MADISON – Today, the Wisconsin State Assembly voted on the amended version of Assembly Bill 245. This version of the shared revenue proposal is a compromise bill struck between the Republican leadership and Governor Evers. The bill originally passed the Assembly in May and was amended by the State Senate today before coming back to the Assembly. Representative Joers released the following statement:
“We have a $7 billion surplus, yet my Republican colleagues are choosing to hold our municipalities hostage while promoting a bill that still includes many irrelevant and harmful provisions. While the increase in funding is crucial and needed, it’s important that we remember we could have given our municipalities even more of the support they so desperately need. I’m glad we’re finally doing our part in providing our communities with funding they deserve, but I would have liked to have seen it go even farther.
“Governor Evers worked diligently to negotiate with the majority party in the legislature even when Speaker Vos refused to be a willing partner in the process. Thankfully, the Governor was able to pull the GOP back from certain crisis with their original proposal. However, provisions that harm stewardship, public health, equity, and direct democracy remain. On the Assembly Floor, I authored an amendment to have these provisions removed, but the GOP refused to consider the amendment. I voted against AB 245 again because we can do far better for our communities and there is still work to do to make them whole.”
