MADISON – State Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) issued a response after Governor Tony Evers delivered the State of the State address on Tuesday night in the Assembly Chambers: 

“The state of our state is strong, but is Governor Tony Evers really responsible for the incredible position our state is in?

“About this time last year, Governor Evers presented us with his executive budget. At the time, I was hopeful that the Governor would propose a workable budget for the Joint Finance Committee (JFC). Instead, the Governor presented us with a budget that would have raised taxes for hardworking families by $1 billion in the middle of a pandemic. My JFC colleagues and I worked tirelessly to produce a budget that would keep more money in the pockets of working Wisconsinites. Our committee understood what extra cash means for Wisconsin families and passed a budget that cut taxes by $3.4 billion.

“It’s disappointing now to see the Governor twist the narrative on our state’s financial success and take credit for these historic tax cuts and the tremendous financial state Wisconsin is in. Wisconsin is moving in the right direction – but make no mistake, it’s not because of Governor Evers’ policies – it’s the result of years of responsible budgeting by Legislative Republicans. 

“While our state has a lot to be proud of, there’s still more work to be done for the people of Wisconsin. Our consumers and employers have been battling rising costs of goods, supply chain disruptions, and workforce shortages. While prices soar and businesses suffer, Legislative Republicans are desperately working to pass legislation to help our state.

“Our law enforcement officers and first responders are also in urgent need of additional support. Our state is experiencing a rise in violent crime, an unprecedented volume of vehicle thefts, and an increasing amount of drug crises. I’m a strong supporter of our law enforcement because public safety is paramount. We must continue our work to support our law enforcement officers and other first responders.

“From easing economic hardships for working Wisconsinites to increasing resources for law enforcement, I hope the Governor is ready to work with the Legislature on these important issues and sign the bills that we are sending to his desk in the coming weeks.”

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