Rep. Baldeh Statement on Final Passage of Still-Flawed AB 245

June 14, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               

Contact: Rep. Samba Baldeh

PHONE: (608) 237-9148

EMAIL: Rep.baldeh@legis.wisconsin.gov

Rep. Baldeh Statement on Final Passage of Still-Flawed AB 245

“Madison Deserves Better than AB 245”

MADISON - In reaction to the final passage this evening of Assembly Bill (AB) 245, the Shared Revenue bill, Rep. Samba Baldeh (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“From the very beginning, I have made it clear that the Shared Revenue Bill does not do nearly enough for my district. Before passage of this bill, shared revenue made up roughly 1% of Madison’s city budget. After this so-called ‘generational investment,’ that number will go up to only about 2%. Following years of frozen shared revenue payments and mounting challenges due to inflation, that simply does not cut it.

“I understand and can appreciate that this bill provides important revenue for the smaller communities in our state, but all communities in Wisconsin, regardless of size, deserve equitable funding increases after so many years of frozen aid payments.

“Madison has always been one of the key economic drivers of our state, and at a time of stagnant growth across most of Wisconsin, our community drives critical population growth in our region. A community of our importance, driving economic and population growth that benefits our entire state, deserves state funding at a level that recognizes those contributions as well as the needs of a dynamic and growing city.

“And beyond the inadequate funding in AB 245, despite revision after revision, the bill still contains dozens of policy poison pills that are unacceptable to me and to the community I represent. Despite Democrats again today offering Republicans an opportunity to remove these poison pills, the GOP refused to budge.

“I cannot and will not support a bill that attacks local control, that takes aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and that silences voters, all while underfunding my community. Madison deserves better than AB 245.”

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