WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin Policy Forum studied the issue of shared revenue long before lawmakers in Madison announced last week’s landmark agreement. 

Jason Stein, the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s vice president and research director, sat down with “In Focus” for an interview before the deal was finalized. 

He noted how the proposed sales tax increases in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County — which were tied to referendum votes under the bill that passed the Assembly — had been a sticking point in negotiations. 

That requirement was eventually removed from the bill, which still needs to pass both chambers of the legislature before the governor can sign it. 

The proposal also gradually moves public workers from the pension systems run by Milwaukee and Milwaukee County onto the state’s pension system.