WISCONSIN (MacIver Institute) -- Welcome back to Year 2 of MacIver Monday. We love sharing the latest news, research and analysis every week with you and are excited to keep it going as another election season gets going and 2025 turns into 2026.
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Spotlight
DNR Audit Confirms What We Already Knew: The DNR Diverts, Disguises, Deceives
MacIver's Richard Moore takes a close look at the recently-released Legislative Audit Bureau audit of the state Department of Natural Resources and finds "eye-popping" mismanagement.
One of many shocking findings: Less than half of all state money spent by the agency's Fish and Wildlife service go to activities that “primarily” benefit Wisconsin’s sportsmen and women.
As Richard writes, the audit report "exposes the DNR as a hopeless wreckage of an agency that cannot be redeemed." Ouch.
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Deep Dive
Come one, Come all! The Climate Kiddie Carnival Calls!
More and more often, liberal climate activists are turning to children to advance their political agenda through the legal system. The most recent example of this involves 15 children suing the state of Wisconsin on the grounds that state laws that aren't harsh enough on fossil fuels violate their constitutional rights.
It's the same liberal playbook: If you can't advance your agenda through the political process, try to do so through the increasingly-politicized Wisconsin court system. Using children as pawns in this task is just the latest maneuver.
You Should Know
Republicans Furious with Wisconsin DHS Language on Mothers
Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are once again angry with Gov. Evers over the word “mother.” A pair of Republicans on Wednesday accused the governor of discounting moms, and being too woke with a new rule that tweaks Wisconsin’s rules for prenatal and child care coordination.
The rule erases some mentions of words like "pregnant woman," and replaces them with “pregnant member(s)" or “pregnant persons.” There are also a couple of references to "father" that are now "other parent." Read more here.
Coming Soon
Wisconsin No Tax On Tips Plan Takes First Step
A bill to end taxes on tips in Wisconsin is tee'd up for a vote in the state legislature after passing the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means.
The bill from Rep. Ron Tusler and Sen. Andre Jacque would end taxes on the first $25,000 of tipped income, and has a phase-out for people who earn more. Read the full story.
Quick Clicks
Congressman Fitzgerald: What Gov. Evers Left Out About BBB
Congressman Scott Fitzgerald took to X on Friday to correct what he says are the governor's "misleading" spin on the coming changes to Medicaid and food stamps in the state.
On Thursday, Evers painted a dire picture of what people on public benefits in Wisconsin can expect from the work requirements included in the Big, Beautiful Bill. Fitzgerald fired back on X.
“Governor Evers is trying to scare taxpayers with false claims about the One Big Beautiful Bill,” Fitzgerald wrote. “His claim that the One Big Beautiful Bill will ‘increase costs for Wisconsin taxpayers by over $284 million’ misrepresents reality.”
About MacIver Institute: The MacIver Institute is a Wisconsin-based think tank that promotes free markets, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and limited government. Through research, analysis, and community engagement, we work to advance these principles and positively impact the lives of all Wisconsinites.
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Last Update: Sep 08, 2025 3:10 pm CDT
