Madison – State Representative Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc) enthusiastically cast her vote to provide substantial funding to key priorities while providing the largest tax cut in state history. The biennial budget bill (SB 70) advanced out of the Assembly in a 63 to 34 vote.
SB 70 makes historic investments in K-12 education, with over one billion dollars in new money going to classrooms throughout the state. This ensures two-thirds of our schools’ funding comes from the state and not local taxes. Additionally, $280 million is being used to make our choice and charter schools available to children whose needs are not being met by their public school. Rep. Dittrich knows our future generations cannot succeed without being able to read, write, or do math, and this budget funds those priorities.
Rep. Dittrich was also pleased to see the state’s transportation needs met with local road funding of $285 million in the LRIP program and the new agricultural road ARIP program for which she advocated. This state budget is putting more into local and state roads while borrowing LESS than the Governor’s proposed budget.
Having heard the concerns of constituents in her district, Rep. Dittrich is glad that this biennial budget ensures the state is caring for Wisconsin’s most in need by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, increasing funding for Seniorcare, and increasing funding for our free and charitable clinics to name just a few. This budget also addresses mental health care issues, supporting the psychiatry and behavioral health residency program at the Medical College of Wisconsin and provides more school-based mental health services.
“This budget more efficiently serves Wisconsinites by denying over $2 billion in tax hikes proposed by the Governor, shaving 800 proposed positions while also eliminating 800 existing positions in bureaucracy, and paying off $400 million in public debt as well as removing all policy items from the Governor’s proposed budget,” stated Rep. Dittrich.
Over her tenure in the Assembly, the Representative has been a vocal advocate for strong fiscal management, and she is thrilled that this budget funds Wisconsin’s most critical priorities while it simultaneously decreases government bureaucracy, saves money, and returns the tax over-payment to hard-working Wisconsinites, who know how to spend their own money best.
“While I have reiterated that not everyone gets all they want in a piece of legislation as large as the biennial budget, Wisconsinites can feel good about this thoughtfully-crafted budget,” said Rep. Dittrich. “I urge the Governor to sign this budget that was tailor made for Wisconsin without hesitation.”
The budget now goes to the Governor’s desk.