WORT 89.9FM Madison · Wisconsin Legislature’s Secretive Process To Block Spending

Imagine a system where powerful individuals can, secretly and anonymously, single-handedly block government projects, with no explanation or rationale.  That doesn’t sound very democratic, does it?  Yet, that’s how the “anonymous objection” of the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee process works.  Even though money is allocated and approved in the state budget, state projects ranging from trail access to the Pelican River to restoration of a historic building on the UW Campus find themselves mysteriously blocked at the last minute.  Wisconsin Watch’s Jacob Resneck broke this story a while back, and he joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on May 1, 2023.

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