• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Education / Voucher groups spend big in Wisconsin

Voucher groups spend big in Wisconsin

April 16, 2013 By Andrew Beckett

Supporters of plans to expand school voucher programs have spent almost $10 million on Wisconsin elections over the past decade. The figures come from a report released by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which looked at money spent by pro-voucher groups and individuals.

WDC executive director Mike McCabe says that money largely benefitted candidates for statewide and legislative offices. Some of it was given directly to campaigns and campaign committees, although he says the majority of it was spent on election-related activities like advertising sponsored by those groups.

McCabe says the money was largely directed at Republican candidates and conservatives on the state Supreme Court. The biggest recipient was Governor Scott Walker, who received more than $1.2 million. Others include key state lawmakers who McCabe says are in a position to influence the current debate over expanding school choice programs beyond Milwaukee and Racine. State Supreme Court justices also received contributions

AUDIO: Mike McCabe (:14)

McCabe says almost half of the $10 million flowed to candidates during the last election cycle, feeding speculation that it could be a major driver behind the renewed talk about expanding voucher programs. He says that comes despite voucher schools failing to live up the promises made 23 years ago that they would improve test scores and create competition that would drive improvements in public schools.

Pro-voucher groups counter that there’s still strong support statewide for expanding school choice, which is why the issue remains a focus of lawmakers.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Education, News, Politics / Govt, Top Story



Featured Stories

UW System Regents approve tuition increase

JFC co-chair says Brewers ballpark funding proposal ‘needs serious work’

New Wisconsin county health rankings released

Arrest in 2022 firebombing at Wisconsin pro-life group’s office

Senate Republicans shut down debate on conversion therapy in Wisconsin

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Evers’ AmFam funding plan ‘a nonstarter’ with Assembly Republicans

New pitch clock could speed up MLB games this season, says UW expert

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC