US EditionLawmakers Strike Tentative Deal to Fund WisconsinEye
Assembly leaders propose using a $10 million trust fund's interest to finance WisconsinEye's $900,000 annual budget while requiring ongoing fundraising and enhanced transparency.
- On January 22 Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R‑Rochester, and Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D‑Racine, announced a bipartisan bill to move $10 million into a trust for WisconsinEye, using its interest to fund the network's operations.
- WisconsinEye went dark on Dec. 15 after a collapse in private funding, raising just $210,000 during the 2023-25 state budget matching requirement, according to Assembly leaders.
- Henkes said a 7% return on $9.75 million would likely fund about two-thirds of WisconsinEye's roughly-$900,000 annual budget, but interest alone won't cover the full amount.
- The proposal still requires Senate and gubernatorial approval, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu expressed skepticism as Senate offices say 'Discussions surrounding WisconsinEye are ongoing'.
- To restore service quickly, lawmakers plan a short-term contract for the Assembly's February floor period, while a GoFundMe campaign had raised $49,256 of $250,000 as of January 22, and Jon Henkes said 'WisconsinEye has nothing to hide' and could resume in about 24 hours.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Associated Press News
Network shutdown leaves Wisconsin lawmakers meeting outside of public view
The shutdown of Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN amid a shortfall of fundraising has left the state as perhaps the only one in the country where its legislative floor debates are not being broadcast.
Wisconsin Examiner
TelegraphHerald.comAssembly leaders announce tentative bipartisan agreement on WisconsinEye funding
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer announced the agreement on WisconsinEye during a joint press conference on Thursday. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) announced a tentative agreement on providing state funding to WisconsinEye, the nonprofit that provides livestream coverage of state government. It’s bee…
Wisconsin State Journal
Chippewa HeraldLawmakers strike tentative deal to fund WisconsinEye
Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said the Legislature also intends to sign a short-term contract with WisEye to broadcast its February floor sessions.
Assembly leaders announce bipartisan plan to fund WisconsinEye
It is unclear whether the bill will be taken up the Senate. But the assembly speaker said there's a goal of having WisconsinEye rolling again in February. The post Assembly leaders announce bipartisan plan to fund WisconsinEye appeared first on WPR.
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