Wisconsin’s Joint Committee on Legislative Operations voted to provide $250,000 in taxpayer money to keep WisconsinEye operational through 2026, according to a WisEye press release and the Wisconsin State Journal.
On Tuesday July 28, the JCLO voted 9-1 via paper ballot with Sen. Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, opposed.
“We view today’s vote as a strong statement of support by the legislative body as a whole – both houses and both parties – for unfettered citizen access to state government proceedings,” said WisconsinEye president Jon Henkes in a press release. “They’ve put action to their words that transparency is essential to our democracy, and we are extremely grateful.”
Henkes said the action provides funding support sufficient for the network to maintain operations through December, including exclusive Campaign 2026 coverage and streaming of this summer’s Joint Study Committees on current and emerging issues.
The JCLO’s vote signals charitable donors and program sponsors that their dollars will build upon an existing foundation of ongoing support, according to Henkes.
“WisconsinEye remains hopeful that when the new legislature convenes in January 2027, both houses will come together in bipartisan fashion to accomplish what the Senate and Assembly attempted in the previous legislative session – a level of continuing, partial funding that helps to maintain WisconsinEye as a trusted and independent window into our State Capitol,” Henkes added in a press release.
Lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly earlier this year passed dueling proposals seeking to open up additional funds for the network, but neither measure managed to clear both chambers and reach the governor’s desk by the time the legislative session concluded, according to the State Journal.
WisconsinEye has been operating for more than 18 years, often providing livestream coverage of floor sessions, committee hearings and other events in and around the Capitol.
WisconsinEye Public Affairs Network is an independent, non-partisan, 501c3 not-for profit organization.
