Wisconsin Republicans Deliver – A Strong Conservative State Budget

     Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) issued the following statement in support of the 2021-23 Republican state budget (Assembly Bill 68) that will pass in the State Senate later today and head to the governor’s desk:

“Today, the taxpayers of Wisconsin will win a major victory over big government bureaucrats and special interests.  The Republican majorities in both houses of the state legislature will deliver a state budget that is conservative and fiscally restrained.

The Republican state budget rightly returns more than $3 billion to the people it belongs to the taxpayers.  The typical family in this state will save $1,200.  That is about $900 in state income taxes and $300 in property taxes during this budget period.

This budget plans for the future by setting aside enough cash that the state’s Rainy Day Fund will have a historic high of $2.1 billion.  Wisconsin’s general fund structural deficit is reduced to $286 million at the beginning of the next biennial budget period (2023-25).  Just ten years ago, Governor Jim Doyle left the state with a $2.5 billion structural deficit.

The Republican budget makes necessary strategic investments to address critical needs such as providing an additional $250 million (all funds) for nursing homes/assisted living reimbursements for care.  It also provides an increase of $182 million (all funds) to address the serious shortage of personal care and direct care health workers for our vulnerable citizens.  Provides an additional $84 million (all funds) for mental health and substance abuse programs.

Just two weeks ago, Governor Tony Evers rattled his saber and threatened to possibly veto the entire state budget unless Republicans reversed course and adopted only his version.  The public didn’t respond well to Evers extreme threats and he will now be forced to sign the Republican budget into law with only a few line-item vetoes.”