Rep. Baldeh Reaction to Passage of the 2023-2025 State Budget

June 29, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rep. Samba Baldeh

PHONE: (608) 237-9148

Rep. Baldeh Reaction to Passage of the 2023-2025 State Budget

‘23-‘25 Budget Full of Missed Opportunities

MADISON – In reaction to passage of the State Budget this evening along party lines, State Rep. Samba Baldeh (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“With a record $7 billion surplus, the Assembly had a golden opportunity this evening to fund services, programs, and initiatives that would’ve benefited the vast majority of people across Wisconsin. Instead, Republicans chose to play politics with our higher education system, gut childcare, underfund our schools, pass on major investments in affordable workforce housing, neglect our environment, and prioritize tax giveaways to the wealthiest in our state.

Earlier this year, Governor Evers proposed a budget based on input from everyday Wisconsinites, which truly understood and would have addressed the challenges our state is facing. That budget included record investments in our communities, all while delivering a tax cut for the middle class.

But tonight, during this time of plenty, Republicans crafted a budget more notable for what it left out than what it invested in our communities.

Republicans chose to cut $32 million from our University of Wisconsin System over their fear of diversity, equity, and inclusion, instead of actually investing in one of the most proven attractors of talent to Wisconsin.

They chose to end the critical Child Care Counts program, threatening thousands of childcare businesses in our state and tens of thousands of kids currently in childcare.

They chose to continue to underfund our state’s public schools, special education, student mental health, and other programs that would help our students get ahead, at a time when those students – especially students of color – are falling behind.

They chose to pass on funding generational investments in workforce housing, when housing has become more and more unaffordable for working people across Wisconsin.

And while Republicans did provide funding for action on PFAS contamination, they neglected to actually outline any policy that would put those dollars to use and ensure the health and safety of our communities now.

But what did Republicans choose to invest in? Massive tax giveaways for millionaires and billionaires.

They say that budgets are moral documents, and they show us the priorities of those who write them. With the budget Republicans presented tonight, they showed us clearly that their priorities do not lie with the working people of Wisconsin. Until that changes, my vote was and will remain a no.”

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29 Jun 2023