Plus: Good news on Tax Day; Badger Institute celebrates 35th anniversary Badger Institute Viewpoint Building Moral Character by Patrick McIlheran Carmen Bell gives high marks to the Milwaukee high school that her daughter Naomi graduated from last year. Ask why, and she starts with phrases you’ve heard before. The teachers were supportive and caring. But many teachers in many schools are supportive and caring. Teachers pushed students to excel. Again, admirable — and widely professed. Then she says this: Teachers at Milwaukee Lutheran High School are “very open with their faith.” At chapel in the gym when a child overwhelmed by the message would start crying from joy. Or in everyday interactions with students. It wasn’t pushy, but the school was demonstrating to the children that “we serve a living God,” she says. Bell, who describes herself as a believer in Christ, thinks the element of faith made a difference for the students, for her daughter. “Why wouldn’t it make a difference?” she says. “It should make a difference.” Findings released last fall by a long-running project studying Milwaukee schoolchildren suggest faith makes a big difference. When children who have little or no religious upbringing attend a private choice school (roughly nine in 10 such schools in Milwaukee are religious or following a religious tradition), it serves to “suppress criminal tendencies and paternity cases of students later in life” to about as great a degree as having had a highly religious upbringing. Read the full column here. Happy Tax Day— Reform is Spreading -Georgia lawmakers sign off on flat tax -Reynolds signs 3.9% flat tax into law in Iowa -Mississippi lawmakers pass flat tax, largest tax cut in state history -States continue to take steps towards income tax elimination It's our Anniversary! For 35 years, the Badger Institute, formerly known as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, has 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 Badger Institute’s legacy and want to support our mission of advancing free markets, opportunity and prosperity, please consider donating $35, $350 or $3,500 today. Your support will help the Institute continue to advocate for conservative principles for the next 35 years – and beyond! New Free Exchange Podcast: Restoring Fiscal Oversight in Madison Sen. Dale Kooyenga: “What’s really funny about this resolution is people say, ‘You’re picking on (Gov.) Evers, trying to take power away.’ It’s like, no, if you read the resolution, it actually picks on the Legislature. It actually says the Legislature will do their fricking job, and they will not delegate a job that is in their job (description) in the State Constitution, which holds more power than state law. “It is fundamental, it is governance 101, that the money spent by a government should be approved or at least overseen by the legislative branch.” As billions of federal “relief” dollars flow into Wisconsin, the state Legislature has advanced two measures designed to restore legislative oversight and sound budgetary practices. Sen. Dale Kooyenga, a supporter of both measures, joins Free Exchange to discuss. Listen Now Inside the Capital Gov. Tony Evers last week vetoed Assembly Bill 968, a measure that would have created a Charter School Authorizing Board for independent charter schools. Under current law, there are only a handful of authorizers that can approve regional or statewide charter districts. “There are waiting lists at high-quality charter and private schools in the choice program all over the state.” said Jim Bender, education consultant for the Badger Institute. “Parents want more options. The governor does not.” Weekly Survey Is our tax code too complex? Answer below! Yes No Last Week's Results What We're Reading Steve Forbes: Angry parents = better schools Racine Journal Times: Law to limit number of taverns must change City Journal: Obamacare's hollow celebration Public Discourse: How teacher unions failed students during the pandemic Our work in advancing free markets, opportunity and prosperity in the Badger State is only made possible by generous donations from our supporters. We never have, and never will, accept government funding. Donate online or email Angela Smith, Vice President of Development. 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