Safe spending, crime and culture, requesting resumés Viewpoint It’s time to put away progressive taxes, Wisconsin By Mike Nichols Let’s forget about economic pie-growing for a minute (just a minute) as our legislators start to debate tax reform in Madison. Let’s, just for now, debate the issue on the left’s turf. How much do we — whether rich or poor or solidly middle-class — give the government? And how much do we get? I don’t mean how much do we get in “public goods” like fire protection or decent roads, though those are interesting questions. I mean how much each of us pays in taxes and how much we get back through federal, state and local government transfer programs. In other words, just how progressive is our so-called “tax and transfer system”? Read More Visiting Fellow Why a Limited Government Institute Supports Increased Government Spending By Jeremiah Mosteller Over the past year, the Badger Institute has explored how Wisconsin’s justice system is facing massive criminal case backlogs that are fueling severe delays in justice for victims and defendants alike. It now takes much longer than a year to resolve cases involving grave violent crimes such as armed robbery, sexual assault​ ​and murder​,​ and thousands of felony cases are taking two or more years to resolve. We also discovered that there is a 10% turnover rate in District Attorney offices and an even higher 20% turnover in public defender roles each year. Every turnover in these necessary roles results in the need to file a continuance or schedule another hearing in every case — the biggest driver of how long it takes to resolve a criminal case. Both concerning situations have been created by our failure to properly support the prosecutors and public defenders. Read More Free Exchange Podcast Making Sense of Milwaukee’s Crime Stats On the surface, Milwaukee’s latest year-over-year crime statistics show promise for the safety of the state’s largest city. Some city officials have even touted the aggregate numbers as cause for optimism. But the numbers tell a different story when examined in context: Milwaukee is in trouble. Researcher Sean Kennedy joins Patrick McIlheran to interpret the data and chart a path forward for Milwaukee to move from a culture of criminal coddling to one of certain justice. Listen Now   Related Resource: Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble Public Hearing: Joint Finance Committee Photos: School Choice Wisconsin The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance continued its tour of public hearings this week with stops in Eau Claire and Wisconsin Dells. The hearings provide opportunity for Wisconsin residents to voice their priorities for the state’s next two-year budget. Advocates for education freedom were among the voices heard — calling on the Committee to close the gap with respect to choice and charter student funding. The final public budget hearing of the Joint Finance Committee will be held April 26 in Minocqua. Join the Institute Learn More Weekly Survey: Do you support the pursuit of swifter justice through pay increases for public prosecutors and defenders? Answer below! Yes No   Previous Poll Results: What We’re Reading City Journal: The More Some States Spend . . . The Worse Things Seem To Get American Enterprise Institute: Welfare Dependence, Revisited WILL: Beyond the Budget: The Surge of Non-Agency Pork in Wisconsin The Free Press: Get Serious: About Purpose Daily Caller: No Internet? No Groceries: The Dangers Of A Cashless America Invest in the Badger Institute The Badger Institute, formerly known as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI), has long been at the forefront of the fight for school choice, right to work, welfare reform, tax restructuring, limited government, civil society and so much more. If you appreciate the Institute’s legacy and want to support free markets, opportunity and prosperity, please consider donating today. Your support will help the Institute continue to advocate for conservative principles now and in generations to come. The Institute never has, and never will, accept government funding. We gratefully welcome your online donation or email Angela Smith, Executive Vice President. The Badger Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization funded solely by the generosity of foundations, companies and individuals. Support Freedom   Badger Institute | 700 W Virginia St, Suite 301, Milwaukee, WI 53204 www.badgerinstitute.org Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!