The Joint Finance Committee today canceled its meeting set for this afternoon as Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said talks between Gov. Tony Evers began again this week.
“Conversations between legislative leaders and the Evers administration resumed earlier this week. All sides again negotiated in good faith to do what’s best for the state of Wisconsin,” LeMahieu said in a statement. “However, these discussions are heading in a direction that taxpayers cannot afford. Senate Republicans are ready to work with the State Assembly to pass a balanced budget that cuts taxes and responsibly invests in core priorities.”
Budget talks between Evers and Republicans broke down earlier this month as they failed to agree on a deal for a tax cut and funding for education and child care. Republicans also delayed action on the UW budget Tuesday, though Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, yesterday said his caucus supports cutting funding by $87 million.
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JFC co-chairs did not immediately say why today’s meeting was canceled.
Ahead of the scheduled session, JFC Democrats visited a child care center in Cottage Grove that closed after funding for child care was removed from the state budget.
“When Learning Ladder closed, it was not just a loss for Cottage Grove. It was a warning for the entire state,” they said. “And Learning Ladder is not the only closure that has happened or will happen. Governor Evers saw this crisis coming, and when Republicans failed to act, he did everything he could to keep child care centers afloat. Now, we have a chance to stop the bleeding and invest in the care economy that every community relies on.”
