CONTACT: 608-266-5340
Madison – Assembly Assistant Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) released the following statement after voting against the 2017-19 State Budget:
“Governor Walker’s 2017 State Budget is rigging the system against Wisconsin workers and families. The budget bill will raise taxes on working families, drive down the wages of Wisconsin workers, and divert more money away from our public schools. On top of all of that, the budget once again fails to identify and implement a long-term solution for our state’s transportation and infrastructure funding woes. I cannot support such a misguided, out of touch two year spending plan. My constituents would not forgive me if I did.
“Once again my Republican colleagues ignored a package of Democratic amendments that would have empowered Wisconsin communities and leveled the playing field for hardworking Wisconsin taxpayers. Democratic attempts to address things like middle class tax relief, refinancing options for student loan borrowers, and expanding access to affordable healthcare were all tabled without any substantive debate by the majority party. The budget doesn’t do nearly enough for Wisconsin families and unfortunately far too much for the politically-connected and wealthy. It’s no wonder several of my Republican colleagues joined members of the Assembly Democratic Caucus in voting against this rigged state budget.”