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.

Tagged with: Bill Lueders Doyle Scott Walker UW System WisDOT

By Matt Pommer As 1979 began, Wisconsin state government‘s projected general-fund surplus was $1.05 billion. That’s a lot of money even today, but a third of a century ago it was huge number. Four months earlier, Lee Dreyfus had upset ...

Tagged with: Doyle pensions Pommer Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance

By James Briggs Gov. Scott Walker‘s rollback of an apprenticeship requirement for certain state projects removed an unnecessary burden from companies struggling to put people to work, according to several construction representatives. Walker has rescinded Executive Order 108, a directive ...

Tagged with: AGC apprenticeship Associated General Contractors Boullion Doyle International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Mielke Scott Walker unions

By James Briggs Gov. Scott Walker has signaled a firm commitment to trains in Wisconsin — just not the kind people can ride on. At a time when state aid is being slashed across the board, Walker’s proposed budget would ...

Tagged with: budget Cory Mason Department of Transportation Doyle freight high-speed rail Jeff Stone Madison Rail railroad Scott Walker Steve Hiniker Union Pacific

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker’s budget bill includes the possibility of selling power plants at state facilities, including university campuses and prisons. Legislative Fiscal Bureau analyst Darrin Renner said savings for the state would depend on how much ...

Tagged with: Doyle Legislative Fiscal Bureau power plant Scott Walker

By Matt Pommer “Escape to Illinois!” proclaims the Illinois Wind Energy Association in the wake of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed new rules on wind turbine siting. Walker is asking the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a law that any turbine ...

Tagged with: American Wind Energy Association biomass Charter Street Charter Street Heating Plant Doyle Pommer PSC Scott Walker wind farms wind turbines Wisconsin Realtors Association

By DINESH RAMDE Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker scrapped plans Thursday to convert a power plant to run on natural fuels such as wood chips and paper pellets, a move that could save up to $100 million ...

Tagged with: biomass Charter Street Charter Street Heating Plant coal Doyle energy Feyerherm Huebsch Madison Plale Scott Walker Sierra Club University of Wisconsin-Madison UW-Madison

By Dinesh Ramde Associated Press Milwaukee — Minnesota officials said Thursday they were losing patience because Wisconsin has continued to delay paying $58.7 million it owes from an old tax-reciprocity agreement. Under the agreement, taxpayers who lived in one state ...

Tagged with: Department of Revenue Doyle reciprocity Scott Walker taxes

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A constitutional amendment that would prohibit the Wisconsin Legislature from raiding segregated state funds to pay other bills is being circulated by Republican lawmakers. Before the constitution could be amended the Legislature would have to pass ...

Tagged with: amendment Doyle Scott Walker transportation fund

Outgoing Gov. Jim Doyle may be best remembered for programs benefiting Wisconsin youth and families, but history also will reflect his struggles with a grim economy and failure to control a runaway budget deficit. Doyle, a two-term Democratic governor who ...

Tagged with: Doyle