MADISON — The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy released the following statement from CEO Annette Olson regarding the budget agreement announced today:
We are far from impressed with the budget agreement Governor Evers announced today.
Apparently Republican leaders’ biggest concern was how to secure Democrat votes when principled conservatives said no. While there is plenty of spending in this budget, there is no mention of accountability.
As a result of this deal, UW bureaucrats get raises while student enrollment declines. The state’s K-12 public schools get an enormous increase plus higher property taxes, and after years of spending more our kids get less actual education.
In Gov. Evers’ Year of the Kid, this budget expands his cradle-to-grave vision with an expansion of government-run childcare programs, as the Wisconsin Shares program lowers their quality standards.
All this is on top of the $750 million property tax increase that resulted from the last budget “deal” with the Governor.
The bottom line is this: Republican leadership sold out their constituents for a $180 tax cut.
As we do with every budget, MacIver will be meticulous in analyzing and reporting the details of the budget so taxpayers will know if their money is spent wisely. We believe that if Wisconsin citizens are given accurate information in a thought-provoking and entertaining format, they will demand less spending, fiscal honesty and sensible regulation from their government.
Read more about the MacIver Institute’s efforts to improve the state budget process here.
