The exterior dome of the Wisconsin state Capitol is seen in Madison Feb. 15, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN says it needs more monetary support to continue its coverage at the state capitol.
WisconsinEye says it has achieved nearly 30% of its GoFundMe goal of $250,000.
This has allowed WisconsinEye to operate through February but March remains uncertain.
WisconsinEye had broadcast every floor session of the state Senate and Assembly since 2007 for free before it went dark in mid-December. Created as a private, independent nonprofit, WisconsinEye also provided live coverage of court hearings, news conferences, legislative committee hearings and numerous other government proceedings.
For the past 18 years, WisconsinEye relied on private donations from individuals, foundations, businesses and others to pay for its operations but faced with increasing competition for donations, and years of losing money since the 2020 pandemic, WisconsinEye turned to the Legislature for help. Lawmakers responded by creating a $10 million endowment three years ago. However, in order to access any of the $10 million, WisconsinEye had to match all of it.
WisconsinEye initially raised just $210,000. The state gave it $250,000 and another year to meet the $10 million match, but WisconsinEye shut down after it failed to raise enough money to cover its $887,000 operating budget for 2026.
The GoFundMe has so far raised more than $67,000.
“We’re making our best, strongest case for a reasonable level of state funding — a level that would still require WisconsinEye to raise private support while maintaining its independence,” the organization wrote Thursday.
Assembly Democrats and Republicans unveiled a proposal that would allow WisconsinEye to access interest accrued from the $10 million endowment, with fundraising paying for the rest of its operating budget.
But it must also pass the Senate, and it was unclear how much support there was for the proposal.
Gov. Tony Evers said he would support a fundraising deal to revive the network as long as the state wasn’t paying for all of WisconsinEye’s budget.
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