Bob’s at the Arboretum

Students help out at food bank February 21, 2012

La Follette School students volunteered at Second Harvest Foodbank.

Fighting Bobs plunge for Special Olympics February 20, 2012

La Follette School students raised $1,800 for Special Olympics Wisconsin by taking the Polar Plunge into Lake Monona on February 18.

Students set social, volunteer events February 17, 2012

La Follette School students are planning several social and volunteer activities. The next is an ice-skating trip on February 26.

Buron manages workforce development programs February 17, 2012

Alum Dan Buron helps to connect the business community with potential employees who might otherwise be overlooked.

Chinn to discuss U.S. financial crisis at La Follette seminar February 16, 2012

Economist Menzie Chinn will explore the origins and long-term effects of the U.S. financial crisis in a La Follette School seminar on Tuesday, February 21, from noon to 1 p.m. in the school’s conference room.

Collins plans to use technical skills to advance program, policy design February 10, 2012

After working for several years in refugee resettlement, Linda Collins decided to broaden her skill set by going to graduate school. “I wanted to prepare myself for positions of greater influence or responsibility for program and policy design,” the second-year MIPA student says.

Alumni to meet in Chicago at Feb. 15 reception February 8, 2012

Alumni in the Chicago area will gather for casual conversation, drinks and hors d'oeuvres on Wednesday, February 15, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the downtown offices of Congress for the New Urbanism in suite 404 of 140 S. Dearborn Street.

Two students make finalist stage of Presidential Management Fellows Program February 6, 2012

Two graduating public affairs students reached the finalist stage of the prestigious Presidential Management Fellows Program that places recent graduates with federal agencies for two-year assignments.

Klusmeier increases transparency, efficiency of state programs February 4, 2012

A passion for public service and an interest in energy policy brought Amy Klusmeier to the La Follette School. Four years later she is evaluating public programs as an analyst with the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau.

Discussion to explore Wisconsin Idea February 2, 2012

Two students will explore the Wisconsin Idea at a La Follette School seminar on Tuesday, February 7, from noon to 1 p.m. in the school's conference room.

Wisconsin Women’s Health Budget Project

Walker Budget Proposes Cuts for Public School Aid April 13, 2011

Governor Walker’s budget proposes cuts to both general and categorical aid to Wisconsin public school districts. These cuts will negatively impact students in all districts, particularly those in low-income areas. Without access to a quality education, Wisconsin’s young citizens will have fewer job or higher education opportunities, which negati […]

Jen

Walker Budget Repeals 2009 Change Indexing Homestead Tax Credit to Inflation April 12, 2011

The Governor’s budget bill would repeal the 2009 change that indexed the Homestead Tax Credit to inflation. This tax credit provides targeted tax relief to about 250,000 low-income households in Wisconsin. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau explains: “The program is often referred to as a “circuit breaker” since it is intended to provide relief […]

Jen

Corrections Funding in Governor Walker’s Budget April 12, 2011

Governor Walker’s budget makes a number of changes to funding for the Department of Corrections (DOC). Two notable changes include funding for mental health initiatives and a repeal of 2009 early release provisions. Mental Health Initiatives The proposed budget provides DOC with $381,800 to fully fund women’s mental health services at the Taycheedah Co […]

Jen

Public Transit Faces Cuts in Walker’s Budget March 30, 2011

While increasing funding for state highways, Governor Walker’s proposed budget reduces funding for public transit and changes public transit’s funding source to make it more difficult to secure funding in future budgets. The Department of Transportation summary of changes can be found here. Walker’s budget would damage public transportation through three ma […]

Hope

Walker Proposes Cuts to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) March 26, 2011

The Governor’s budget proposes cutting the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income working families by $74 million in 2011-2013 (and another $37 million cut in FY ’11 in the budget repair bill). Additionally, the budget proposes using $37 million more per year of TANF funding for the state EITC, removing a total of [...]

Hope

Cuts for Wisconsin Works (W-2) March 21, 2011

Reducing Income Support The Governor’s budget proposes lowering the already meager maximum monthly income support from $673 to $653. This is the maximum amount of cash assistance available to Wisconsin Works participants, regardless of family size. For some Wisconsin families, this support is their only source of cash income, yet at just $7,836 a year, [... […]

Hope

Cuts in the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program March 20, 2011

Governor Walker seeks to cut child care support for low-income families. Despite increased need, Walker is cutting the budget for Wisconsin Shares, the state child care subsidy program under the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program. Through Wisconsin Shares, parents with children who are disabled or under the age of 13 may receive a child care subsidy [...]

Hope

WI Senate Passes Non-Fiscal Budget Repair Bill Items on Collective Bargaining; Some Changes Made to Medical Assistance Provisions March 10, 2011

In a surprising move tonight, Republican Senators have passed the budget repair bill items related to collective bargaining. According to Channel 3000 news: Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved that bill a short time later. The move set up [... […]

Jen

Not Approved: School Breakfast March 9, 2011

Reading over the cost of many budget items in Governor Walker’s proposal can make you jaded. A seven million dollars for this program, fifteen million for that one. So when the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) asks for a $935,900 increase in funding for school breakfast reimbursements, it seems like a small thing. However, this seemingly [...]

Jen

State DHS Secretary Wants to Move More Medicaid Patients to Managed Care March 9, 2011

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith announced yesterday that he wants to keep Medicaid services like prescription coverage, but move the most expensive Medicaid patients into managed care. According to the Wisconsin State Journal: Smith said he wants to save money by making the most costly patients — such as those with complex [... […]

Jen

LSSA Calendar

Sunday, Feb. 26 - LSSA Ice Skating Social February 26, 2012

Due to the warm winter we have had, our ice skating social will be held indoors at the Shell-Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center. Please bring your student ID. SHELL-Camp Randall Sports Center, 1430 Monroe Street Madison, WI 53711. 1:45-3:15 p.m. Cost: $3 per student to skate, and $2 to rent ice skates.. Information: kakruse@wisc.edu

Thursday, March 1 - Hunger Meal | Featuring Dr. Bob Haveman, Professor Emeritus March 2, 2012

Enjoy a meal and a lecture on the wealth gap by renowned professor Bob Haveman of the La Follette School. Entrance requires purchase of a $25 ticket, which will include a small chance at a delicious “wealthy” meal, a larger chance at a more modest meal, and a very substantial chance at a humble meal. Ticket sales will benefit the La Follette School Student A […]

Tuesday, March 6 - Long-Term Care Forum Part I: Nursing Homes | What Policy and Decision Makers Need to Know Now March 6, 2012

Policy forum explores approaches to long-term care in nursing homes, with a focus on Wisconsin and the challenges it faces. Presenters: Robyn Stone, Inst. for the Future of Aging Services; Barbara Bowers, UW-Madison School of Nursing; Amy Jo Haavisto Kind, UWSMPH; Kim Marheine, Board on Aging and Long-Term Care; and Sarah Thompson, Univ. of Nebraska Medical […]

Tuesday, March 6 - Women, Crime and Justice | A Prosecutor’s Learning Curve March 6, 2012

After 11 years as an assistant district attorney, Mary Wagner has a pretty comfortable handle on explaining how the justice system works. But when she taught a college course about how women intersect and interact with the criminal justice system, she learned that the stuff lurking in the background can sometimes loom as large under the surface as the part o […]

Tuesday, March 13 - Realizing Greater Value In Healthcare Faster: | The Pros and Cons of Payment Reform Experiments March 13, 2012

Experts in health care reimbursement have concluded that the dominant fee for service reimbursement model has resulted in incentives to provide more, not better, care. Karen Timberlake, director of the Population Health Institute, will review current thinking and practice in Wisconsin and nationally regarding the best ways to move away from fee for service r […]