As State Budget Bill Arrives in Legislature, There’s Still Time to do What’s Right

MADISON, Wis. — This week, the Wisconsin state legislature will vote on the 2023-25 biennial budget put forth by the Republican-led Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) – a budget that is a far cry from the robust, progressive budget that Governor Tony Evers proposed earlier this year.

Under what Governor Evers proposed, Wisconsin could have seen a historic middle class tax cut, affordable healthcare and childcare, an expansion of workers’ rights and voting rights, fully funded public schools, and so much more.

Yet, JFC Republicans cut more than 500 provisions from the governor’s budget, and instead of a middle class tax cut and affordable childcare, right-wing members of the committee instead passed a tax cut for the wealthiest totaling nearly the same amount they refused to put toward affordable childcare.

As the budget now makes its way to the state Senate for a vote, A Better Wisconsin Together Executive Director Chris Walloch says there is still time for state legislators to do the right thing:

“Under Governor Evers’ budget proposal, our schools, small businesses, and local governments would receive the resources they need to give every Wisconsinite the opportunity to keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table, and get access to a doctor when they are sick.

“The Republican budget makes bad choices, like a massive tax giveaway to the wealthiest while cutting funding for child care, making it less accessible and less affordable for middle class families. We can do better, and Republicans still have the chance to make budget choices that invest in a better Wisconsin.”

Call your legislator today at 1-800-362-9472  and demand they pass a budget that works for all of us in Wisconsin, not just the wealthiest few.