WISCONSIN (MacIver Institute) -- Welcome back! This week we have breaking news on a story MacIver first told you about earlier this year -- the company the Evers' administration gave a huge state contract to has now been sued by the US Department of Justice. That and much more in this week's MacIver Monday.
Spotlight
MacIver Investigation Update: DOJ Targets Firm Evers’ Admin Awarded Medicaid Contract
MacIver Staff reports troubling new developments for Wisconsin’s IRIS Medicaid program. Just after the Evers administration’s Department of Health Services selected Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) as the sole fiscal employer agent for the $1.4 billion program serving 30,000 vulnerable Wisconsinites, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit against PPL in New York.
The DOJ alleges a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme in New York’s similar program, claiming PPL used a “sham bid process,” pocketed unauthorized profits from federal Medicaid funds, and caused widespread payment delays, service disruptions, and chaos for participants and caregivers. This echoes MacIver’s earlier warnings about PPL’s checkered track record in other states and the risks of consolidating IRIS services under one provider with reduced competition and oversight.
For seniors and adults with disabilities who rely on IRIS to hire their own caregivers, reliable payroll and support are essential. Wisconsin policymakers must now demand rigorous monitoring, contingency plans, and real accountability to protect participants and taxpayers from repeating New York’s failures.
There will be a lot more coming on this story. Catch up now!
Deep Dive
Milwaukee Public Schools Retain DEI Initiatives in New Budget
We continue our coverage of the Milwaukee Public Schools’ $1.6 billion budget, by uncovering $1.5 million in continued spending for DEI departments and funding for hundreds of new positions. All this despite ongoing academic struggles, declining enrollment, and a recent $46 million deficit.
While academic performance lags and buildings sit underutilized, the district prioritizes ideological programming over core reforms like consolidation and classroom focus. This approach risks further burdening Milwaukee taxpayers through higher property taxes or increased state aid requests, with little evidence it improves outcomes for students.
Read the full piece here.
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Coming Soon
The Zohran Mamdani Experiment: Why NYC's Government-Run Grocery Stores Will Fail
Dylan Wilder warns that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s push for city-owned grocery stores backed by tens of millions in taxpayer dollars is a classic big-government experiment doomed to repeat the failures of similar efforts. The plan redirects public funds from private grocers (including local bodegas) to politically controlled outlets promising lower prices, while ignoring basic economics like thin profit margins, the need for efficiency, and the distortions caused by subsidies, bureaucracy, and lack of market incentives.
History shows these ventures burn through taxpayer money, crowd out private businesses, and deliver higher long-term costs with bare shelves and poor service. Closer to home, Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong has pushed similar legislation (AB 1221) for publicly-owned grocery stores and a statewide distribution network. MacIver will continue exposing these socialist-style ideas and championing free-market solutions that actually deliver affordability for families.
You Should Know
Eric Toney: Abolish The Police Will Make Wisconsin Less Safe
Benjamin Yount covers Republican Attorney General candidate Fond du Lac DA Eric Toney’s strong warning against Democrat-backed “defund the police” and soft-on-crime policies. Toney emphasizes that reducing incarceration and weakening law enforcement puts Wisconsin communities at greater risk, especially amid rising concerns over public safety.
Quick Click
Benjamin Yount notes that gas prices in Wisconsin have dropped sharply — down 71 cents in the past month to an average of $3.84 per gallon. While welcome relief for drivers, MacIver will continue monitoring how regulation, taxes, and global factors affect long-term affordability at the pump.
For Your Commute
We are celebrating 250 years of American independence this year in large part due to the role Wisconsin manufacturing has played in building the military's fighting machines. From World War II to today, hardworking Wisconsinites have built the tools of freedom and supported our warfighters. Wisconsin manufacturing isn't just our state's heritage, it is part of the history of this great nation.
Last Update: Jun 22, 2026 2:00 pm CDT
