Wisconsin Right Now

Estimates say Act 10 saved taxpayers in Wisconsin $14 billion over the past decade. Ten years after it became law and changed what Wisconsin school teachers can include in their school contracts, Democratic lawmakers in the state continue to try and rollback Act 10. Sen. Chris Larson , D-Milwaukee, and a handful of Democrats this week introduced what they are calling the Collective Bargaining for Public Education Act. Republicans, under Gov. Scott Walker, approved Act 10 as a way to curb the skyrocketing cost of teacher salaries and benefits. Act 10 limits teacher contract negotiations to salaries only. It also requires teachers to pay more toward their healthcare and retirement. Sen. Chris Larson on efforts to rollback Act 10 “Wisconsin’s public education sector has a unique and critical role to play in our state. To ensure the effectiveness of these institutions, we rely on highly qualified individuals and their talents to move our state forward,” Larson said in a statement

Estimates say Act 10 saved taxpayers in Wisconsin $14 billion over the past decade. Ten years after it became law and changed what Wisconsin school teachers can include in their school contracts, Democratic lawmakers in the state continue to try and rollback Act 10. Sen. Chris Larson , D-Milwaukee, and a handful of Democrats this week introduced what they are calling the Collective Bargaining for Public Education Act. Republicans, under Gov. Scott Walker, approved Act 10 as a way to curb the skyrocketing cost of teacher salaries and benefits. Act 10 limits teacher contract negotiations to salaries only. It also requires teachers to pay more toward their healthcare and retirement. Sen. Chris Larson on efforts to rollback Act 10 “Wisconsin’s public education sector has a unique and critical role to play in our state. To ensure the effectiveness of these institutions, we rely on highly qualified individuals and their talents to move our state forward,” Larson said in a statement

“This is a shortage that’s coming from multiple angles...we’re lacking new construction, we’re lacking the ability to develop lots.“ -Mary Duff, Wisconsin Realtors Association The latest proposal at the Wisconsin Capitol to find more affordable housing in the state focuses on cutting red tape for builders and young people. A handful of Republicans on Thursday introduced their housing reform plan. Among the proposals is a focus on cutting red tape, giving developers and builders tax credits to build new homes, and pushing local communities to allow more homes to be built. The number two Republican in the Assembly, Rep. Jim Steineke , R-Kaukauna, said the lack of affordable homes is driving up the price of homes, particularly first homes. “We need to look into regulations,” Rep. Rob Summerfield, R-Bloomer, said at a statehouse news conference. “Local communities also need to look to see what they can do to help.” Steineke is a realtor himself. “Wisconsin’s media age for first