Evers calls for more education spending, $1 billion tax hike
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers calls for more education spending, $1 billion tax hike

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers called on the Republican-controlled Legislature Tuesday to bolster funding for K-12 and higher education and reform the state’s criminal justice systems, while delivering a state budget with $1 billion in tax increases and liberal policy priorities that GOP leaders promised to quickly kill. Evers pitched his $91 billion two-year state budget to the Legislature as a “Badger Bounceback” agenda as the coronavirus pandemic enters its second year. Rep. Mark Born, co-chair of the Legislature’s budget committee, said he would work to “jettison” much of Evers’ proposals and Rep. Amy Loudenbeck dismissed his proposal as “political talking point garbage.” Evers wants to increase funding for public and private K-12 schools by $1.6 billion, the largest increase ever, cut taxes for poor families and raise taxes on manufacturers and the wealthy. Two years ago nearly all of Evers’ proposed policy changes were removed before the Legislature passed a budget plan with nearly unanimous opposition from Democrats.

Tax Budget Republican State Democrat Billion Legislature Republicans Evers Increase Two Years  million  legislature  education  billion  calls  state  hike  increase  republicans  taxes  spending  budget  tax  evers

History of this topic

Evers vetoes a Republican-backed bill targeting PFAS chemicals
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Evers vetoes a Republican-backed bill targeting PFAS chemicals

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a Republican bill Tuesday that would have created grants to fight pollution from “forever chemicals” and took the unusual step of calling the GOP-controlled budget committee into meeting to approve spending $125 million to deal with contamination. Evers said it was “just wrong” that lawmakers have not approved spending the $125 million …

Evers signs Republican-authored bill to expand Wisconsin child care tax credit
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Evers signs Republican-authored bill to expand Wisconsin child care tax credit

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed a Republican-authored bill Monday that dramatically expands the state child care tax credit, days after vetoing three other GOP bills that would have delivered $800 million in tax cuts. The bill expands the state child care tax credit to 100% of the claimants’ federal child care tax credit. The legislation included the …

Evers vetoes Republican-backed bills slashing the income tax, cutting taxes on retirees
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Evers vetoes Republican-backed bills slashing the income tax, cutting taxes on retirees

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Friday vetoed a nearly $800 million income tax cut passed by Republicans, along with bills that would have increased the income tax credit for married couples and raised the amount of retiree income exempt from the state income tax. Republican Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, the main sponsor of the tax cut for retirees, said …

Wisconsin governor vetoes $2 billion tax cut, calls Republican plan ‘completely unserious’
1 year, 1 month ago

Wisconsin governor vetoes $2 billion tax cut, calls Republican plan ‘completely unserious’

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Monday vetoed a $2 billion Republican tax cut bill, calling it “completely unserious.” Evers’ veto was expected, as he opposed the GOP plan from the moment it was introduced as a substitute to the Democratic governor’s own workforce development package. Instead, the Legislature passed a measure that would have cut income taxes, created …

Evers finds $170M in federal dollars to keep pandemic-era child care subsidy program afloat
1 year, 2 months ago

Evers finds $170M in federal dollars to keep pandemic-era child care subsidy program afloat

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will use newly discovered federal dollars to keep a pandemic-era child care subsidy program going for another year and a half, his administration announced Monday after Republican legislators refused to devote any more money to the program. Officials with Evers’ administration said Monday they will use $170 million from the Federal Emergency Management …

Wisconsin Republican leader blocks pay raises in continuation of DEI fight
1 year, 3 months ago

Wisconsin Republican leader blocks pay raises in continuation of DEI fight

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly is blocking pay raises for University of Wisconsin employees unless the university cuts diversity, equity and inclusion spending by $32 million — a move that comes amid the Democratic governor’s calls for lawmakers to spend even more on higher education. In June, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature cut funding to the …

Wisconsin Senate votes to override Evers’ 400-year veto and his gutting of tax increase
1 year, 3 months ago

Wisconsin Senate votes to override Evers’ 400-year veto and his gutting of tax increase

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Republicans who control the Wisconsin Senate voted Thursday to override three of Gov. Tony Evers’ vetoes, including one that attempted to enshrine school funding increases for 400 years. Republicans had the necessary two-thirds majority to override the vetoes in the Senate and did so in a series of 22-11 votes along party lines, but they don’t have …

Wisconsin Republicans dismiss governor’s call to increase funding for child care, UW System
1 year, 4 months ago

Wisconsin Republicans dismiss governor’s call to increase funding for child care, UW System

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday called a special legislative session for September in a longshot attempt quickly dismissed by Republicans to approve funding they rejected earlier this year for child care services, a family leave program, the University of Wisconsin System and other efforts targeting the state’s worker shortage problem. Evers has been highlighting child …

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor guts Republican tax cut, increases school funding for 400 years
1 year, 5 months ago

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor guts Republican tax cut, increases school funding for 400 years

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed off on a two-year spending plan Wednesday after gutting a Republican tax cut and using his broad veto powers to increase school funding for centuries. Under his veto, unless it’s undone by a future Legislature and governor, Evers said schools will have “predictable long-term spending authority.” “There are lots of wins here,” …

Evers proposes $3.8 billion in state building projects
1 year, 9 months ago

Evers proposes $3.8 billion in state building projects

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday proposed spending $3.8 billion on building projects in 28 counties around the state, with nearly half directed toward work across the University of Wisconsin System. Two years ago, Republicans approved spending $1.5 billion on building projects out of the $2.4 billion that Evers proposed. Republican Rep. Mark Born, co-chair of the …

Evers pushing for tax cuts, new paid family leave program
1 year, 10 months ago

Evers pushing for tax cuts, new paid family leave program

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers made a plea for bipartisanship with the unveiling of a nearly $104 billion state budget Wednesday that includes a new paid family leave program for most public and private-sector workers, tax cuts for the middle class, a plan to keep the Milwaukee Brewers in their stadium until at least 2043 and higher …

Wisconsin Gov. Evers details tax plan to boost middle class
1 year, 10 months ago

Wisconsin Gov. Evers details tax plan to boost middle class

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. The governor’s office released details Sunday showing the plan would limit exceptions that benefit wealthy filers, outlaw state taxes on federal student loan relief and follow through on Evers’ campaign promises for $1.2 billion in tax cuts over two years. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, who first proposed the plan for a …

Evers promises a tax cut, compromise to increase funding
1 year, 10 months ago

Evers promises a tax cut, compromise to increase funding

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday he wants to work with Republicans to divert as much as 20% of the state’s sales tax revenue to help fund local communities, including police and emergency services, while he also promised to cut taxes for the middle class and fight a GOP effort to impose a flat income tax rate. …

Evers meets with mayors of Wisconsin’s 5 largest cities
1 year, 11 months ago

Evers meets with mayors of Wisconsin’s 5 largest cities

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. That message said Evers and the mayors discussed “improving how we invest in our local communities and keep them safe—and to ensure they can respond to basic and unique needs alike.” Evers, who was sworn in to office on Tuesday, will deliver his two-year state budget to the Republican-controlled Legislature next month. He’s already called for …

Evers pushes for legal abortions, expanded Medicaid
1 year, 11 months ago

Evers pushes for legal abortions, expanded Medicaid

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers outlined a largely liberal agenda in his second inaugural address Tuesday, calling for overturning an 1849 state law banning abortions, expanding Medicaid coverage and legalizing marijuana. The GOP returns this session with even larger majorities in the state Legislature, and the Senate Republican leader called Evers’ speech disappointing and “highly partisan.” Evers and other …

Wisconsin Gov. Evers opposes GOP flat income tax cut plan
2 years ago

Wisconsin Gov. Evers opposes GOP flat income tax cut plan

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is promising to veto any flat income tax cut plan passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, favoring instead his proposal to reduce taxes for the middle class by 10%. Evers, in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, came out against an idea being floated by Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu that …

Audit calls for transparency on Evers’ COVID relief spending
2 years ago

Audit calls for transparency on Evers’ COVID relief spending

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A nonpartisan audit released Wednesday called on Wisconsin Democratic Gov. The Legislative Audit Bureau said that Evers’ Department of Administration did not provide information it claimed the governor based his decisions on when handing out some $3.7 billion in pandemic aid over the past two years. The Evers administration received $5.7 billion between March 2020 and June …

Wisconsin’s projected budget surplus grows to $6.6 billion
2 years, 1 month ago

Wisconsin’s projected budget surplus grows to $6.6 billion

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s projected state budget surplus is now forecast to hit nearly $6.6 billion by July, up from earlier $5 billion estimates, according to a report released Monday by Gov. The projected surplus does not give Evers a “blank check” as he puts together his budget, the Republican co-chairs of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee said in a …

In final days, Evers asks Wis. voters to worry about Michels
2 years, 1 month ago

In final days, Evers asks Wis. voters to worry about Michels

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. “I’m not the flashiest guy in the room,” Evers said, pivoting quickly to portray Republican Tim Michels as the opposite — a “radical” and “dangerous” force who could be a threat to democracy. Evers certified President Joe Biden’s win; Michels, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has said that “maybe” the 2020 election …

Evers proposes increase into local funding for public safety
2 years, 2 months ago

Evers proposes increase into local funding for public safety

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. Michels has said during the campaign that public safety is a priority, and if elected he would increase funding for local governments to hire more police officers. Michels spokesperson Anna Kelly said Evers is trying to “rewrite his abysmal public safety record.” “Evers doesn’t care about public safety,” Kelly said in a statement. “Time and …

Evers calls for $2 billion increase in public school funding
2 years, 3 months ago

Evers calls for $2 billion increase in public school funding

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday called for spending nearly $2 billion more on public K-12 schools — a plan derided by Republicans that was released nine weeks before the election and designed to allow school spending to increase without resulting in higher property taxes. This is an opportunity of a lifetime.” Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos dismissed …

Evers directs $90 million to Wisconsin K-12 schools
2 years, 3 months ago

Evers directs $90 million to Wisconsin K-12 schools

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers is giving Wisconsin K-12 public schools $90 million more in federal COVID-19 relief money, a move he announced Tuesday just before schools were to open for the fall. A spokeswoman for Republican Tim Michels, who is challenging Evers, accused the former teacher, principal, school administrator and state education secretary of handing out the money …

Wisconsin governor calls for tax cut as rival tours Kenosha
2 years, 4 months ago

Wisconsin governor calls for tax cut as rival tours Kenosha

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers proposed a $600 million annual tax cut on Tuesday — an election year proposal that Republican legislative leaders rejected as a “vote-buying ploy. “We will not pick winners and losers like Tony Evers does with this vote-buying ploy.” Republicans who control the Legislature are hoping to defeat Evers in November, which would give …

Evers raises $10.1 million for Wisconsin governor’s race
2 years, 5 months ago

Evers raises $10.1 million for Wisconsin governor’s race

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Evers’ campaign manager Cassi Fenili said in a statement that Evers’ record fundraising shows the “overwhelming grassroots support Governor Evers has earned.” But Democratic incumbents like Evers face a tough road this fall, with polls showing high Republican enthusiasm and history showing that the same party as the president in midterm elections often fares poorly. “Whether …

Evers signs order to ban gasoline price gouging in Wisconsin
2 years, 6 months ago

Evers signs order to ban gasoline price gouging in Wisconsin

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday issued an executive order declaring that an abnormal economic disruption exists in Wisconsin due to a disruption of energy supplies, allowing himself to trigger a statewide ban on gasoline and diesel price gouging. In the order, Evers said that the disruption in supply “poses a serious risk to the economic well-being of …

Evers announces $50M in federal money aimed at public safety
2 years, 9 months ago

Evers announces $50M in federal money aimed at public safety

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday he’s sending another $50 million in federal money to police departments and court systems around the state. Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall against Republicans who have criticized him on public safety, said the spending is essential to push back against violence that “is not a foregone conclusion.” Evers …

Evers calls special session while GOP eyes veto override
3 years, 4 months ago

Evers calls special session while GOP eyes veto override

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Monday called the Republican-controlled Legislature into a special session to increase funding for public schools and higher education on the same day the Assembly planned to vote on a veto override of a bill ending a $300 weekly unemployment payment. Evers, in a video message announcing the special session, said as long as …

Evers signs GOP-written state budget with $2B tax cut
3 years, 5 months ago

Evers signs GOP-written state budget with $2B tax cut

Associated Press  

WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers signed the Republican-written state budget Thursday, enacting a two-year spending plan that includes a $2 billion income tax cut while making 50 largely minor partial vetoes, saying unfinished business still needs to be addressed. Evers, a Democrat who is running for reelection next year, cast it as a bipartisan effort even though the …

Gov. Evers calls special session on Medicaid expansion
3 years, 7 months ago

Gov. Evers calls special session on Medicaid expansion

Associated Press  

MIDDLETON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday called a special session for the Legislature to expand Medicaid in Wisconsin, promising to use $850 million in federal money that would come to the state to pay for an array of economic development projects across the state. Turning down Medicaid expansion now will mean Republicans are also rejecting economic development projects …

Republicans scrap Evers’ priorities, start writing budget
3 years, 7 months ago

Republicans scrap Evers’ priorities, start writing budget

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Legislature’s Republican-led budget committee on Thursday killed hundreds of Democratic Gov. Republicans, along a party line vote, essentially scrapped the Democratic governor’s entire two-year spending proposal and instead began crafting their own budget based off of the current budget, which the GOP-controlled Legislature passed two years ago without a single Democratic vote and which Evers …

GOP eyeing tax cut as they prepare to gut Evers’ plan
3 years, 7 months ago

GOP eyeing tax cut as they prepare to gut Evers’ plan

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Republicans who head the Legislature’s budget committee told Wisconsin’s business leaders on Wednesday that they are optimistic a tax cut will be a part of the next two-year spending plan, although they said details on what type and how much were still being discussed. The committee co-chairs, Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Mark Born, told a virtual …

Republicans ask Evers to discuss federal stimulus funding
3 years, 7 months ago

Republicans ask Evers to discuss federal stimulus funding

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Republican legislative leaders on Monday called on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to meet with them to discuss his plans for spending $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money coming to the state. Evers last week said that discussing his plans for the spending money with Republicans was not a “top priority.” State law gives the governor the power …

Republicans to kill legalized pot, other Evers priorities
3 years, 7 months ago

Republicans to kill legalized pot, other Evers priorities

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Republicans plan to vote next week to kill key parts of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ state budget proposal, including legalizing medical and recreational marijuana, expanding Medicaid to capture $1.6 billion in federal funding and granting collective bargaining rights to public workers. Also on the chopping block: Making Juneteenth, the day marking the emancipation of people who …

Evers says he’s listening to the people, not GOP lawmakers
3 years, 7 months ago

Evers says he’s listening to the people, not GOP lawmakers

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers said Thursday that he hasn’t met with Republican legislative leaders to discuss his $91 billion state budget proposal because he’s listening to what the people of Wisconsin want and that GOP lawmakers should do the same. “It’s clear from my vantage point the people of Wisconsin need to be heard from,” Evers said outside …

Evers promises details soon on how federal money to be spent
3 years, 7 months ago

Evers promises details soon on how federal money to be spent

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday that he will announce within weeks, without input from Republican lawmakers, how he will spend all of the $3.2 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds coming to Wisconsin. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed bills ordering the money be spent on cutting property taxes, funding local road projects and in other areas, but Evers …

Evers vetoes GOP bills directing federal COVID-19 spending
3 years, 8 months ago

Evers vetoes GOP bills directing federal COVID-19 spending

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Evers also announced that up to $420 million of that money coming to the state would go toward a grant program targeting small businesses. One of the bills he vetoed would have directed $200 million toward small businesses, an amount Evers said “won’t cut it for me.” “Our Main Streets have been hit hard during this …

Assembly OKs Republican COVID spending plan; Evers vows veto
3 years, 8 months ago

Assembly OKs Republican COVID spending plan; Evers vows veto

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Assembly Republicans took another step Tuesday toward ripping control of billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid from Democratic Gov. The proposals include plans for a $1 billion property tax cut; $200 million for small businesses; $75 million for tourism grants; $150 million for nursing homes and assisted-living facilities; $308 million for local roads; $250 million to …

Evers vetoes Wisconsin legislative oversight of COVID funds
3 years, 8 months ago

Evers vetoes Wisconsin legislative oversight of COVID funds

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers killed a bill Monday that would have given Republican legislators oversight of Wisconsin’s share of billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds, instead announcing his own plan for distributing the money. The bill would have forced Evers to submit a plan for spending the money to the Legislature’s budget committee and allowed committee …

Highlights of Gov. Evers’ $91 billion state budget plan
3 years, 10 months ago

Highlights of Gov. Evers’ $91 billion state budget plan

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Highlights of Gov. Tony Evers’ state budget proposal submitted to the Legislature on Tuesday: GENERAL BUDGET: — The $91 billion state budget would increase state spending by 7.3% in the first year and 2% in the second. — Increase general aid to K-12 schools by $613 million, the biggest increase in more than 15 years, and restore …

Evers proposes $100 million for new venture capital fund
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers proposes $100 million for new venture capital fund

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers will propose more than $329 million in new economic development initiatives as part of his state budget proposal on Tuesday, including a new $100 million venture capital fund to help startups and $200 million to assist small businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. Evers is proposing a new $100 million venture capital program that …

Evers proposes allowing local governments to raise taxes
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers proposes allowing local governments to raise taxes

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers wants to allow counties to be able to double their existing sales tax and allow larger municipalities to impose a new half-cent sales tax, if local voters approve. Evers said state budget plan will include the tax increase option for those local governments, which could generate additional money that he said could be put …

Evers renewing call for Medicaid expansion opposed by GOP
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers renewing call for Medicaid expansion opposed by GOP

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers will try again to expand Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin, announcing Wednesday that his state budget proposal will also have more than $150 million in other health initiatives, including bolstering student mental health support, addressing the opioid crisis and increasing telehealth accessibility. Republicans argue that accepting the federal money to expand the state’s BadgerCare Medicaid …

Gov. Evers proposes creating $500 caregiver tax credit
3 years, 10 months ago

Gov. Evers proposes creating $500 caregiver tax credit

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers wants to create a new $500 income tax credit to help cover family caregiver expenses, a $200 million proposal announced Tuesday that will be a part of the governor’s state budget plan submitted to the Legislature next week. The tax credit was included in budget proposals Evers announced that are targeted to help children …

Evers to again push for lower prescription drug costs
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers to again push for lower prescription drug costs

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers plans to renew efforts designed to lower prescription drug costs, putting forward a proposal in his state budget that the Republican-controlled Legislature previously rejected. Evers’ prescription drug plan largely follows recommendations of a task force he created in 2019 that put forward ways to reduce the costs of prescription drugs, expand access to needed …

Wisconsin revenue projections jump by $1.2 billion
3 years, 10 months ago

Wisconsin revenue projections jump by $1.2 billion

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin state government’s financial future brightened Tuesday after analysts released projections that show the state should collect $1.2 billion more in tax revenue by mid-2023 than estimated in November. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau report said the state’s general fund should finish the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, with nearly $1.8 billion, about $630 million more …

State of State: Evers targets broadband, fixing unemployment
3 years, 11 months ago

State of State: Evers targets broadband, fixing unemployment

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers, in his State of the State speech Tuesday delivered virtually for the first time in state history, called on the Legislature to update Wisconsin’s antiquated unemployment payment system and spend nearly $200 million to expand broadband access, two problem areas the coronavirus pandemic laid bare last year. Evers said if the Republican-controlled Legislature doesn’t …

Evers calls for $250 million in cuts from state agencies
4 years, 5 months ago

Evers calls for $250 million in cuts from state agencies

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday ordered $250 million in cuts to state agencies this year — the latest financial hit caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “The UW System has already borne a disproportionate share of state cuts to date,” said interim UW President Tommy Thompson, a former governor. “As decisions are made about how the $250 million …

Discover Related