Celebrating 35 years of advancing freedom in Wisconsin | |
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Approximately 30% of the revenue in Wisconsin’s current two-year budget comes from the federal government — and that doesn’t include billions and billions of dollars sent to the Badger State to ostensibly get us through the pandemic.
There are multiple problems that arise from that fact. Over 10,000 “state” employees are actually paid by the federal government and in many instances are bound by federal rules and requirements. A massive bureaucracy has arisen just to manage the relationship between the federal government and the state. It is difficult for federal officials to manage the money from afar, and state leaders are naturally less interested in making sure it is spent wisely (or at all) given the fact that voters often see it as “free” cash.
It isn’t. In fact, as we’ve argued over the years, all of that federal support results in a loss of local control and accountability, time, innovation and transparency. There’s also just a lot of waste of tax dollars, nonsensical spending or lack of focus. Years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, Wisconsin officials by the fall of 2022 still hadn’t spent billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid meant to ensure our health and economic rejuvenation. Rest assured, they will spend it somehow.
Here, Mike Nichols and Mark Lisheron provide an overview of the problems and tell us what state and federal leaders can do to restore the original vision of James Madison.
Read the report
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In a series of four reports released this week, the Badger Institute provides a comprehensive, statewide view of crime, policing and justice, and offers recommendations to address failures in the system. | |
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A Tale of Two States
Wisconsin Crime Trends: 2017-2022
Many parts of Wisconsin are safe and have been getting safer, according to crime researcher Sean Kennedy. But Wisconsinites who live and work in Milwaukee suffer worsening depredations from criminals, particularly in homicide, auto theft and aggravated assault. For some specific offenses other Wisconsin cities are seeing a worsening trend, sometimes dramatically worse. Arrests, meanwhile, are falling, meaning more offenders face little to no accountability.
The greatest changes in 2020 and 2021 were in three categories: homicide, aggravated assault (which includes shootings) and auto theft. Homicides doubled in Milwaukee and increased 41% in the rest of Wisconsin. Aggravated assaults increased 26% in Milwaukee while remaining unchanged elsewhere. Auto thefts rose 255% in Milwaukee and 46% in the rest of Wisconsin, with much of that increase concentrated in the Milwaukee suburbs.
View more findings and recommendations
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Toward Swifter Justice: Overburdened Prosecutors and Public Defenders Linked to Wisconsin Court Backlogs
Wisconsin’s court system is plagued by massive delays and a growing backlog of criminal cases, according to a new analysis by policy analyst Jeremiah Mosteller. It now takes more than a year for a court to resolve an armed robbery charge, 14 months to resolve a sexual assault case and more than 15 months to resolve an allegation of murder. Some defendants have been released to commit more crimes. Others are denied for too long the constitutional guarantees to a quality, state-funded defense meant to ensure that the innocent are not unjustly incarcerated.
Mosteller reports that Wisconsin district attorneys and public defenders are often underpaid relative to their counterparts in similar and neighboring states. The inability to recruit and retain adequate numbers of attorneys for both positions means DAs and public defenders are often stretched thin while both victims and the accused are denied swift access to the courts.
Read the full report
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Join the Badger Institute on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 to celebrate 35 years of advancing freedom in Wisconsin at our Annual Dinner. The evening will feature keynote speaker Ed Feulner, co-founder and longtime president of The Heritage Foundation, one of the world's most influential think tanks.
Feulner will share remarks on vision and leadership, drawing on his experience at the helm of Heritage as the Foundation crafted many of President Reagan’s influential policies as well as those of subsequent executive administrations. He will also speak about the Institute's Mandate for Madison, our roadmap for Wisconsin citizens and leaders toward a freer and more prosperous future.
The dinner will be hosted at the Wisconsin Club. Click here to register.
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The Thinning Blue Line: Milwaukee Police Department’s Attrition Crisis
In this report, researcher Sean Kennedy measures the results of reduced police protection for Milwaukee’s beleaguered citizens. He found that not only has the city reduced the number of authorized police positions, there are fewer officers to fill them, leading to higher vacancy rates. The Milwaukee Police Department is also facing a damaging loss of institutional knowledge and practical skills, which could worsen policing just when Milwaukee needs its force to perform at its peak.
MPD’s ranks have been depleted over the past 25 years by 24.8%, or an actual reduction of 538 officers, between a peak in 1997 and 2022. The city’s population has fallen only 4% during that period. The 2022 MPD vacancy rate (open vs. staffed positions) is more than six times the 2019 rate and 16 times the 1997 rate. Between 2018 and 2021, 523 officers left MPD willingly, compared to only 52 who were terminated, disabled or died. Thus 90% of the raw attrition was due to officers’ own decisions.
Read more
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Saving Money, Encouraging Work and Improving Safety Through More Rigorous Electronic Monitoring
Most offenders in the Wisconsin corrections system will be released within two to five years. Others are given probation instead of serving time behind bars. Almost all of these individuals will be supervised, and technology can offer alternatives that enhance public safety, save taxpayers’ money and allow more opportunities for individuals to join the workforce.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has the largest budget of any state agency — $2.68 billion for 2019-’21. Even with all of this spending, state prisons are over capacity, with more than 20,000 prisoners inhabiting facilities designed for 17,600. Making matters worse, many of these facilities are outdated and understaffed. One proposed solution — building a new 1,200-bed maximum security prison — likely would cost at least $500 million and still fall short of solving the overcrowding issues.
View full report
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The Center Square: Badger Institute: Milwaukee driving crime spike, criminal justice system failing
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Transportation projects in Wisconsin are primarily funded by per-gallon fuel taxes that are declining as fuel economy improves and more drivers opt for electric and hybrid vehicles. Transportation funding gurus Robert W. Poole Jr. and Benita Cotton-Orr, both Badger Institute visiting fellows, join us to discuss how Badger State roads should be funded in the future.
Listen to the podcast
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Weekly Survey: Has the defund-the-police movement contributed to rising crime? | |
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For 35 years, the Badger Institute, formerly known as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI), 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 Institute’s legacy and want to support 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! | |
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The Institute never has, and never will, accept government funding. We gratefully welcome your online donation or email Angela Smith, Vice President of Development.
The Badger Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization funded solely by the generosity of foundations, companies and individuals.
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