Meet the Majority

Report: State tax credit benefits wealthy

Budgets are about choices and Gov. Walker and the Republican Legislature chose to give a $300 million tax break to millionaires and billionaires. [Associated Press]

State Assembly Fall Forecast: Mostly Corrupt

With the removal of anti-corruption protections for state workers and in state law on the legislative fast track, the fall forecast is “mostly corrupt.”

Drafting files reveal series of changes to Wisconsin fetal tissue legislation

One Wisconsin Now research director Jenni Dye noted that the provisions of the original drafting request are no longer part of the bill being introduced and said the timing of the addition of the research ban language suggests it was driven by the release of the Planned Parenthood videos. [Capital Times]

Open records proposal scrapped

[M]embers of the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted 12-4 on party lines to adopt a measure which included a provision that would have greatly altered the state’s open records law. The liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now and the conservative think-tank the MacIver Institute for Public Policy each issued statements critical of the JFC’s decision. [DeForest Times-Tribune]

‘Bad, bad idea’: A plan to change Wisconsin’s open records laws was met with swift, strong opposition

Despite being introduced and passed at the start of a holiday weekend, the proposal sparked outrage among constituents, journalists and good government advocates. The opposition transcended party lines, with groups like the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, One Wisconsin Now, the MacIver Institute and the Center for Media and Democracy united against it. [Capital Times]

Sen. Duey Stroebel: Lawmaker, Lawbreaker?

Stroebel crossed the line of what’s legal in Wisconsin with his action publicly demanding a vote on that bill as a bottom line demand for giving his vote in favor of the state budget.

Why are Republicans wary of arena deal? Check the scoreboard

Republicans can't claim surprise when politicians who rode into office on the backs of their special interests attacks over a $5 million scoreboard for the Milwaukee Bucks aren't lining up to support a $500 million arena for the Milwaukee Bucks. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Kapenga embraces complaint filed by liberal group

The liberal group One Wisconsin Now on Wednesday filed a complaint alleging state Rep. Chris Kapenga had violated state law, an accusation the Town of Delafield Republican said he takes “as a badge of honor.” [Waukesha Freeman]

OWN Files Complaint Against Rep. Kapenga

Rep. Kapenga has failed to abide by the laws of Wisconsin prohibiting the use of state resources to benefit outside groups and requiring elected officials and candidates for office to be transparent about their dealings. [Wisconsin Daily Independent]