State Joint Finance Committee Strips Policy Items From Governor Evers' Budget

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 -- 12:00 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature have begun their budgeting process.

That work began on Tuesday as majority Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee removed 540 items from Democratic Governor Tony Evers proposed budget. JFC co-chair, Senator Howard Marklein. “We're moving policy from this budget. This budget is going to be about numbers not about policy.”

The items pulled out include legalized cannabis, paid family medical leave and money for upgrades at American Family Field. Evers, noting the state’s $7 billion surplus, said budget writers could do more and called the Republican action “foolish and a wasted opportunity.”

Representative Mark Born predicts Evers will sign the final product. “We'll build a budget that is a good budget for Wisconsin that he'll want to sign when we send it to him because of all the good things that are in it.”

Senator Evan Goyke is a Democrat on the Joint Finance Committee. “They're very good at saying ‘no.’ And they're absolutely incapable of articulating what their alternative will be. And the reality is they don't have one. They are measuring their budget next to the leadership and the example of the governor, and his leadership and his budget” 

The items pulled out include legalized cannabis, paid family medical leave and money for upgrades at American Family Field. Evers, noting the state’s $7 billion surplus, said budget writers could do more and called the Republican action “foolish and a wasted opportunity.”

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.