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Last week Governor Evers introduced his first budget. Not only does the budget spend more than the state can afford to spend, it raises taxes and creates a new tax on manufacturers and farmers. To start, it would be hard to overlook the obvious; Governor Evers vetoed the middle class tax cut and then the very next week presented a budget with substantial raises for his entire cabinet, who already enjoy six-figure salaries. Even deputy secretaries are getting healthy increases. The budget “for the people” quickly turned into a budget for Governor Evers and his associates. The budget, which the MacIver Institute refers to as a “wish list”, spends about $6 billion more than Governor Walker’s last budget - roughly an 8% increase. Other estimates have the additional spending over $7 billion. 

 

Governor Evers budget is not sustainable and many leaders have already questioned whether the budget is even a serious document. The budget put forth by Governor Evers is bad for business, bad for taxpayers, bad for school children and bad for Wisconsin. The 1,148-page document contains numerous policy provisions and dozens of spending items that I will not support. The list below contains just a small sampling of items that make the budget unsupportable.

  • Driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, along with automatic voter registration
  • In-state tuition for illegal immigrants
  • Eliminates Right-to-Work
  • Forced union dues
  • Reinstates prevailing wage
  • Expands Medicaid
  • Increases government by 1,000 employees
  • Eliminates the School Levy Tax Credit
  • Freezes school choice

Governor Evers is a smart, well-educated man. He is fully aware of the philosophical differences between the legislature and the Executive Branch in Wisconsin. I am truly disappointed that he chose to present a budget that he knew, full well, was a non-starter. He has already threatened to veto the budget if the legislature removes too many of his provisions. I will be working hard to ensure the budget protects the taxpayers while keeping Wisconsin moving forward. I will be providing more information as the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) goes through the details of the budget.

 

Representative Janel Brandtjen
State Capitol, Room 12 West
PO Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
Toll-Free (888) 534-0022 or (608) 267-2367
Rep.Brandtjen@legis.wi.gov | |