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Media Hit | Budget

Wisconsin's Government Receives "F" for Financial Transparency Online

Wisconsin is one of five states that received an "F" Tuesday for how it makes government spending available online.
 

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News Release | WISPIRG | Democracy

Over 18,000 Wisconsinites Call for a Statewide Vote on Citizens United

In just the early stages of a coalition drive to get a statewide referendum on Citizens United for the people of Wisconsin, over 18,000 Wisconsinites have signed a petition calling on the Legislature to put the issue to the people. Since the Supreme Court's disastrous 2010 ruling, every election at the state and national level has been subject to a new flood of special interest cash as individuals, corporations, and unions can now use Super PACs to financially support their preferred candidates without limits. This creates an unlevel playing field for all Americans trying to have their voice heard in our democratic process and grants disproportionate to wealthy, powerful special interests. The people of Wisconsin deserve a direct, citizens vote to weigh in on the nature of our elections.

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Blog Post | Health Care

The Supreme Court and the High Cost of Prescription Drugs | Bruce Speight

Everyone knows prescription drugs cost more than they should.  But I find many people are surprised to learn about one of the key ways drug companies keep prices high:  Paying off competitors to keep generics off the market.

 

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News Release | WISPIRG | Consumer Protection

Coalition Calls on State Leaders to Remove Rent-to-Own Industry Exemptions from State Budget Bill

A broad coalition of consumer, faith-based, aging, family, and public interest organizations is urging state lawmakers to remove language in Governor Walker’s budget proposal that exempts the rent-to-own industry from Wisconsin’s consumer protection laws. 
 

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Report | WISPIRG Foundation | Budget

Following the Money 2013

Wisconsin received an “F” for government spending transparency, according to “Following the Money 2013: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” the fourth annual report of its kind by the WISPIRG Foundation. 
 

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News Release | WISPIRG | Transportation

Governor Walker’s Transportation Budget Pushes Back Against The Highway Lobby, But Doesn’t Go Far Enough

We applaud Governor Walker’s call for a review of major highway projects to identify unnecessary taxpayer expenditures, yet his budget simply does not go far enough in cutting unnecessary new highway projects and continues to lavish money on road builders.

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News Release | WISPIRG Foundation | Transportation

New Report: Population, Transportation Trends Suggest Wisconsin’s Highway Spending a Folly

A new report released by the WISPIRG Foundation found that Wisconsin’s extravagant highway spending plans are out of touch with Wisconsin’s slow population growth and transportation trends.  The report, Highway Boom, Budget Bust, shows Wisconsin, compared to other states, plans to spend a high percentage of limited transportation funds on new roads and highway expansion projects, despite the fact that Wisconsin’s population growth is projected to grow at a relatively slow pace and its volume of driving is decreasing per-capita.

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News Release | WISPIRG | Transportation

Transportation Commission Report: “Mixed Blessing for Taxpayers and Commuters”

WISPIRG comments on the Final Report to the Governor and Legislature of the Wisconsin Transportation Finance and Policy Commission.

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News Release | WISPIRG Foundation | Budget, Tax

Congresswoman Gwen Moore joins WISPIRG's call for closing offshore tax loopholes to avert fiscal cliff

As we work to push for closure of offshore tax loopholes as part of any fiscal cliff deal, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, co-sponsor of the Stop Tax Havens Abuse Act in the House, joins our call for Congressional leadership to act on this vital issue of public interest.

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Report | WISPIRG Foundation | Budget

Leaving Taxpayers in the Dark

Despite legislative efforts at improvement since 2007, Wisconsin’s economic development subsidies lack transparency and accountability. According to the most recent data on the state website, over $414 million in business subsidies were dispensed in calendar years 2009 and 2010: a mixture of grants, loans, tax credits, and revenue bonds. But very little information is available about the goals of these subsidy programs, the outcomes at companies who receive them, or the benefit to the Wisconsin taxpayers who pay for them.

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Report | WISPIRG Foundation | Democracy

Million Dollar Megaphones

Outside spending on the Wisconsin senatorial race has already exceeded $4.5 million. With the presidential campaign heating up and Wisconsin named as a battleground state, more secret money is expected to flow into the state to influence the votes of Wisconsinites. Much about who funds these efforts and how this funding is spent remains a mystery, according to a report analyzing the latest campaign filings. This report provides a detailed analysis of Federal Election Commission (FEC) data and secondary sources on outside spending and Super PAC fundraising for 2012 election cycle.

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Report | WISPIRG Foundation | Food

Apples to Twinkies 2012

At a time when America is facing an obesity epidemic, crushing debt and a weak economy, billions of taxpayer dollars are subsidizing junk food ingredients.  In this report, we find that in 2011, over $1.28 billion in taxpayer subsidies went to junk food ingredients, bringing the total to a staggering $18.2 billion since 1995. To put that figure in perspective, $18.2 billion is enough to buy 2.9 billion Twinkies every year—21 for every single American taxpayer.

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Report | WISPIRG | Higher Ed

The Cost of College Will Soar if Interest Rates Allowed to Double

More than 7 million students and their families rely on Subsidized Stafford Loans to help pay for college. The loans distributed by the U.S. Department of Education currently hold an interest rate of 3.4 percent. But that rate is set to double if Congress fails to act by July 1, 2012. If that occurs, millions of students will see their interest rates soar to 6.8 percent on the new loans they take in the next year thereby causing a steep rise in their loan burden and effectively increasing the cost of attaining a college degree.

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Report | WISPIRG Foundation | Tax

Picking Up the Tab

Some U.S.-based multinational firms or individuals avoid paying U.S. taxes by transferring their earnings to tax haven countries with minimal or no taxes. These tax haven users benefit from their access to America’s markets, workforce, infrastructure and security; but they pay little or nothing for it—violating the basic fairness of the tax system and forcing other taxpayers to pick up the tab.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

50 Years Ago This Week, JFK Ushered in Modern Consumer Protection Era | Ed Mierzwinski

People of almost any age know a lot about the Kennedy administration with its optimistic beginnings and its sudden, tragic end. Yet many have probably never heard of one of JFK's important legacies -- his declaration that consumers have rights that deserve protection.

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Blog Post | Transportation

US House Transportation Bill for the 19th Century, not the 21st CenturyBruce SpeightPhineas Baxandall

With much fanfare and 854 days late, the U.S. House last week introduced bills to fund our nation's transportation system for the next five years. The new rules for spending $260 billion over five years would be tilted more toward highways with less going to buses, rail, biking and pedestrian trails. Given the nation's urgent need to reduce our addiction to oil, that in itself would have been a tragedy.

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Blog Post | Financial Reform

President’s Recess Appointment Gives Watchdog Teeth It Needs To Protect Consumers From Wall Street or Payday Lender Financial ShenanigansBruce SpeightEd Mierzwinski

Kudos to President Obama for standing up for consumers this week by making a recess appointment of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The President’s action means that the CFPB now has all its powers to protect the public from unfair financial practices, whether by banks or other financial firms, such as payday lenders and credit bureaus.

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Tools & Resources

  • Reclaim Democracy
    The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision ushered in an era of unprecedented spending by big money in our elections, but we're working to return our democracy back to the principle of "one person, one vote."
    Learn more
    ADD YOUR VOICE
  • END SECRET MONEY GIVEAWAYS
    Wisconsin recently lost track of $50 million in taxpayer loans to private companies. We're working for new rules and oversight to protect taxpayers from waste, fraud and abuse.
    Learn More
  • How Many Tax Dollars In A Twinkie?
    Every year, more than a billion taxpayer dollars subsidize high-fructose corn syrup and other key ingredients in junk food at a time when 1 in 3 kids is overweight or obese.
    Take Action
  • STOP TAX DODGERS
    Corporate tax avoidance cost Wisconsinites $1.6 billion last year. WISPIRG is working to close the loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying the taxes they owe.
    Learn more
    Sign the petition

You Can Help

We have a chance to curb the unprecedented spending by big money in our elections. Your support will help us do the research, advocacy and grassroots organizing to convince our elected officials to act.

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JOIN THE CALL

Already 300-plus communities and seven states have gone on record calling for a constitutional amendment. Make sure you town has joined the call to stanch the flow of special interest money in our elections.

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