New tax poll, how to free the economy, transportation funding facts Viewpoint Why Wisconsin Needs a Flat Tax and Education Reform Governor, legislature should seek compromise on these policy priorities By Mike Nichols My hope for 2023 is that every legislator in Madison will talk to somebody in their district who lost their small business or their job, and ask why. Shouldn’t be hard to find them. Between March of 2020 and March of 2021 — the last period of time for which I could find data — 17,364 Wisconsin establishments opened and 13,698 closed, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Almost all of those were small businesses. The churn is constant — and, overall, positive at first glance. We had a net increase of over 3,600 businesses in just that year, according to the SBA. But there’s a downside too — a very significant one. Read the entire piece Fact Sheets Transportation Funding Fact Sheet The Badger Institute has a growing library of one-pagers highlighting facts, data, trends and recommendations on a variety of policy issues. The motor vehicle fuel tax, long the mainstay for highway funding in Wisconsin, is becoming unsustainable as a revenue source due to increased vehicle mileage and popularity of vehicles that use no fuel. An alternative is to replace the gas tax with a mileage-based user fee. Previous surveys of tolling as a replacement showed lukewarm sentiment in Wisconsin, but we now have the benefit of other states’ experiments with mileage-based user fees. Those pilot projects generally offered participants options for how they wanted their miles recorded and reported, with steps taken to avoid tracking and to protect driver privacy. Download the fact sheet Thanks to your generous support, 2023 is a happy new year, indeed. The Badger Institute exists to engage and energize Wisconsinites on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future, growth and prosperity — and that’s exactly what we’re positioned to do... because of you. Continue to support freedom in Wisconsin by donating today. Free Exchange Podcast Free-Market Reforms Will Make Wisconsin Thrive Research shows that states in which individuals, businesses and entrepreneurs have greater economic freedom grow more rapidly, produce better labor market outcomes and attract more people. So, what steps can Wisconsin take to ensure that its residents enjoy the benefits of a strong, free-market economy? Touching on issues ranging from tax reform and migration to occupational licensure, economist James Bohn outlines proven measures for keeping Wisconsin productive and prosperous in 2023 and beyond. Listen in Poll: Many Wisconsinites unclear on how state taxes compare to neighbors While low in some areas, others need immediate reform By Patrick McIlheran A new poll found a surprising gap in voters’ understanding of how Wisconsin taxes compare to neighboring states, even as an unprecedented state revenue surplus makes tax reform a key issue in Madison. The poll, of 480 registered voters in December, asked, “How do the taxes people pay in Wisconsin compare to the taxes people pay in neighboring states?” One-third said we pay more than people in neighboring states. Sixteen percent said we pay less; 22% said “about the same” — and a whopping 29% said they did not know or would not venture an opinion. The numbers didn’t vary much by partisanship, either. Continue reading Badger on the Air On Tuesday, Badger Institute President Mike Nichols joined Wausau-area radio talk host Meg Ellefson discuss Act 10, the Wisconsin Supreme Court and more. Listen now Weekly Survey: Should tax reform and education freedom be priorities for state lawmakers? Answer below! Yes No Previous Poll Results What We’re Reading Buckeye Institute: Governor Signs Universal Occupational License Recognition into Law Institute for Justice: Victory for Wisconsin Home Bakers Center Square: School choice options expand across U.S. in 2022 City Journal: Systems Within a System  First Things: Return to the Classics 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. 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