05/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/08/2025 11:43
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2025 |
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov |
NEW: Republican Lawmakers Poised to Gut Most Pro-Kid Budget in State History During 2025 the Year of the Kid |
Gov. Evers: "Wisconsinites are sick and tired of having a do-nothing Legislature." |
Republicans to reject middle-class tax cuts, property tax relief to prevent property tax increases statewide, plans to lower out-of-pocket costs for child care, medication, and household goods, measures to crack down on prescription price gouging and health insurance transparency, investments to improve kids' reading and literacy outcomes, support for Wisconsin's farmers and veterans, efforts to get harmful contaminants out of Wisconsinites' water, statewide plans to improve public safety and keep kids and families safe, and measures to bolster high-need sectors of the workforce, among other key priorities |
MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today released a statement blasting Republican lawmakers, including members of the state budget committee, who today are poised to gut Gov. Evers' proposed two-year state budget-the most pro-kid budget in state history-during 2025 the Year of the Kid. Republican lawmakers later today are set to vote to strip more than 600 proposals from Gov. Evers' pro-kid budget. Republicans today plan to vote against middle-class tax relief, more than half a billion dollars in property tax relief to prevent property tax increases on the average homeowners in their own districts, efforts to lower out-of-pocket costs for child care, medication, and household goods, measures to crack down on prescription price gouging and health insurance transparency, investments to improve kids' reading and literacy outcomes, support for Wisconsin's farmers and veterans, efforts to get harmful contaminants out of Wisconsin's water supply, measures to bolster high-need sectors of the state's workforce, and statewide plans to improve public safety and keep kids and families safe, among several other critical provisions. "In 2025 the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin, I introducedthe most pro-kid budget of any governor in our state's history, because I believe doing what'sbest for our kids is what'sbest for our state. But, today, Republican lawmakers are gutting my budget thatdid what'sbest for our kids and the folks, families, and communities that raise them," said Gov. Evers. "While Wisconsinites struggle to keep up with rising costs, Republicans are rejectingmy plan to lowerout-of-pocketcosts on everything from utility billsto over-the-counter medication, including voting against overhalf a billion dollars inproperty tax reliefto prevent property taxes from going upstatewide. While Wisconsinites are struggling to affordthe life-saving healthcare and prescriptions they need, Republicans today are gutting my plan to crack down on health insurersand prescription drug companies, combat prescription drug price gouging, and cap the cost of insulin. While working families are struggling to find and afford child care,Republicans today are going to axe my plan to help lower the cost of child care, cut wait times, and get more kids into available child careslots," Gov. Evers continued. "After today, Republican lawmakers will be on-record voting against effortsto help keep our kids and families safe, ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean and safe drinking water, prevent property tax increases, invest in mental health servicesfor veterans, support to help farmers navigate reckless tariffs and trade wars, and so much more. "The most frustrating part for me as governor is that Republicans consistently reject basic, commonsense proposals that can help kids, families, farmers, seniors, and Wisconsinites across our state, all while Republicans offer no real or meaningful alternative of their own. Republicans talk a lot about what they're against, but not what they're for," Gov. Evers said. "There are real and pressing challenges facing our state, whether it'srising costs, deteriorating water quality, kids' reading outcomes, generational workforce challenges, or anything in between, and Republican lawmakers have gotten away with doing nothing for far too long. Wisconsinites are sick and tired of having a do-nothing Legislature. Republicans must get serious about getting things done." The governor encourages Wisconsinites to contact their state lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate to voice their opinions on the 600 proposals Republicans plan to gut Gov. Evers' pro-kid budget. Wisconsinites can go to maps.legis.wisconsin.govand enter their Wisconsin home address to find thecontact information for their state representative in the Assembly and their state senator in the Senate. Wisconsinites may also email Republican lawmakers who serve on the state budget committee and are poised to gut Gov. Evers' pro-kid budget on behalf of their Republican colleagues by clicking the links below:
Below is a summary of the more than 600 proposals Republicans oppose and are poised to gut from Gov. Evers' proposed state budget. 1. Republicans to Vote Against Middle-Class Tax Cuts, More Than Half a Billion Dollars in Property Tax Relief, Preventing Property Tax Increases for Average Homeowners in Their Own Districts, and Plans to Lower Everyday, Out-of-Pocket Costs for Wisconsinites and Working Families on Everything from Utility Bills to Diapers to Toothpaste. Gov. Evershas spent months urging Republican lawmakers to support his plan to helplower everyday, out-of-pocket costs for working families in order torespond to reckless tariff taxes and trade wars in Washington that are going to continue to cause prices to go up on everything from groceries to gas.As part of his pro-kid budget, Gov. Evers proposed a comprehensive plan to help support Wisconsin's kids by doing more to help the Wisconsinites and working families who raise them but are already struggling to make ends meet. Gov. Evers' comprehensive plan to lower everyday, out-of-pocket costsfor working Wisconsinites and families from child careand groceries to utility bills, life-saving medications, doctor visits, and everything in between. The governor's lowering cost plan proposed nearly $2 billionin tax relief across efforts to prevent property tax increases for the average Wisconsin homeowner, exempt severalhousehold items and expenses from the sales tax, and cut taxes for middle-class Wisconsinites, seniors, veterans, homeowners, and renters. Republicans on the state's budget committee are voting today to gut Gov. Evers' plan to help lower everyday, out-of-pocket costs for Wisconsinites and working families across our statethat would have:
2. Republicans to Vote Against Plans to Help Fill Available Child Care Slots, Cut Child Care Wait Lists, and Lower the Cost of Child Care for Working Families Across Wisconsin. Additionally, to help families keep more money in their household budgets and support the state's workforce, the governor's budget wouldhaveincludedmore than $500 million to make child caremore affordable and accessible for working families and support child careproviders statewide.Republicanlawmakerstodayare votingto gut:
3. Republicans to Vote Against CrackingDown on Health Insurers, AuditingInsurance Companies for Denying Wisconsinites' HealthcareClaimsat High Rates, Requiring Insurers to Cover More Services No Questions Asked, Preventing Surprise Medical Charges and Bills, and Cutting Medical Appointment Wait and Travel Times Statewide. Gov. Evers hears from Wisconsinites all the time that they don'tfeel like they are getting a fair shakewhen it comes to their healthcare coverage. As part of his state budget plan, Gov. Evers proposed sweeping reforms to make sure Wisconsinites can get the health insurance coverage they pay for, crack down on health insurers for denying Wisconsinites' healthcare claims, cut red tape across the healthcare industry, improve insurance transparency, and lower out-of-pocket costs so Wisconsinites can get the healthcare they need, when and where they need it. Republicans on the state's budget committee are voting today to gut Gov. Evers' proposed comprehensive overhaul of the state's healthcare and health insurance industry, including:
4. Republicans to Vote Against Efforts to Fight Prescription Drug Price Gouging, Crack Down on Prescription Drug Companies, and Lower Wisconsinites' Out-of-Pocket Costs for Prescriptions, Insulin, and Over-the-Counter Medication. According to a 2023 national survey by KFF, more than a quarter of adults in America reported that it is somewhat or very difficultto afford the cost of their prescription drugs, with about 30 percent of adults reporting that they did not take their medications as prescribed in the past year due to cost. Additionally, a 2024 Public Policy Polling surveyfound that 89 percent of Wisconsin voters, including 84 percent of Republicans, believe that lowering costs for prescription drugs would help people afford the cost of living. Despite these widespread challenges, Republicans on the state's budget committee are voting today to eliminateproposals that wouldprevent prescription price gouging, improve oversight, and lower out-of-pocket medication costs, including:
5. Republicansto Vote Against Statewide Efforts to Clean Up Lead, PFAS, and Other Harmful Contaminants, Reject Millions of Dollars in Investments to Ensure Kids, Families, and Farmers Have Access to Safeand Clean Drinking Water. Whether it'skids in the classroom, families at home, or farmers and agricultural industries, Wisconsinites' health, well-being, and way of life depend on access to clean, safe water. Gov. Evers'budget proposed plans to combat PFAS contamination statewide, protect kids and families from harmful water contaminants in 2025 the Year of the Kid, and expand access to clean and safe drinking water for Wisconsinites across our state. Republicans on the state'sbudget committee are voting today to eliminateproposalsthat would have investedover $145 million to address PFAS contamination across Wisconsin, from private well owners to municipalities,and across surface, drinking, and groundwater, including:
No level of leadexposureis considered safe for kids-even a small exposure can affect a kid for life, reducing learning capacityand affecting academic achievement. It is why Gov. Evers' budget planswouldhave also addressedlead poisoning in homes, schools, and communities across the state by investing over $300 million in numerous initiatives aimed at removing lead service lines and keeping Wisconsinites' drinking water and environment free from lead, including relaunching the Windows Plus Program to support lead-safe renovations. To address the urgent need forlead prevention, most especially in spaces that care for Wisconsin's youth and kids, such as schools, daycares, and more, the governor's over $300 million investmentthat Republicans on the state's budget committee are voting today to eliminatewouldhaveincluded:
6. Republicans in 2025 the Year of the Kidto Vote Against Providing Healthy Meals for Every Wisconsin Kid inSchool, Investments to Improve Kids' Reading and Literacy Outcomes, Expanding Financial Literacy and Computer ScienceClasses, Getting Harmful Contaminants Out of School Bubblers, and Helping Recruit and Retain Teachers Statewide. Gov. Evers has always believed that what'sbest for kids is what'sbest for ourstate. That'swhy the governor-a former teacher, principal, superintendent, and state superintendent-declared 2025 the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin. Gov. Evers was proud to propose the most pro-kid budget of any governor and any budget in our state's history and ask Republican lawmakers to approve a state budget that does what'sbest for our kids at every stage, inevery way, and no matter where they live in our state. Gov. Evers knows that we have todo more to improve outcomes for kids, and that means making meaningful investments inpublic education at every level, including in Wisconsin'sK-12 schools. Instead, Republicans on the state's budget committee are refusing to do what'sbest for Wisconsin's kids and are set to vote today to gut key initiatives of Gov. Evers' historic funding proposal to support Wisconsin's kids and public schools, including:
Additionally, Gov. Evers'budget plan included provisions to help get more teachers into the education workforce to keep class sizes small and ensure kids get the best education possible. Unfortunately, despite education workforce shortages in school districts across the state,today, Republicans will vote to remove provisions to:
7. Republicans to Vote Against Comprehensive Plans to Reduce Barriers to Work, Expand Apprenticeship Opportunitiesin High-Demand Fields, and Solutions to Help Recruit, Train, and Retain Workers to Address Wisconsin's Generational Workforce Challenges. Over the past six years, Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration havemade it a top priority to address the state's generational workforce challenges and build a workforce prepared to meet the needs of a 21st-century economyby making smart, strategic investments in key sectors. The governor's 2025-27 budget wouldhave built upon his administration'swork to support the state's workforce. Instead, Republicans are voting today to gut:
The governor's budget wouldhave also provided most private-sector workers in Wisconsin withpaid family and medical leave for eight weeksand expanded eligibility to ensure parents and families had the flexibility to meet their personal, family members',or kids' needs-a proposal that over 70 percent of Wisconsinitessupport. Additionally, Gov. Eversonce again proposed to restore collective bargainingrights and prevailing wage protections, repeal right to work, and bolster protections for wage theft, worker misclassification, and project labor agreementsin his 2025-27 budget. Today, Republicans, like they have in previousbudgets, are once again planning to gutthat proposal. 8. Republicans to Vote Against Supporting Wisconsin's Farmers,Producers,and Agricultural Industries, Bolstering Wisconsin's Meat Processing Workforce, Modernizing Dairy Producer Operations, and Devoting Staff to Help Farmers Navigate Market Disruptions and Economic Volatility Caused by Reckless Tariff Taxes and Trade Wars. Here in America's Dairyland, agriculture is a $116 billion industry. Gov. Evers knows that farmers, farm families, and producers have been the backbone of the state for generations. So, when President Donald Trump announced reckless tariff taxes and started picking fights with Wisconsin's largest export partners, hurting Wisconsin's economy and farmers, and driving up costs for gas and groceries, the governor got right to work. Gov. Evers proposeda state budget that made significant investments to bolster the state's supply chain and supportWisconsin's farmers and agricultural industries, including key efforts to help farmers and producers navigate economic volatility and uncertainty caused by irresponsible tariff taxes and trade wars. Unfortunately, today, Republicans are poised to gut key investments in the governor's budget proposal to support Wisconsin farmers, farm families, and the agricultural industry as a whole, including funding to:
9. Republicans to Vote Against Investments to Help Recover and Identify Veterans Missing in Action, Targeted Tax Relief for Veterans and Their Families, and Investments for Veteran Mental Health Services. Gov. Evers recognizes that veterans in Wisconsin and across the nation continue to face significant challenges when adjusting to civilian life. That'swhy supporting Wisconsin's veterans and their families and ensuring they have the resources and tools needed to thrive in their civilian lives has been a top priority for Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration since Day One. The governor's proposed budget built upon that important work, proposing investments and provisions that wouldhavehelped expand access to healthcare and affordable housing and give veterans more breathing room in their household budgets. Republicans on the state'sbudget committee are voting today to eliminateGov. Evers' plans that wouldhave:
10. Republicans to Vote Against Support for Wisconsin's Small and Local Businessesto Help Improve and Modernize Their Businesses, Afford Lease and Mortgage Payments, and Foster Innovation and Startup Opportunities. Wisconsin's small businesses are the hearts of Wisconsin's communities and are important and powerful drivers of the state's economy. The governor's budget wouldhavebuiltupon long-standing efforts to support small businesses across the state and includeda $50 million investment to relaunch the successful Main Street BouncebackGrant Program, originally funded through federal relief funds, which would have providedas many as 5,000 eligible businesses with grants up to $10,000 to help afford building repairs and improvements, lease and mortgage payments, and defray other expenses that can be a barrier to growing a business. Additionally, the governor's budget wouldhaveprovided $10 millionfor a Business AcceleratorProgram, which would help develop research into new startup businesses and provide grants to businesses to assisttheir growth and development. 11. Republicans to Vote Against Statewide Plan toFight Crime, Require Violent Criminal History Checks for All FirearmPurchases, and Key Measures to Improve Public Safety and Keep Wisconsin's Kids, Families, and Communities Safe. Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration have long supported efforts to address crime, prevent gun violence, and bolster efforts to keep kids, families, schools, and communities safe. Earlier this year, Gov. Evers createdthe state's new Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention and proposed a comprehensive planto address crime across Wisconsin while enacting commonsense measures to prevent gun violence to keep kids, families, and communities safe. The governor's budget would have provided his most robust and comprehensive gun safety reform efforts to date and worked to reduce crime, prevent violence, and keep folks and families safe through several critical initiatives and investments. Unfortunately, Republicanson the state's budget committeetoday are voting to gut many of these provisions,including:
For years,Wisconsin's corrections system has put a strain on resources across the state-from local law enforcement to courts to annual corrections costs to taxpayers-coupled with consistent lack of meaningful investment in evidence-based, data-driven programs proven to reduce recidivism, which help improve public safety and keep kids, families, and communities safe. Gov. Evers'budget proposed sweeping reforms to Wisconsin corrections, including some of the most significant facility and capital changes in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections'(DOC) history. In order to accomplishGov. Evers' immediate and long-term corrections modernization goals, the governor's budgetproposeda "domino" series of facility changes, improvements, and investments, as well as commonsense policies to address pressing challenges across Wisconsin's correctional institutions. Republican lawmakers today are poised to vote to reject a number ofprovisions that wouldhave kicked offthe process to reform the state's corrections system, including:
12. Republicans to Vote Against Allowing Wisconsinites to Put Binding Referenda and Constitutional Amendments on the Ballot, Preventing Legislators from Deleting Public Records, Expanding BadgerCare, and Legalizing and Taxing Recreational Marijuana, Among Other Proposals that Reflect the Will of the People of Wisconsin. Among the proposals Republican lawmakers are poised to gut from the governor's budget today also include:
|
An online version of this release is available here. |
### |
Office of the Governor • 115 East Capitol, Madison, WI 53702 | |
Press Office Email: GovPress@wisconsin.gov | |
Unsubscribe |