MacIver Institute

By Chris Rochester - Tax reform laid the groundwork for long-term, sustained economic growth. Now it's time to make sure America has the workforce to fill the new jobs that will be created as a result, House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Friday.  Read More Ryan Turns Attention to Welfare Reform After Tax Overhaul Success

By M.D. Kittle - While last month’s legislative audit raised serious questions about the financial relationships between University of Wisconsin System schools and their private affiliate organizations, the system’s transparency troubles may be a bigger concern.   Read More Transparency Troubles Plague UW System Foundations

By Matt Kittle - In January, Mary Jo Walters, far-left activist and independent candidate for U.S. Senate, filed a discrimination complaint against the Rape Crisis Center in Madison. “Let me get right to it. I was shocked after listening to story after story from women who were raped by men (at the #MeTooMadison event),” she stated in an email. “Then I had to use the bathroom. I found signs on both doors (she included photos). Confused, I opened the door hoping no men were inside. I peed as fast as I could further creating anxiety and trauma. This is a privacy issue for women and men: bathrooms.”  Read More Liberal Activist Files Complaint Against Rape Crisis Center Over ‘Upsetting’ Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

News Video - Last year, over 600 people attended the Tax March protest in Milwaukee. This year, the march focused on repealing the tax cuts that will save the average family of four over $2,000. Attendance dropped to 24 people. Organizers say it's not a problem with their message or that the Blue Wave is losing momentum. They say it was just a matter of fair weather.  Read More Liberal Tax Protest Attendance Drops 95% From Last Year

Big Labor is pushing its weight around again, this time filing an expensive lawsuit against a service-disabled, veteran-owned electrical contractor company. The company's owner says the union pension plan is throwing everything they've got to get the names, addresses, and Social Security numbers of nonunion managers and administrative staff.  Read More MacIver News Minute: Union Pension Fund Tries Extracting Private Info from Non-Union Workers

By Chris Rochester - Gov. Scott Walker's request to implement a reinsurance program to stave off another round of massive premium increases under Obamacare is now in the hands of the federal government, Walker announced on Wednesday.  Read More Walker Reinsurance Waiver Request Submitted to Feds

By M.D. Kittle - A pay-to-stay incentives proposal for consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark remains in play and, consequently, so does the possibility that lawmakers will be called back in for a special session.   Read More Walker: ‘More Than Willing’ To Get A Kimberly-Clark Deal Done

By M.D. Kittle - The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments Thursday in the academic freedom lawsuit of embattled Marquette University political science professor John McAdams.  Read More Wisconsin Supreme Court Takes Up Marquette Academic Freedom Case This Week

MacIver's Bill Osmulski talks about the state's evolving transportation debate on the Vicki McKenna Show on News/Talk 1310 WIBA. If Wisconsin politicians want to get all the "free" federal money proposed under President Trump's infrastructure plan, they'd have to raise taxes or fees by $375 per driver, per year.  Read More How Much Would Federal Transportation Plan Cost Wisconsin Motorists?

As you know, it's Tax Day, a solemn reminder of how much government makes us work just to settle up with Uncle Sam. But Wisconsinites can take some solace in the fact that their tax bills will be paid off eight days earlier this year than last. And we can all celebrate last year's tax overhaul, making this the last Tax Day that we're subjected to the old tax code.  Read More MacIver News Minute: Take Solace in Tax Reform and an Earlier Tax Freedom Day

It's Tax Day, the time when taxpayers settle up with Uncle Sam and throw more of their hard earned cash into the federal dumpster fire. Team MacIver offers solemn reflections on voracious politicians (and big-money road builders) who think they're entitled to more of your money. And of course, the big story of the past week: the retirement of House Speaker Paul Ryan.  Read More The MacIver Report: Wisconsin This Week – Tax Day, Transpo, and Paul Ryan

By M.D. Kittle - Happy Tax Freedom Day, soon. Wisconsin taxpayers are eight days freer than they were this time last year.   Read More ‘Tax Freedom’ Arrives Earlier Thanks To Tax Cuts

By Chris Rochester - Wisconsin’s largest teachers union suffered a decline in revenue of nearly 19 percent between 2014-15 and 2015-16, the largest decline of any teachers union in the country, according to a new report by the Education Intelligence Agency.  Read More WEAC Suffers Worst Revenue Decline in Nation – Again

By M.D. Kittle - Big Labor is pushing its weight around again, this time filing an expensive lawsuit against a service-disabled, veteran-owned electrical contractor company.  Read More Wisconsin Lawsuit Could Give Union Pension Fund Right To Private Non-Union Information

If Wisconsin were to get 2 percent of the $20 billion available, that would come out to $400 million a year. Of course, remember there’s a cost sharing requirement of 20/80. So in order to get that $400 million, Wisconsin would have to increase annual transportation funding by $1.6 billion.  Read More Gas Tax Debate: Round 2

As a reminder of his role as the premiere voice of free market conservative principles and his commitment to his district, we've put together a playlist of our best video stories featuring Speaker Ryan. Here they are, in order from most recent to his prophetic comments on Obamacare way back in 2009.  Read More Paul Ryan and MacIver: Best Moments

MacIver President Brett Healy and Americans For Prosperity-Wisconsin State Director Eric Bott talk about the big announcement from House Speaker Paul Ryan on the Dan Conry Show, with MacIver's Matt Kittle guest hosting.  Read More Healy and Bott Discuss Paul Ryan’s Retirement on the Dan Conry Show

Welfare reform, honest budgeting, cracking down on unemployment insurance fraud, regulatory relief, tort reform, enhancing constitutional protections, and more. Looking back on the just-completed legislative session, there is a lot for conservatives to celebrate.  Read More MacIver News Minute: Conservative Victories This Legislative Session

By M.D. Kittle - Amid the din of D.C. intrigue, President Donald Trump this week issued an executive order aimed at fighting poverty while protecting taxpayers. And the initiative appears to bode well for Wisconsin's latest welfare reform package.   Read More Trump’s Welfare Reform Initiative Bodes Well For Wisconsin Plan

By Bill Osmulski - After getting by without a transportation director for over 25 years, the City of Madison suddenly decided its need for one is so pressing, it’s willing to pay up to a $164,950 salary plus benefits for one.  Read More Madison Offers Over $164k For “Director of Transportation”