Contact: Kate Constalie, kate.constalie@legis.wi.gov, 608-266-5490
Gov. Walker introduces proposal to fund program he vetoed four months ago
MADISON, WI – After vetoing additional funding for low-spending school districts just four months ago, Gov. Walker announced today that if re-elected, he will propose doing exactly that. Despite school districts struggling with tight budgets, teacher shortages and growing classroom sizes for years, Gov. Walker and Republican lawmakers instead prioritized the largest state taxpayer giveaway to a foreign corporation in U.S history.
“Republicans must think taxpayers have a short memory when it comes to their actual priorities. This is another hollow campaign gimmick from Gov. Walker to further his own political ambitions at the expense of local schools,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “If Gov. Walker and Legislative Republicans were serious about funding our local schools, they wouldn’t have scrapped this plan in the 2017-19 budget. Instead, Republicans prioritized the largest taxpayer handout to a foreign corporation in U.S. history and are now in damage control mode as Election Day looms. School districts are still struggling from years of historic cuts and can’t wait until 2022 for the possibility of funding relief.”