Elections matter: the fact that Democrats gained four seats in the Senate and are close to taking the majority means that Senate Democrats were able to make this budget better for the people of Wisconsin.
The 2025-2027 biennial budget the Governor signed includes significant investments in the priorities Wisconsinites have told us are important to them: public schools, child care, and the UW System.
- Our public schools will see a nearly $1.4 billion increase in spendable revenue and the largest percent increase in the special education reimbursement rate in State history.
- The budget invests more than $330 million in child care including direct payments to child care providers to help providers keep their doors open, cut wait lists, and lower child care costs for Wisconsin families.
- The UW System will receive its largest increase in nearly 20 years.
This budget is a far cry from where we were about 10 days ago when Republicans were pushing a massive $87 million cut to the UW System, a miniscule 5% increase to special education funding, and no direct payments to child care providers.
I have said repeatedly that this budget — while much better than it would have been without the power of Senate Democrats — is imperfect. It is not the budget Democrats would have written, or will write, when we are the majority party.
The people of Wisconsin are right to expect their elected representatives will come to the table and, through negotiation and compromise, get meaningful work done in the best interests of our State. The timely passage of this bi-partisan budget which makes significant investments in our kids, our schools, our families and our communities meets that imperative.
