Budget debate: Senate votes 17-16 to repeal state's prevailing wage law

Budget debate: Senate votes 17-16 to repeal state's prevailing wage law

MADISON -- The state Senate has passed a rollback of the state's prevailing wage law, which sets minimum salaries for construction workers on public projects.The Senate voted 17-16 on Tuesday to repeal the law for all local government projects like those done by school districts and municipalities, while keeping it in place for state projects.

MADISON -- The state Senate has passed a rollback of the state's prevailing wage law, which sets minimum salaries for construction workers on public projects.The Senate voted 17-16 on Tuesday to repeal the law for all local government projects like those done by school districts and municipalities, while keeping it in place for state projects.

Budget debate: Republican-controlled Senate rejects restoring $250M in cuts to UW System

Budget debate: Republican-controlled Senate rejects restoring $250M in cuts to UW System

MADISON -- A Democratic proposal to restore a $250 million budget cut to the University of Wisconsin System has been rejected in the Republican-controlled state Senate.Democrats argued Tuesday, July 7th that it would irreparably harm the university system to move forward with the cut backed by Gov.

MADISON -- A Democratic proposal to restore a $250 million budget cut to the University of Wisconsin System has been rejected in the Republican-controlled state Senate.Democrats argued Tuesday, July 7th that it would irreparably harm the university system to move forward with the cut backed by Gov.

Documents show UW-Madison will take biggest hit under $250M cut to UW System

Documents show UW-Madison will take biggest hit under $250M cut to UW System

MADISON — New documents show the University of Wisconsin-Madison will take a nearly $59 million hit this budget year under a total $250 million cut to the UW System in the state budget.System officials released their 2015-16 budget Monday, July 6th.The plan also shows UW-Milwaukee taking an $18 million cut.The other 11 four-year campuses will see cuts ranging from $851,000 to $7.7 million.The budget materials did not include details on how the campuses will deal with the cuts.

MADISON — New documents show the University of Wisconsin-Madison will take a nearly $59 million hit this budget year under a total $250 million cut to the UW System in the state budget.System officials released their 2015-16 budget Monday, July 6th.The plan also shows UW-Milwaukee taking an $18 million cut.The other 11 four-year campuses will see cuts ranging from $851,000 to $7.7 million.The budget materials did not include details on how the campuses will deal with the cuts.

Barrett, Abele meet with Republican leaders on arena funding proposal as Dems request meeting

Barrett, Abele meet with Republican leaders on arena funding proposal as Dems request meeting

MADISON -- State and local officials met Thursday morning, July 2nd at the Governor's Office in Madison to talk about the proposed Milwaukee Bucks arena in downtown Milwaukee, but with even more company.

MADISON -- State and local officials met Thursday morning, July 2nd at the Governor's Office in Madison to talk about the proposed Milwaukee Bucks arena in downtown Milwaukee, but with even more company.

Two-year state budget up for passage by committee: Here are the highlights

Two-year state budget up for passage by committee: Here are the highlights

MADISON— The two-year state budget up for passage Thursday, July 2nd by the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee is expected to be taken up by the Assembly on Tuesday.

MADISON— The two-year state budget up for passage Thursday, July 2nd by the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee is expected to be taken up by the Assembly on Tuesday.

Assembly, Senate leaders say they have $850M deal to fund road work in the state

Assembly, Senate leaders say they have $850M deal to fund road work in the state

MADISON -- Republican lawmakers have a plan to fund road work, clearing the way for the Legislature's finance committee to finish up the state budget.Work on the budget has been at a standstill for more than a month, partly because legislators were struggling to find a way to reduce Governor Scott Walker's proposal to borrow $1.3 billion for roads.Assembly and Senate leaders told reporters Wednesday, July 1st they've reached a deal that calls for $850 million.

MADISON -- Republican lawmakers have a plan to fund road work, clearing the way for the Legislature's finance committee to finish up the state budget.Work on the budget has been at a standstill for more than a month, partly because legislators were struggling to find a way to reduce Governor Scott Walker's proposal to borrow $1.3 billion for roads.Assembly and Senate leaders told reporters Wednesday, July 1st they've reached a deal that calls for $850 million.

Deal reached on new state budget; Bucks arena funding, prevailing wage to be in separate bills

Deal reached on new state budget; Bucks arena funding, prevailing wage to be in separate bills

MADISON -- Republican legislative leaders have reached a deal on a new state budget that removes the Milwaukee Bucks arena funding proposal and prevailing wage reforms -- to be taken up later as separate bills.Joint Finance Committee co-chair Rep.

MADISON -- Republican legislative leaders have reached a deal on a new state budget that removes the Milwaukee Bucks arena funding proposal and prevailing wage reforms -- to be taken up later as separate bills.Joint Finance Committee co-chair Rep.

Coalition warns against possible budget provision it says could limit transparency about rent-to-own products

Coalition warns against possible budget provision it says could limit transparency about rent-to-own products

MADISON -- A coalition of faith leaders, low-income advocates and consumer groups is warning against a possible budget provision that could limit transparency about rent-to-own products.Peter Skopec, director of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, said Monday, June 29th that he anticipated exemptions would be added to the state budget for companies that offer rent-to-own goods.

MADISON -- A coalition of faith leaders, low-income advocates and consumer groups is warning against a possible budget provision that could limit transparency about rent-to-own products.Peter Skopec, director of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, said Monday, June 29th that he anticipated exemptions would be added to the state budget for companies that offer rent-to-own goods.

Walker says framework of budget deal likely in next few days; others not so optimistic

Walker says framework of budget deal likely in next few days; others not so optimistic

MADISON -- Governor Scott Walker on Wednesday, June 24th said the framework of a budget deal to break a nearly month-long impasse is likely in the next few days.Walker did not say Wednesday what the deal may look like.But Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says in response, "It sounds like the governor is more optimistic than I am."Walker is downplaying the budget delay, noting that only three budgets have been signed before July 19th since 1983 and two of those were when he was governor.He also defends his involvement in the budget negotiations, saying he has been more active this year than ever before.Meanwhile, Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he still does not have the votes to pass the state budget.Fitzgerald said Wednesday that he is still working with Republican senators who want to see items "included, eliminated or modified."The budget-writing Joint Finance Committee has not met since May 29th and has no meetings scheduled.Republican leaders said Tuesday their goal was to be done by July 1st, which is unlikely.Fitzgerald says Republicans have yet to reach agreement on several key issues, including whether to delay work on the Zoo Interchange near Milwaukee to deal with cuts in road funding, whether to remove a financing deal for a new Milwaukee Bucks arena from the budget and what changes to make to the state's prevailing wage law.

MADISON -- Governor Scott Walker on Wednesday, June 24th said the framework of a budget deal to break a nearly month-long impasse is likely in the next few days.Walker did not say Wednesday what the deal may look like.But Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says in response, "It sounds like the governor is more optimistic than I am."Walker is downplaying the budget delay, noting that only three budgets have been signed before July 19th since 1983 and two of those were when he was governor.He also defends his involvement in the budget negotiations, saying he has been more active this year than ever before.Meanwhile, Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he still does not have the votes to pass the state budget.Fitzgerald said Wednesday that he is still working with Republican senators who want to see items "included, eliminated or modified."The budget-writing Joint Finance Committee has not met since May 29th and has no meetings scheduled.Republican leaders said Tuesday their goal was to be done by July 1st, which is unlikely.Fitzgerald says Republicans have yet to reach agreement on several key issues, including whether to delay work on the Zoo Interchange near Milwaukee to deal with cuts in road funding, whether to remove a financing deal for a new Milwaukee Bucks arena from the budget and what changes to make to the state's prevailing wage law.

A Ca$h Course: Make A Difference programs help teens with financial literacy

A Ca$h Course: Make A Difference programs help teens with financial literacy

MILWAUKEE — Have you ever heard people say "the poor pay more?" It's often true because they don't know enough about handling their money.

MILWAUKEE — Have you ever heard people say "the poor pay more?" It's often true because they don't know enough about handling their money.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald: "I don't know where we're at" on state budget

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald: "I don't know where we're at" on state budget

MADISON — Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he does not think the Legislature is any closer to reaching a deal to break an impasse on the state budget.Fitzgerald said Tuesday that he has not spoken with Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos about unresolved budget issues since last week.

MADISON — Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he does not think the Legislature is any closer to reaching a deal to break an impasse on the state budget.Fitzgerald said Tuesday that he has not spoken with Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos about unresolved budget issues since last week.

Facing millions in cuts, MPS School Board passes budget

Facing millions in cuts, MPS School Board passes budget

MILWAUKEE --  Facing millions less in state and federal funds, the Milwaukee Public School Board has passed a more than billion dollar budget for next year that will add positions and programs.The school district faces $28 million in cuts in funding from state and federal funding.

MILWAUKEE --  Facing millions less in state and federal funds, the Milwaukee Public School Board has passed a more than billion dollar budget for next year that will add positions and programs.The school district faces $28 million in cuts in funding from state and federal funding.

Frenzied week ahead in Madison as Joint Finance Committee works to finalize two-year spending plan

Frenzied week ahead in Madison as Joint Finance Committee works to finalize two-year spending plan

MADISON (AP) — A frenzied week of backroom deals, lobbying and votes on the Wisconsin state budget awaits as a legislative committee looks to finish its work on the two-year spending plan.Many major decisions are still up in the air as the Joint Finance Committee meets for the final scheduled times Wednesday and Friday.Among the unresolved issues for the Republican-controlled committee is whether to go along with Gov.

MADISON (AP) — A frenzied week of backroom deals, lobbying and votes on the Wisconsin state budget awaits as a legislative committee looks to finish its work on the two-year spending plan.Many major decisions are still up in the air as the Joint Finance Committee meets for the final scheduled times Wednesday and Friday.Among the unresolved issues for the Republican-controlled committee is whether to go along with Gov.

Wisconsin unemployment drops to 4.4 percent in April

Wisconsin unemployment drops to 4.4 percent in April

MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin's unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent in April, down from 4.6 percent in March.The state Department of Workforce Development reported the latest figures Thursday.

MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin's unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent in April, down from 4.6 percent in March.The state Department of Workforce Development reported the latest figures Thursday.