MADISON, Wis. — By storming out of state budget negotiations and refusing to find bipartisan compromise, Wisconsin Republicans are abandoning more than just their jobs. They’re abandoning Wisconsin families at an already uncertain time.
Popular budget provisions such as funding for K-12 schools, lower property taxes, and affordable child care were among the issues Republicans refused to address before giving up on bipartisan negotiations entirely this week.
Recent research shows that if Wisconsin Republicans don’t act fast, the average Wisconsin family will be forced to pay over $400 more in property taxes, child care costs will skyrocket, and many local business owners could lose their livelihoods.
“Republicans’ inaction will literally force devastating costs onto Wisconsin families, leaving us to pick up the bill as they ditch the table,” said A Better Wisconsin Together Communications Director Lucy Ripp.
In addition to walking away from the negotiation table with Governor Evers, legislative Republicans also prevented clean water and a more equitable voter registration process from advancing this week.
The GOP-controlled finance committee met Thursday afternoon to vote on several areas of the budget, including the Environmental Improvement Fund and Elections Commission.
Before Republicans erased over 600 items from budget consideration, lead service line replacement, automatic voter registration, grants to help local governments mitigate election costs, an office of election transparency, and more were included in those respective sections of the budget.
“From blocking clean drinking water and affordable child care, to refusing to lower costs and keep our local main streets alive and well, Wisconsin Republicans have proved once again that they will put their greed and petty partisanship above what’s best for Wisconsinites,” Ripp concluded.
Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee include Sen. Howard Marklein, Sen. Romaine Quinn, Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, Sen. Patrick Testin, Rep. Mark Born, Sen. Eric Wimberger, Sen. Rob Stafsholt, Rep. Tony Kurtz, Sen. Julian Bradley, Rep. Alex Dallman, and Rep. Karen Hurd.
