Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.” That’s why, according to Badger Institute President Mike Nichols, “We just have to be here every day to fight for our democracy, capitalism, limited government, individual aspiration — all the things that ensure opportunity and make this state a better place.”

Watch and learn how your support fuels the Institute’s policy research, storytelling, investigative journalism, videos and advocacy — crucial components that help translate policy ideas into bona fide policy reform, particularly in this most recent legislative session.

Badger Institute Victories in 2023

Victory #1

A huge step toward sustainable school funding equality

By Jim Bender & Patrick McIlheran

The bargain struck between legislative leaders and the governor ensures the financial sustainability of the school choice and charter school programs but also increases the low revenue ceiling for public school districts that are on the bottom of the revenue spectrum.

“This is good day for Wisconsin, and for anyone who cares about our children — parents who want more power over their kids’ education, teachers who work so hard, and school administrators who have long worried about sustainability,” said Badger Institute President Mike Nichols. “Kudos to the governor and legislative leaders. They should be commended. A child is a child is a child, no matter where he or she goes to school. Every child should have equal value, and this deal goes a long way toward recognizing that essential truth.”

Victory #2

By Jeremiah Mosteller

The Badger Institute published my research exploring the severe delays and case backlogs in Wisconsin’s criminal justice system. Judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys alike had been raising the alarm about these delays for years — even before the pandemic — but no one had sought to identify its causes with in-depth research.  

We discovered that victims and defendants alike were being left without the speedy trial promised by our constitution and justice was becoming more delayed each year. Cases for some of the most serious violent crimes like sexual assault and murder were taking more than a year to resolve.

The cause? A failure to properly support prosecutors and public defenders who quickly leave for higher salaries and leave behind languishing cases that have to be picked up — after inevitable delays — by other underpaid colleagues.

Victory #3

Deal puts police back on duty to protect Milwaukee Public Schools

By Badger Institute

A deal that allows both the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to raise sales taxes also requires that 25 police officers be placed back in crime-ridden Milwaukee Public Schools.  



“This is a great victory for all the good kids in MPS schools who just want to learn, want to be safe, want a way up,” said Mike Nichols, president of the Badger Institute, which has been pushing for cops in schools for much of the last year. 

The Badger Institute is having a profound impact in Wisconsin. If you want to live in a Wisconsin with better schools, lower taxes, fewer regulations, less crime, affordable healthcare and improved roads, give to the Badger Institute today.

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.