MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — In a rare display of bipartisanship, state Assembly leaders announced, on Thursday, an agreement on proposed legislation to fund WisconsinEye.
That would allow the state’s version of C-SPAN to again stream Capitol proceedings.
“It will include WisconsinEye doing some fundraising to cover part of their operations as they have in the past, but it will also include an endowment. Interest will go to WisconsinEye each year so that they can fund the majority of their capital operations,” said Minority Leader Greta Neubauer of Racine.
“Our intention is to also sign a short-term contract with WisconsinEye to broadcast our February floor period. So we would hope to keep them going so we have access for the balance of our session. We hopefully turn that into a longer-term contract or a longer-term agreement where we provide them limited funding,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
The public affairs network, which provided Capitol coverage online and to cable subscribers, went down in mid-December due to a funding shortfall. The Assembly bill would need approval in the state Senate. Vos says they’re open to any ideas from that chamber.