Help us advance opportunity and prosperity in the Badger State

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Any new or increased online contribution to the Badger Institute WILL BE MATCHED by a generous donor if made by Nov. 14. Please help us promote free-market ideas, report on stories you care about and fight for opportunity and prosperity for every Wisconsinite.

“I hope every conservative realizes that it’s useful and impactful to back the Badger Institute in its vital work.” Karl Rove, political commentator

“It's important that the Badger Institute continue the work that it's doing because they're the voice of the people that are unheard.” Albert Walker, Green Bay barber

“It’s organizations like the Badger Institute that promote American values, the things that make America great.” U.S. Senator Ron Johnson

“The Badger Institute really helped me in a time of desperation. I was able to open up my dream studio and I was able to then provide for my family.” Mikhaila Weister, Appleton chiropractor

“What I love about the Badger Institute is they provide thoughtful, fact-based, rigorous analysis on issues I care about all through the lens of free-markets and individual responsibility.” Austin Ramirez, CEO, HUSCO

Donate to support our work here.

How to make police discipline fair, quick, transparent and decisive

Disciplinary actions against police officers in Wisconsin’s largest cities, whether for use of force or anything else, are rare. But when allegations of inappropriate force do occur or there is any other misconduct, police officers must be held accountable as fairly, quickly, transparently and definitively as possible in order to retain both the trust of the community and the confidence of all officers who serve within the ranks.

The Badger Institute surveyed an array of Wisconsin police departments to understand the processes used to discipline officers and ensure due process, then looked more extensively at Madison and Milwaukee. What we found is a tale of two departments — one (Madison) that is laudably transparent regarding instances of discipline and one (Milwaukee) that is not.

Read the full report here.

Wisconsin Civil War hero canceled

"It's a revolution!" someone shouted in the darkness at the Lake Monona shoreline.

On June 23, a crowd of protesters pulled a 1.5-ton bronze statue of Colonel Hans Christian Heg from its pedestal on the east side of the Capitol building, dragged it down Main and Butler streets and pushed it into the lake. The crowd erupted into cheers.

Why Heg? He was an immigrant, a public servant, a prison reformer, an activist and a soldier who died fighting to end slavery.

Pandemic population push

There is strong evidence the COVID-19 pandemic is causing people and companies to flee the nation’s metropolitan areas, including Milwaukee. The reversal of a century-long urbanization of American begs a question: Where is everybody going?

A recent Harris survey found that nearly a majority of urban dwellers in America have considered moving to a less-crowded community. And why not with a virus that has made life in close quarters unhealthy and has walled them off from the amenities that drew them to cities in the first place? Add to that threat from people who consider assault and looting in your neighborhood an honorable form of political protest.

The Badger Institute wondered if smaller cities in Wisconsin might be the beneficiaries of this COVID-19 flight.

To read more, click here.

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Our work in advancing free markets, opportunity and prosperity in the Badger State is only made possible by the generous donations of our supporters. The Badger Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. We do not accept any government funding.

If you like our research and reporting, and if you value a free and prosperous Wisconsin, please consider making a donation to the Badger Institute today. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation has generously offered to match any contributions from new supporters or increased gifts from current donors.

We believe competitive free markets, limited government, private initiative and personal responsibility are essential to our democratic way of life. The Badger Institute is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and does not receive government funding. Our work is funded solely through tax-deductible gifts from foundations, companies and individuals. We appreciate your support.

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Badger Institute

700 W. Virginia St., Suite 301

Milwaukee, Wi 53204

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