2 Billion Deficit: ‘Let’s Make It $4 Billion’ MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker wants to double Wisconsin’s projected $2-billion state budget deficit with a series of tax breaks that mostly benefit corporations and high-income people. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported Wisconsin faces a $2 billion deficit in 2011-13, making Walker’s budget-busting tax breaks for the rich a doubling of the […] [One Wisconsin Now, 01/25/2010]
Walker vetoed $200,000 in Funding for Underserved Youth Sports Authority “Holloway said the veto cutting funding for the youth sports authority is a mistake. ‘This will affect the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of kids in our community,’ he said. ‘This program keeps our children out of trouble for just $200,000 a year. This program pays for itself because it costs the county nearly […] [Milwaukee Business News, 11/27/2009]
Walker Longtime Proponent of Using Tax Dollars to Send Students to Private and Religious Schools He’s also been a staunch supporter of private and religious school choice, playing a key role last year in maintaining funding for the program, which provides taxpayer money for private education. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/29/2002]
Walker Wanted Students in Milwaukee, One of the Most Segregated Cities in the US, to Stop Attending to Schools Outside of Their Neighborhood “For years, Milwaukee students have been bused to schools far from their homes and far from the support of their parents and neighbors.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 01/06/1998]
Walker Worries About State Spending Too Much on Public Schools If we don’t do anything … our school costs will so overwhelm our budget that there won’t be anything left.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 07/03/1997]
Walker Wanted to Eliminate State Funding for Sex Education in Public Schools “I won’t shy away from the fact that it had appeal to myself and other conservative members who don’t believe we should fund this, but the broad appeal was financial.” [Capital Times, 07/17/1995]
Walker Sponsored Bill Capping Public School Spending The bill proposed making permanent a previously adopted cap on public school funding. [1995 AB 6, 01/01/1995]