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Questions and Answers
What is one purpose of governors using executive orders during natural disasters?
Executive orders can only be used by governors in response to public health emergencies.
False
What was one specific executive order issued by Evers in response to extreme winter temperatures?
Allowed truck drivers to work more than 16 hours a day for fuel delivery.
Governors can create advisory committees, such as the Governor's task force on _______.
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Match the following executive order purposes with their examples:
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What was the main effect of the truth-in-sentencing legislation enacted in 1997?
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The prison population in Wisconsin increased during the years 2008-2012 due to more inmates being released.
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What was the primary cause of the decline in the prison population during the COVID-19 pandemic?
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Revocation for rule violations was the top cause of incarceration in Wisconsin from 2000 to 2020 and accounted for more than ____% of all new admissions each year until 2022.
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Match the following periods with their corresponding events regarding prison admissions and population:
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What percentage of their income did Wisconsin residents typically pay in state and local taxes?
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Wisconsin has always been known as a low tax state.
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What major event did Wisconsin voters reject multiple times before finally passing in 1846?
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What specific initiative did Governor Evers announce for Earth Day?
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The Department of Administration has oversight of the state budget.
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The 1846 constitution was written by __________ who were inspired by Jacksonian reforms.
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How many executive orders has Evers issued since taking office?
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Match the following features of Wisconsin's 1846 Constitution with their descriptions:
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Evers has appointed _______ to the University of Wisconsin's Board of Regents.
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Which of the following was NOT a concern of progressive democrats in the 1846 Constitution?
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Match the agencies with their roles:
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Wisconsin's constitution provided women the right to maintain property after marriage.
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What was one way the 1846 Constitution aimed to block control of the courts by wealthy individuals?
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Why are some gubernatorial appointments contested?
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The senate must confirm almost all gubernatorial appointees through a vote.
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What has been the outcome for Evers' appointments since he took office?
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Which approach does Kleefisch advocate for addressing poverty?
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Work support services have been shown to significantly help the unemployed rise above the poverty line.
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What are the eligibility requirements for FoodShare benefits for applicants aged 18-49 without children?
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Wisconsin does not enforce work requirements for people on Medicaid due to a decision made by the __________ administration.
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Match the following strategies to their respective advocates:
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What is one way work support services could benefit parents?
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There are mandatory work requirements without support services that have proven to be effective.
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What federal programs are significant sources of income support mentioned?
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Study Notes
Wisconsin's Political Landscape
- Wisconsin citizens traditionally expect high-quality and abundant government services, including environmental protection, good schools, roads, and recreational opportunities.
- They also expect state and local governments to provide social welfare programs for those unable to fully participate in the market.
- This expectation has historically resulted in Wisconsin being a high-tax state, with residents paying an average of 10% of their income in state and local taxes.
- However, taxes have been decreasing over the last 50 years, partially because the state has limited municipalities' ability to raise taxes.
Early Wisconsin Government
- Wisconsin was organized as a territory in 1836.
- Multiple attempts to establish a constitutional convention were rejected by voters, likely due to concerns about taxes.
- In 1846, a referendum for a constitutional convention passed.
- The 1846 constitution, written by progressive Democrats, aimed to limit economic interests' influence on government.
Key Features of the 1846 Constitution
- Promoted equality of men, apportionment by population, majority rule, and rotation of office.
- Prevented bank incorporation, prohibited state debt for infrastructure projects, protected homesteads from seizure in bankruptcy, and ensured popular election of judges to limit the wealthy's control over the courts.
- Allowed women to maintain property even after marriage, a radical concept at the time.
- However, it did not extend voting rights to Black men.
The Governor's Role and Powers
- Governors use executive orders to declare states of emergency (e.g., during natural disasters, public health emergencies, and severe weather events), create task forces, reorganize agencies, and address executive branch management issues.
- They also set gubernatorial priorities and initiatives (e.g., Evers's goal of planting 100 million trees by 2031).
State Government Agencies
- The Department of Administration is considered the most important state agency, overseeing key aspects like the state budget, facilities, and IT.
- The University of Wisconsin is not considered a state agency in the same way.
Gubernatorial Appointments
- There are approximately 186 boards and commissions governed by the governor.
- The governor appoints approximately 300 individuals to these positions over a four-year term.
- Most appointments are non-controversial, but some recent high-profile appointments to the UW Board of Regents and the DNR board have been rejected by the state senate.
Education Leadership
- The education department head is independently elected in 14 states.
- In 20 states, the education department head is appointed by a board or agency head independent of gubernatorial approval.
- In most states, the higher education head is appointed by a board independent of gubernatorial approval.
Wisconsin's Truth-in-Sentencing Law
- Enacted in 1997 and implemented in 2000, the law eliminated parole and significantly increased penalties for offenses.
- From 2008 to 2012, the prison population declined despite fewer releases due to a decrease in admissions.
- From 2013 to 2019, admissions outpaced releases, leading to renewed population growth.
- During COVID-19, the prison population declined, primarily due to a decrease in new admissions caused by court delays and the temporary suspension of admissions.
Rule Violation Re-incarceration
- From 2000 to 2020, individuals returning to prison for parole, probation, or extended supervision violations were the leading cause of incarceration in Wisconsin, representing over 30% of new admissions annually until 2022.
- The trend in revocations may be partly due to the truth-in-sentencing law.
Addressing Poverty and Upward Mobility
- Despite increasing job opportunities, the job market often does not raise the poor above poverty levels.
- Work support services, such as training, placements, apprenticeships, a higher minimum wage, and improved childcare access, can increase earnings.
- Mandatory work requirements without these supports or good childcare have been shown to be ineffective.
Work Requirements for Benefits in Wisconsin
- Current state law already requires unemployed individuals to search for employment to receive welfare benefits.
- Applicants for FoodShare benefits between the ages of 18 and 49 without children at home must meet work requirements.
- BadgerCare applicants need to search for work four times a week to receive unemployment benefits.
- Wisconsin does not enforce work requirements for Medicaid recipients because the Biden administration revoked a policy allowing states to implement them in 2021.
Kleefisch vs. Smeeding
- Both share the goal of achieving long-term solutions to poverty and upward mobility for able-bodied, non-elderly individuals through secure, well-paying jobs.
- They differ in their approaches:
- Kleefisch favors a "stick" approach, emphasizing work requirements, drug testing, and time limits on SNAP, Medicaid, and housing.
- Smeeding prefers a "carrot" approach, focusing on work supports, better access to jobs, affordable childcare, training to meet employer requirements, and mental healthcare.
Income Support Policies
- Most income support programs (SNAP, school lunch, WIC, most Medicaid, public housing) are federally funded.
- States and localities administer these programs and can make it easier or harder to enroll and remain enrolled.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Wisconsin's political history and government services. This quiz covers key milestones in the state's development, including taxation policies and early governance. Explore the expectations of citizens and the evolution of state policies throughout the years.
