Burdensome licensing requirements hurt Wisconsin workers and make the state a less attractive place to live. Overly onerous licensure regulation does little to promote health or safety and instead costs Wisconsinites jobs, income and the ability to care for their families. While just a start, we believe AB 203, 204 and 205 will begin to help address some of these issues.
Wisconsin’s top marginal income tax rate—the rate that matters most to the state’s economic competitiveness—remains among the highest in the country. Moving to a flat tax would substantially improve Wisconsin’s tax competitiveness. Separately, repealing the personal property tax would reduce compliance burdens for taxpayers and administrative burdens for the state. As policymakers work on the next biennial budget, each of these policy changes deserves thoughtful consideration.
Wisconsin can — and we think has to — do a lot more to compete with our neighbors. That’s where competition has to take place and with much of the rest of America. Or, watch our children and our neighbors move to states with more jobs and better wages, more opportunity and more prosperity. And those who are left behind at all levels are going to have fewer jobs, less opportunity, and more of the tax burden. People who are left behind are going to bear more of the tax burden. So, to us, the choice would seem clear.
Wisconsin’s current expungement statute is flawed. It forces judges to make poor decisions with limited information, encourages uneven and often nonsensical administration of justice, and does little to help employers, victims, or low-level, non-violent offenders we should all want in jobs rather than cells.
The following is testimony delivered by Badger Institute Senior Vice President Michael Jahr on strategies for reducing the occupational licensing backlog.
The following is testimony submitted by Badger Institute Visiting Fellow Angela Rachidi in favor of AB 935 – FoodShare work and FoodShare employment and training requirements and drug testing.
The following is testimony delivered by Badger Institute Senior Vice President Michael Jahr in favor of AB 692, a bill designed to eliminate the marriage penalty for participants in the Wisconsin Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program.
On February 1, 2022, Badger Institute President Mike Nichols testified in favor of AJR 112 before the members of the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics.
Badger Institute Policy Analyst Julie Grace testified in favor of 2021 SB 232 and SB 233 before the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Insurance, Licensing and Forestry on May 26, 2021.
These bills would streamline the process to obtain an occupational license in Wisconsin.
Badger Institute Policy Analyst Julie Grace testified in favor of 2021 AB 108, AB 109 and AB 110 before the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight on May 18, 2021..
These bills would increase transparency in the Wisconsin criminal justice system.
Badger Institute Policy Analyst Julie Grace testified in favor of 2021 AB 320 before the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform on May 18, 2021.
2021 AB 320 would broaden the scope of practice of interior designers
Badger Institute Policy Analyst Julie Grace testified in favor of 2021 SB 78 before the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on May 6, 2021.
2021 SB 78 would reform Wisconsin’s expungement laws.
Badger Institute Policy Analyst Julie Grace testified in favor of 2021 AB 218 before the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform on April 27, 2021.
2021 AB 218 would streamline the process to obtain an occupational license in Wisconsin
