Gov. Tony Evers says he gave Republican lawmakers what they wanted in last year’s budget. Now the governor says it’s time they give him what he wants.
“A little more than a year ago I received a letter from all of the Republicans in the Assembly, highlighting their priorities for the upcoming year. They said they wanted to get back to two-thirds funding for our public schools,” Evers said at a Wednesday news conference. “A few months later I signed our biennial budget.”
The governor said that budget didn’t include enough education funding, but he compromised.
This year, Evers is demanding that Republicans likewise compromise. On Wednesday, he vetoed a Republican-backed plan to use about $400 million of the state’s projected surplus to cut taxes and pay down debt.
“It’s time for Republicans to put politics aside so we can do what is right for our kids, our schools, and our property taxpayers,” Evers said. “I am ready to work across the aisle to get this done. And I am willing to work on a compromise that works for everyone.”
Evers has said for months that he wants to spend any extra state money on schools across Wisconsin. Specifically, he wants to spend more on special education.
The governor said he’s willing to spend more money to pay down state debt. He’s also willing to consider an income tax cut, and said he’s open to cutting local property taxes more than he first proposed.
“But I will not accept a plan that continues to let local taxpayers foot bills that the state should have to pay,” Evers said. “And I will not accept a plan that does not invest in our kids and our schools, that does not invest in our kids and our schools for mental health education and special education.”
Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, who heads the Assembly’s budget writing panel, on Wednesday said it is not the Republicans who are playing games.
“I am greatly disappointed that Governor Evers has once again chosen to play politics and veto a tax cut that was targeted to help low- and middle-income families across our state,” Nygren said in his statement.
It’s not clear how much of a compromise is possible at the State Capitol. Republican leaders have held firm on their spending plan since Evers took office last year. It’s also unclear when there could be a new vote on spending the surplus money as lawmakers in Madison have gone home for the year.
