Wisconsin

State funding for schools in the 94th assembly district: increasing or decreasing?

By Max Bayer Published October 27, 2016

The candidates vying for a seat in Wisconsin’s 94th Assembly District addressed state education funding late August. After incumbent Democrat Steve Doyle said in an interview with News 8 that a lack of state funding over the last six years was forcing schools to use referendums to cover costs, Republican challenger Julian Bradley, a La Crosse native, said that funding for local districts had in fact increased recently.

The extent of budget cuts to Wisconsin public education

By Lauren Sklba Published October 27, 2016

Jeff Wright, District 51 Democratic candidate for Wisconsin Assembly, quotes budget cuts to Wisconsin Public Education in hopes of rallying voters behind him.

How much money flows to voucher schools in the 85th Assembly District?

By Andrew Bahl Published October 27, 2016

Democrat Mandy Wright says over half a million dollars are spent on voucher schools in Wausau. Does her claim check out?

Lead paint donations raise questions of pay-to-play politics in Wisconsin

By Evan Winter Published October 26, 2016

State Sen. Luther Olsen disputed Wisconsin Democrats’ accusations of pay-to-play politics after leaked court documents show secrets donations made by a lead paint manufacturer supported the senator in his recall election.

Three claims, three ratings for Odeen’s campaign tweet

By Paige Scobee Published October 25, 2016

Senate district 10 challenger Diane Odeen claimed in a tweet in August that her opponent Sheila Harsdorf has turned her back on public education in her district. Odeen cited education cuts and tax breaks to millionaires, but can her claims be verified?

Huftel’s claim on the quality and cost of Wisconsin road projects checks out as true

By Chris Bumbaca Published October 21, 2016

Despite all the road work, Joe Huftel, the Democratic candidate for the state’s 75th Assembly District, claimed that Wisconsin’s roads ranked near the bottom nationally. His claim checks out as true.

Does higher education debt reform stimulate the economy?

By Briana Reilly Published October 20, 2016

WisconsinEye sat down with state Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, in early September, asking the candidate about a wide variety of topics, including the “Higher Ed, Lower Debt” bill.

Tracking down how labor shortages affect wages in Wisconsin

By Luke Schaetzel Published October 20, 2016

Despite Wisconsin’s unemployment hovering close to 4 percent, Wisconsin voters consider the economy a top voting issue heading into the November election.

Is marijuana a gateway drug? A state assembly hopeful says so

By Madeline Sweitzer Published October 20, 2016

The Observatory decided to check if current research on marijuana’s relationship with more dangerous drugs is settled science or still up for debate.