WIPPS 2015 Spring News: Busy spring for WIPPS Public Issues Series

2015 kicked into high gear with with our Public Issues Series, launching February 26 with UW-Madison researcher and legal expert Dr. Julie Mead. She presented her latest findings on Wisconsin’s voucher school program in a talk, entitled, “Public Schools and Privatization – What’s at Stake?” Dr. Mead presented research and background on the growth of voucher schools and how public schools are impacted by privatization. On March 12 we hosted, “Big Money in Politics,” presented by Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause of Wisconsin. Heck used a historical timeline to show that Wisconsin, once a model for honest, clean and low spending elections, has now been inundated by special interest money, and offered ways for the state to get back on track.

A timely topic for Wausau residents was addressed in a forum March 17 on, “Mayor vs. Administrator: Who Should Run City Hall?” Citizens filled the James F. Veninga Theater to hear two former mayors, a city council member, a county board supervisor and a UW-Oshkosh public administration professor explain the pros and cons of a major vs. city administrator to run daily government.