Gov. Walker's signature reform, Act 10, gave public employees the freedom to choose whether to be in a union - and teachers continue to vote with their feet. The latest numbers show Wisconsin's largest teachers' union, WEAC, continues a long and steep decline. Since its pre-Act 10 heyday when educators were forced to join and pay into the union coffers, WEAC has lost 67% of its members.

Catch the MacIver News Minute on News/Talk 1130 WISN every Tuesday and Thursday at 8, 11, and 2.

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Broadband boondoggles litter the big government landscape. All across the country, cities have tried to build their own high-speed internet infrastructures only to fail spectacularly, and taxpayers have paid the price. Will city leaders in Madison learn the lesson these other cities didn't as they pursue their own fiber optic flop?

Catch the MacIver News Minute on News/Talk 1130 WISN every Tuesday and Thursday at 8, 11, and 2.

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Now that the big primary election is over and Democrat Tony Evers is officially his opponent, Gov. Scott Walker's campaign is in full gear and barreling toward November 6th. The governor joins MacIver's Matt Kittle to talk about his opponent, his campaign, and the taxpayer success during his first two terms in office. The king of those success stories is Act 10, which MacIver recently reported saved school districts $3.2 billion just in benefits costs by allowing them simply to shop around.

Wisconsin's right-to-work law put an end to compulsory union membership as a condition of employment. But some employers and labor groups didn't get the memo, and have posted want ads stating that union membership is required to get the jobs. Big labor might be loathe to give up their power, but union bosses aren't above the law.

Catch the MacIver News Minute on News/Talk 1130 WISN every Tuesday and Thursday at 8, 11, and 2.

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Some far-left positions aren't all that popular among voters in some key Wisconsin swing districts. That's according to a new poll by the Brookfield-based Jobs First Coalition, which found trendy liberal ideas like releasing half the state's prison population, letting nonresidents vote, and raising income taxes by $460 million are deeply unpopular in central and western Wisconsin.

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If Wisconsin public schools are hurting for cash, why are administrators pulling in such hefty salaries? Taxpayers last year shelled out nearly $437 million for administrator salaries, and 41 percent of public school educrats enjoyed a salary north of $100,000. The average with benefits was more than $126,000.

Catch the MacIver News Minute on News/Talk 1130 WISN every Tuesday and Thursday at 8, 11, and 2.

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Lawmakers say it's long past time to reform Wisconsin's lavish sick leave benefits program. The generous benefit, which has been described as a health care "golden parachute" for state government retirees, is unlike anything you'll find the private sector and, in some cases, beneficiaries amass staggering balances over their careers. Rep. Janel Brandtjen and Sen. Dave Craig say they want to see legislation putting a cap on this costly benefit.

Catch the MacIver News Minute on News/Talk 1130 WISN every Tuesday and Thursday at 8, 11, and 2.

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Act 10 is truly the gift that keeps on giving. New data shows just how much - thanks to the flexibility offered by the landmark budget reform, school districts have been able to shop around for their employee health insurance benefits. Benefits cost savings add up to an astounding $3.2 billion, 60 percent lower than if the trend before Act 10 had continued.

Catch the MacIver News Minute on News/Talk 1130 WISN every Tuesday and Thursday at 8, 11, and 2.

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The next time someone peddles a sob story about how rough government workers have it, remind them of the retiree who collected over $1 million in converted sick leave compensation, or the one who gets a pension payout of $750,000. While these examples are the exception to the rule, there are enough outliers to boil the blood of the average private sector worker, whose tax dollars still bankroll a lot of bloat in government.

Catch the MacIver News Minute on News/Talk 1130 WISN every Tuesday and Thursday at 8, 11, and 2.

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At a recent legislative hearing, a panel of doctors illustrated why direct primary care has so many health care reformers excited. The innovative new method of delivering care by fostering a direct, personal relationship between doctor and patient holds the promise of slashing costs, especially for some of the most crucial and common treatments and drugs. The legislative study committee is considering adding DPC to state law - but they're also considering adding regulations that could strangle the practice.

Catch the MacIver News Minute on News/Talk 1130 WISN every Tuesday and Thursday at 8, 11, and 2.

Listen to News/Talk 1130 WISN live:

www.iheart.com/live/1130-wisn-4245/