MADISON – The Assembly held a special session to vote on the surplus spending bill (May 2026 Special Session Assembly Bill 1) proposed by Governor Evers and Republican legislative leadership. Following the floor session and vote, State Representative Joan Fitzgerald (D-Fort Atkinson) issued the following statement:
“Throughout my 33 years as a public school teacher and now as a legislator, I have fought tirelessly to get more funding for our schools. But this surplus proposal made by retiring politicians offers one-time dollars and leaves our schools and state in a dangerous position going forward. With this proposal, our state is projected to face a $2.9 billion deficit by the end of the 2027-29 biennium. This is financially irresponsible, and I cannot support legislation that puts our state in such a challenging situation. This is bad for Wisconsin taxpayers and it puts future funding for education, healthcare, and other essential areas at risk.
“The tax credits offered in this proposal do little to provide meaningful relief to the people of Wisconsin. 1.3 million Wisconsinites, including many with low incomes and seniors on social security, will receive absolutely nothing. This legislation disproportionately benefits people who don’t need nearly as much help, including 8,700 households that make $1 million or more per year. It fails to help people who need us most and is bad public policy.
“This proposal does not do nearly enough to solve the cost-of-living crisis that Republican leaders created over the last fifteen years, and it threatens to financially devastate our state, raise future taxes, and cut essential programs that so many of us rely on. Wisconsinites deserve better.”
