Walker backs transparency, in theory

UW brass caught in crosshairs

Published: May 10, 2013
Tags: Bill Lueders, NLRB

It’s hard not to feel a bit sorry for Rebecca Blank, incoming chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Film, book tell of state uprising

Published: April 26, 2013
Tags: Bill Lueders, Film, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

As the dust settles on the epic battles over collective bargaining for public workers in Wisconsin, two new major works aim to put these events into perspective.

Lobby spending drops in 2011-12

Published: April 19, 2013
Tags: AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Bill Lueders, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

During the past two years, money has played an unprecedented role in Wisconsin politics.

Bills to keep an eye on

Published: April 12, 2013
Tags: Bill Lueders, Brett Hulsey

Anybody with Internet access can do it.

Rent-to-own push might finally pay off

Published: March 22, 2013
Tags: Bill Lueders

For more than two decades, the rent-to-own industry, which leases such goods as televisions, appliances and furniture, has been fighting to free itself from certain provisions of Wisconsin law. Throughout, it has lubricated the gears of change with campaign donations and lobbying outlays.

Former legislators gathering in the lobby

Published: March 15, 2013
Tags: Bill Lueders, Jeff Fitzgerald, lobbyist

The state’s roster of more than 500 lobbyists includes at least 16 former legislators.

Tracking pro-mining cash gets dicey

Published: February 8, 2013
Tags: Alberta Darling, Bill Lueders, Mike McCabe, mining, Sandy Pasch, Tom Tiffany
Comments: 1

About 12 hours into the Jan. 23 state legislative hearing on a proposed bill to revamp the state’s metallic mining laws, a citizen who’d waited all day gave some unwelcome testimony.

Contract lobbying still ‘under the radar’

Published: January 25, 2013
Tags: Bill Lueders, Peter Barca, Sandy Pasch, Scott Walker, Spencer Black

In Wisconsin, any paid representative of an interest group who spends more than a nominal amount of time trying to influence state law or policy must register with the state Government Accountability Board and submit twice-yearly accountings of lobbying activity.

State’s outside contracting still rising

Published: January 11, 2013
Tags: Bill Lueders, Doyle, Scott Walker, UW System, WisDOT

State bureaucrats, it seems, are less than enthusiastic about the law requiring an annual report itemizing how much Wisconsin spends contracting out work to various service providers.