MADISON, WI — This afternoon, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) permanently removed 612 items from Governor Evers’ 2025-27 State Budget Proposal.
The Governor crafted this budget with thorough input from Wisconsinites and stakeholders around our state. The need for these investments was reinforced again and again by hundreds of Wisconsinites who testified at the four JFC public hearings last month. Some of the removed initiatives include:
- Special education readiness grants
- The Healthy School Meals for All program, which would provide free, nutritious meals to all students
- Establishing Child Care Counts as a permanent child care quality improvement program
- $30 million in food security grants
- State support for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, connecting locally grown produce with underserved communities
- Expanding BadgerCare
- Capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month
- $5 million for community-based and emergency crisis mental health services for veterans
- $50 million to municipal EMS providers
In response, Representative Tara Johnson (D-Town of Shelby) released the following statement:
“Our job as legislators is to help improve the lives of Wisconsinites. Today, Republicans abdicated that duty.”
“Republican legislators on the Joint Finance Committee maliciously gutted state investments in public schools, child care, family farms, healthcare, veterans, and first responders, among many other provisions. I will continue to fight back against their disregard for the will of the people.”
