View from around the state: Transparent checkbook a good idea

Published: July 19, 2011
Tags: Scott Walker, transparency

It sounds good. Now let’s make it happen. A state budget provision requires state government to post on a website every expense of more than $100. Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who helps lead the Legislature’s budget committee, stuck the requirement into the budget, and Gov. Scott Walker signed it into law while speeding up its [...]

Builders keep tabs on Minn. transparency bill 

Published: March 22, 2011
Tags: AGC, American Subcontractors Association, American Subcontractors Association of Wisconsin, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, Beiriger, KeyBridge, Schmaltz, Skillbred, subcontractors, transparency

By James Briggs When a 12-story condominium development in Milwaukee fell through under the financial stress of now-defunct KeyBridge Development Group, the collapse set off a chain reaction of orphaned projects and unpaid subcontractors. The First Place on the River Milwaukee development, which has been renamed The Point on the River, and Pointe Blue condominiums [...]

Budget daylight bill stays in the dark

Paul Snyder paul.snyder@dailyreporter.com Stockton’s railroad crossing improvement project would have been a plan with no money if a lawmaker had not set aside a $175,000 grant in the state budget. The town’s annual road budget never exceeds $90,000, and Town Supervisor Jerry Piesik said if it takes a budget money set-aside to get the work [...]