Democratic Governors' Association recaps Wisconsin 2021-23 budget press coverage.

WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, Gov. Tony Evers signed a budget that will continue to support Wisconsin’s economic recovery. The budget invests an additional $685 million in public education, restoring the state’s funding commitment for the first time in two decades. Additionally, the budget includes one of the largest tax cuts in the state’s history — together with previous reductions, Gov. Evers is cutting middle-class income taxes by 15 percent. The budget also makes critical investments in infrastructure, broadband, and health care services.

Gov. Evers said, “I made a promise when I ran for governor—I promised I would cut taxes for middle-class families by 10  percent. Today, I am keeping my word. This morning, I’m providing more than $2 billion in tax relief and cutting taxes for middle-class families at a time when our economy and families need it most.”

See below for coverage highlights on Evers’ signing of the budget in Wisconsin. 

WBAY: Evers signs state budget with one of largest tax cuts in state history

Gov. Tony Evers has signed the $87 billion state budget passed by the legislature that includes a large tax cut for the middle class.

The governor is making stops across the state, starting with a visit to Cumberland Elementary School in Whitefish Bay where he is signing the 2021-2023 spending plan.

The budget includes a 10 percent tax cut for the middle class and $2 billion in tax relief.

“I made a promise when I ran for governor—I promised I would cut taxes for middle-class families by 10 percent. Today, I am keeping my word,” Gov. Evers said. “This morning, I’m providing more than $2 billion in tax relief and cutting taxes for middle-class families at a time when our economy and families need it most.”

The budget includes $685 million in school spending. Wisconsin will hit the mark of two-thirds funding for schools for the first time in 20 years.

The budget will allow the state to receive $100 million in federal funds for schools and children.

[...]

Wisconsin State Journal: Tony Evers signs Republican-authored state budget with billions in income tax cuts

Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday said he planned to sign the Republican-authored state budget, heralding the more than $2 billion in income tax cuts that it provides and vowing to provide an additional $100 million in federal money for the state's schools on top of what the GOP provided.

The budget will bring down the income tax rate from 6.27% to 5.3% for income between about $24,000 and $263,000 a year for individuals, or between $32,000 and $351,000 for married filers. All told, Republicans say the plan would save taxpayers about $2.7 billion over the two-year period.

Talking to reporters at Cumberland Elementary in Whitefish Bay, Evers said though the GOP budget didn't go far enough in spending on schools, vetoing the budget in full was not an option when thinking about the state's kids.

[...]

Associated Press: Wisconsin Gov. Evers Signs GOP-Written State Budget With $2 Billion Tax Cut

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 partial vetoes.

Evers, a Democrat who is running for reelection next year, cast the tax cut as a bipartisan effort even though the plan was added to the budget by Republican lawmakers.

“I could have vetoed that," Evers said at a signing ceremony at a suburban Milwaukee elementary school. "I made a promise to the taxpayers, to the state we would reduce middle class taxes by 10% and we did 15%. It is a bipartisan effort.”

The average person earning $61,000 a year will see an income tax cut of $488 this tax year and $975 over next two years, state Revenue Secretary Peter Barca said.

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WMTV: Evers signs new budget; touts $2 billion tax cut

Gov. Tony Evers signed the new $87 billion biennial state budget , which will fund the government for the next two years, but not before making some changes first.

Appearing at an elementary school in Whitefish Bay Thursday morning, Evers touted the state’s recovery effort from the coronavirus pandemic, an unemployment rate he described as one of the lowest in the nation, and a $2.9 billion budget surplus before going on to say he will sign the budget bill overall, making some line-item vetoes.

Evers used the announcement to highlight a tax cut that his administration says will cut taxes for middle-class families by 10 percent. The governor recounted promising a tax cut for middle income earners, saying, “Today I’m keeping my word. I’m signing one of the largest tax cuts in history.”

“I made a promise when I ran for governor—I promised I would cut taxes for middle-class families by 10 percent. Today, I am keeping my word,” Evers continued. The Evers Administration estimates the legislation will provide approximately $2 billion in individual income tax relief over the next two years and another $1 billion in savings past that.

[...]

These Republican bills make it harder to vote and need to be stopped.

MADISON - I was away hiking and birdwatching in Wyoming for a week only to return to the circus that has become the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Robin Vos, after dutifully carrying water for every corporate interest in the state for years now, and after placating his far right base at every step, now finds himself under fire for not being sufficiently rightwing. I discuss that here:

Vos Isn’t Rightwing Enough?!?

I also noticed an excellent report that a couple good groups that we work closely with just put out on an important voting rights issue: the need to give the inmates in Wisconsin jails their opportunity to cast a ballot. You can check out my summary here:

Facilitate Voting for Inmates in Wisconsin Jails

Meanwhile, our research staff uncovered some of the special interests behind a few bills in the legislature.

One was a tax break for – who else? – business:

Special Interests Pushing Hard for $200M Business Tax Cut

Another was to prevent people from suing businesses responsible for PFAS contamination:

WMC Behind GOP Bill to Shield Business from PFAS Lawsuits

And still another was a last minute change by the Milwaukee Police Association on the use-of-force legislation:

GOP Assembly Changes Police Use-of-Force Bill At Contributor’s Behest

As you can see, we follow the money, and it’s not always pretty.

I hope you have a nice holiday weekend, despite all the corruption and the craziness around us.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

*****

P.S. And if you like what we do, please send us a tax-deductible donation by clicking here.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Thursday in advance of the July 4th holiday weekend urging Wisconsinites to roll up their sleeves and get the COVID-19 vaccine to help ensure the state’s continued economic recovery.

Audio file of Radio Address.

Hi, folks! Governor Tony Evers here.

The 4th of July is right around the corner. And boy, it sure looks different than it did last year!

This year, the 4th of July means we can celebrate safely—gather with loved ones, fire up the grill, enjoy the outdoors, and celebrate the founding of our country and the values we share—all the traditions we missed out on last year.

And, folks, we get to do that because we’ve trusted the science and public health experts, and we’ve put in the hard work to help beat the pandemic and make sure our state and our economy can bounce back.

And this year, we have lots to celebrate—we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, Wisconsin businesses are bouncing back, and we’re a national leader in getting shots in arms.

But if we want to keep doing all the things we love and enjoy and make sure our state and economy continue to recover, we need you to roll up your sleeves and get vaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and based on years of research and science.

More 50 percent of Wisconsinites have had at least their first dose of the vaccine. And millions across the country have gotten their shot, most with minimal side effects.

So folks, if you haven’t gotten your vaccine yet, or you know a friend or family member who hasn’t gotten theirs, now is the time to get it.

Head over to vaccines.gov to find the nearest vaccine provider to you.

We’re in this together, Wisconsin, and I know that, by continuing to work together, we can put this pandemic behind us.

Thank you.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers Thursday delivered the Democratic Radio Address highlighting new relief funding for Wisconsin’s travel and tourism, entertainment, and lodging industries. The funding, which was secured under the American Rescue Plan Act, will support local businesses across the state as Wisconsin continues to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic.

Audio file of Radio Address

Hey, folks! It’s Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.

We all know just how important the travel, tourism, and lodging industry is here in Wisconsin.

From restaurants and music venues to hotels and theaters, the travel and tourism industry — and the local businesses that make up this key industry — are the backbone of our state.

But these folks have faced significant challenges the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That’s why we put our CARES funds to good use and invested more than $50 million in our tourism, lodging, and entertainment industries.

But as we keep bouncing back from this pandemic, we know our work is far from done.

And as folks in Wisconsin and around the country begin vacationing and traveling again, it’s especially important we support these vital industries.

That’s why I’m proud to announce more than $140 million in new funding to support local businesses in the travel, tourism, and lodging industry.

This funding will be key in ensuring the travel, tourism, and lodging industry — and our local businesses — can get back on their feet and back in business as quickly as possible.

And it will help our state keep bouncing back better than ever.

We can’t slow down now, folks... Let’s get it done!

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/kenosha-jacob-blake-shooting-wsj-s5.jpgNew bill creates a standard use of force definition and mandates reporting and intervention if an officer violates this standard.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/schools-reopening-2020-cnn-s5.jpgHere’s what educators from across the state are saying about the success of President Biden’s pandemic response.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday delivered the Democratic Radio Address celebrating Juneteenth in Wisconsin and highlighting the state's continued efforts to address existing racial disparities and ensure a more just, equitable, and fair state for Wisconsinites.

Audio file of Radio Address.

Hi, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.

For 156 years, our nation has celebrated Juneteenth: the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to declare the end of slavery, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted.

This Juneteenth, as we recognize the trials Black Americans have overcome and celebrate the resilience, vibrancy, and countless contributions of Black Wisconsinites, we must also recognize our work toward equity and justice in this state is far from finished.

I don’t have to tell you that Wisconsin faces some of the most disparate outcomes for Black Wisconsinites, from inequities in housing and healthcare to education and childcare to the justice system and economic opportunity.

And the COVID-19 pandemic has only underscored and furthered these inequities, making our work that much more pressing and that much more urgent.

That's why, as we keep bouncing back from the pandemic, we’re also working to make sure that we’re putting equity front and center in our recovery efforts and addressing racial disparities in our state head-on.

Because we know that building a more just, more equitable, and more fair state means connecting the dots between issues and tackling disparities holistically.

Folks, we’ve got our work cut out for us.

But I know that, by working together, we will move forward in solidarity and build a more just, more equitable Wisconsin for everyone.

Thank you.

We are bouncing back and better from this pandemic, says Gov. Evers. It’s time to drop the politics and get to work.

Proposals from Republicans are a distraction from the work they are refusing to do to address the fact of Wisconsin’s racial disparities says Agard.

MADISON- Yesterday, several bills were circulated for legislative consideration that would prohibit the teaching of critical race theory in schools. The proposals would affect the University of Wisconsin System schools as well as our K-12 schools.

Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement regarding the proposals:

“These are not reasonable proposals - they are a white washing of our history.

“We must face and address our past wrongs in order to move forward and be a more just and equitable state. We must acknowledge the history and experiences of all Americans in order to create a better society for everyone. To ignore and blatant disregard our nation's history of oppression, and continued oppression, especially of communities of color only sets us farther back.

“These proposals from my Republican colleagues are a distraction from the work they are refusing  to do to address the fact that Wisconsin’s racial disparities are pervasive.

“Enough with the theatrics - let’s start doing work that will truly help all Wisconsinites, not further drive people apart.”