Words without meaning, licensing reform rolls forward, Memorial Day News State landlords hit hard by eviction moratorium Pandemic policy led to unfair losses for local rental property owners By Ken Wysocky Thousands of Wisconsin renters caught a break when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention imposed a moratorium on evictions in September 2020, ostensibly to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The CDC was forced to lift moratorium in August 2021 when the United States Supreme Court ruled the agency had no authority to impose a moratorium. But Wisconsin landlords like Mike Cerns had already paid the price. Cerns estimates he lost between $60,000 and $80,000 in unpaid rental income and the cost of repairing property damage from bad tenants he could not evict. “The federal government essentially stole my property during the eviction moratorium and the courts were an accessory to the theft,” he says. Cerns was hardly an outlier. The Badger Institute could find no federal or state studies showing how state landlords fared financially during the eviction moratorium. But a lawsuit filed by the National Apartment Association (NAA) in late July 2021 estimated landlords lost an estimated $26.6 billion, the amount of rent debt not covered by the roughly $47 billion in federal rent-assistance payments. The Full Story Viewpoint At home with politically incorrect language By Mike Nichols I suppose I’ll be accused of being unkind, uncouth or maybe even unhinged, but why in the world does the La Crosse Tribune feel compelled to write about the “unhoused”? The Tribune uses the word as both an adjective and a noun. They write about “unhoused people,” the “unhoused community,” the “unhoused population” and, also, just the plain old “unhoused.” What they don’t write about any longer, at least in the story I saw dated May 21, is “the homeless” — a term which some people now consider derogatory. Neither the reporter who wrote the story (it’s actually a pretty good story about the large homeless population in La Crosse) or the executive editor of the paper returned my call. So I don’t know if they’re among those people. But I do know that the label “homeless” now implies that one is “less than” and that it “undermines self-esteem and progressive change,” according to the website for an organization called Unhoused.org. The term “unhoused,” on the other hand, “implies there is a moral and social assumption that everyone should be housed in the first place.” Continue Reading   News Licensing reform gains momentum in Wisconsin Legislature Badger Institute backs universal licensure bill By Michael Jahr Amid a sustained outcry from frustrated occupational license seekers and a statewide worker shortage, Wisconsin lawmakers are advancing a universal recognition licensure bill and nearly a dozen more narrowly targeted reforms that would finally help remedy longtime bureaucratic dysfunction and over-regulation. Wisconsin has lagged other states in adopting meaningful licensure reform despite chronic backlogs at the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). “Over the last couple of years, I have heard from many frustrated constituents that are dealing with unnecessary delays, confusion and lack of communication while attempting to get an occupational license from DSPS,” said Sen. Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond), author of the universal measure that would grant a credential to an applicant who holds one in another state. “These unnecessary delays cause individuals to postpone starting their careers or stop them from entering the workforce,” he said. “Wisconsin businesses are struggling to find qualified workers, so we need to ensure our licensure process is streamlined and functions efficiently. We cannot afford to fall behind other states in attracting skilled individuals.” Continue Reading Testimony Badger Institute in favor of licensing reform bills Badger Institute President Mike Nichols on Wednesday submitted written testimony to the Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform in favor of three bills, AB 203, AB 204 and AB 205. Chairman Sortwell and members of the Committee . . . Our research shows that Wisconsin regulates too many professions in too many ways. We believe universal recognition of credentials in other states with similar standards would be helpful. But we also support multiple other bills, including three being considered by your committee today. Assembly Bill 203, which clarifies current law so someone renewing a license can continue to practice even if the DSPS is delayed in saying that renewal has been completed. Assembly Bill 204, which shifts two-year renewal cycles to four years, a move that should reduce the workload of both the DSPS and license holders. Assembly Bill 205, which extends to out-of-state individuals with business licenses a provision that already applies to out-of-state individuals with health care licenses. This bill would let them apply for a preliminary credential while an application for a permanent credential is pending.   Read Nichols’ Testimony   Badger on Air Segment begins around 22:23 Listen Now   Related Reading: Violence has progressives bringing cops back to schools Progressive city councils across the country are being forced by violence in and near their public schools to rethink their bans on stationing police officers on those campuses. Next in line? Milwaukee. Memorial Day Weekly Survey: Do you support universal license recognition as an effective policy solution for Wisconsin workers? Answer below! Yes No   Previous Poll Results: What We’re Reading AEI: The White House Defender of Welfare Work Requirements Heritage: Four Reasons for the Crime Increase Center Square: New report warns of fiscal cliff for Milwaukee, Madison public schools City Journal: Have You Looked Inside Any of These Books? Washington Examiner: School choice could boost birthrate among married couples, report finds Invest in the Badger Institute The Badger Institute, formerly known as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI), has long 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 today. Your support will help the Institute continue to advocate for conservative principles now and in generations to come. The Institute never has, and never will, accept government funding. We gratefully welcome your online donation or email Angela Smith, Executive Vice President. 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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