The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

Finally!  Some clarity on the state budget process moving forward.  Gov. Evers veto power was upheld in the courts.  You remember, the veto power that enabled him to creatively increase per student spending $325 each year for the next 402 years.  With this kind of selective striking of words, numbers, and characters, what’s next?  Will I be vetoed into buying Tony Evers a new car every month for life in the next budget?  One wonders.

Historically, both Republican and Democrat governors have used their veto power in ways that everyone agrees is abusive and was never intended.  The opposing party always complains.  Lawsuits ensue.  But neither side ever has the integrity to propose reasonable changes to this power while their guy is governor.  If this reminds you of immature siblings unwilling to stand down while squabbling, you probably have the right idea.  But I digress. 

Clarity on the Governor’s veto power now enables further development of the two-year state budget to move forward.  Gov. Evers started the process in February by proposing a $119 billion biennial budget.[1]  On its face, it increases state spending by a whopping $21.6 billion, or 22%.[1, 2]  An example of his Christmas wish list of spending increases is this gem:

Provide 8.0 FTE PR-S positions to the Department of Administration’s Division of the Capitol Police to ensure appropriate security capabilities without needing to rely as heavily on agencies such as the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Note this request does not suggest there are citizen services lacking anywhere.  So this proposal might be fine if it also recommended a corresponding 8.0 FTE reduction in positions at “agencies such as the Wisconsin State Patrol.”  Worded that way, the recommendation would mean no expansion in government size or increase in state spending. 

Beyond his proposals, negotiation from Gov. Evers in the development of a legislative budget has usually been minimal.  This approach has worked for him.  It’s a win if an item from the Governor’s wish list stays in the legislature’s budget.  Items that don’t stay provide fodder for complaints from interest groups that make for good media sound bites.  And like last time, maybe he’ll be able to fix things with an inspired veto.

Recent history tells us Republicans will be reduced to a photo op next to the towering stack of papers that make up Ever’s proposed budget. They’ll complain that the Governor’s proposal is expansive, expensive, and wasteful.  Then they’ll pass a budget with a large—but not enormous—spending increase.[2]  After that, they wait to see how they’ve been outflanked with the creative vetoes that are sure to follow.

In the end, most Wisconsin citizens lose in this process.  Government jobs, programs, and spending swell.  In the past six years, the people of Wisconsin have lost more and more, and then more money to inflation.[3]  In exchange, Wisconsin politicians have given all of us even larger spending increases (see the graph below!).  Neither politicians nor the media talk about this. 

They also don’t talk about how private employers and employees across the state have coped over the last six years.  They’ve withstood the onslaught of Covid and inflation.  Some have gone out of business.  Others have cut unnecessary costs, innovated, and stayed relevant during the hard times. 

State government went the other way.  Its reach expanded dramatically and so did state spending.  If Gov. Evers gets his proposed $119 billion budget, state spending will have nearly doubled since just 2015.[1, 2]  During that time, no politician has ever suggested that people in state government should cut costs, innovate, and stay relevant like their private counterparts have.  How sad and disrespectful to those who work for the state.  Seems the politicians believe state workers simply aren’t as capable as their private counterparts.

So how will things play out this year?  Will Governor Evers enter the budget development process beyond his spring proposals?  Will Republicans play hardball?  Will they threaten to let the budget lapse in an effort to force Gov. Evers into budget agreements?  Might they actually let the budget lapse, with 2023-25 spending levels becoming our next state budget by default?  None of these actions seem likely.

The past tells us that without our firm engagement and the threat of removing political support, we’ll get another budget increase beyond the cost of inflation.  We’ll also get more creative vetoes that we can only complain about, and nothing more. 

But as you read this, we have a large state surplus.  State debt is down.  So, with the history of our last six years (check out the graph below!), my representatives have been put on notice.   I expect no increase in state spending for this biennium.  And I won’t buy new cars for my favorite Wisconsin Governor either.

  1. State of Wisconsin Budget In Brief, Tony Evers, Governor, February 2025
  2. State of Wisconsin Department of Administration, Previous Biennial Budgets
  3. Federal Bureau of Labors Statistics, Consumer Price Index

– Scott Liddicoat is a retired high school science teacher and teacher trainer. He is now actively involved in local, county, and statewide politics and commentary.

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