MADISON, Wis. – Today, the Wisconsin Legislature voted on the Wisconsin Budget. The text of this budget was released to the legislative body less than 48 hours before the legislature cast votes.
Representative Miresse (D-Stevens Point) released the following statement explaining his vote:
“This budget is a lesson in how not to do policy. It was crafted without transparency and excluded both Assembly Democrats and the public from the process, and then rushed to the floor just after being released to the public. I am grateful for the work my colleagues in the senate and the governor did to drag Republicans back to the negotiating table, but this deal does not do enough to address the dire needs of our state.
- This budget provided zero increase in general aid to our public schools, which will continue the cycle of school funding referenda and property tax increases.
- This budget does not provide post-partum Medicaid expansion to moms and babies despite broad bipartisan support
- This budget does not reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program, which is slated to expire next year.
- This budget does not fund the Falls prevention grants program which helps keep our seniors in their homes and out of assisted living.
- This budget does not invest in the Buy Local/Buy Wisconsin grant program, which helps businesses rural, urban, big and small
- This budget does not increase shared revenue, which would return tax dollars to the local jurisdictions that are closest to voters.
- This budget does not address the funding needs of our universities, especially with the impending federal cuts to research.
Our state is facing a workforce crisis, rising costs of living, escalating property taxes, and a federal budget which will pull the rug out from many working Wisconsinites. In the face of these challenges, we need to bold budget that provides a clear path forward. It is unfortunate the Republicans would rather cater to the extreme wing of their party than make real investments in Wisconsin that meet the scale of the challenges we are facing as a state.
