State Representative Janel
Brandtjen
As everyone is already
aware, the Wisconsin State Legislature passed the 2017-19 biennial budget. The budget contained a variety of
items, and I have described the document as having some
good features, as well as some bad ones. I believe that
the budget simply left too many opportunities on the
cutting room floor. As I stated in my last
newsletter, Republicans compromised with themselves, and
the taxpayers of Wisconsin weren't as fully represented
as they should have been.
The budget was also passed
in the Senate, but not before a small group of
conservative senators held out for a better deal for
Wisconsin. These senators voted yes after Governor
Walker agreed to use his veto pen to make some changes
that would make the budget a bit more palatable for
conservatives. Those vetoes have been released and
the requested vetoes are as follows:
1. Prevailing Wage - After
years of waiting for the Republican-led government to
repeal prevailing wage, the wait is over. The
repeal takes effect immediately.
2. Energy Efficient
Projects - School districts didn't need to budget for
energy efficient projects, they simply exceeded the
revenue limit. The budget had a one year moratorium on the
practice. The Governor made it permanent.
3. Federal Swap - This
provision allows the DOT to manipulate federal match
dollars with certain projects so that we can minimize
some of the federal mandates that are attached to these dollars. The budget provided
only for a study on the consolidation of highway funds. The
Governor's veto allows the Federal Swap provision to be enacted
immediately.
4. School Referendum - The
Governor used a partial veto that will limit school
districts' ability to go to referendum. School districts will no longer be
allowed to hold a referendum election on dates, such as
the spring primary, where turnout is sometimes as low as
6%. Referendums will now occur only during regular
scheduled general elections.
5. State Transportation
Projects Commission - The budget contained a provision
that would create a Transportation Projects Commission.
The Governor vetoed that provision. However, he already
has instructed the DOT to create an office of the
Inspector General which will provide a great deal of
needed accountability to the Department of
Transportation.
These five provisions that
were agreed upon by three conservative senators
certainly make the budget much better. These changes
would have gone a long way to moving my vote towards a
yes. The Governor also
added a few additional vetoes as well.
Read the veto summary
here
Read the budget summary
here
God Bless
Wisconsin!

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Moving Wisconsin Forward
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