MADISON, Wis. – Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) released the following statement in response to Gov. Tony Evers’ final State of the State address where he resembled a magician trying to distract Wisconsinites by using the disingenuous sleight-of-hand trick:
“While I appreciate Gov. Evers pointing out all the bipartisan wins we’ve achieved over the past several years, we could have accomplished so much more if it were not for his penchant of playing partisan political games. The governor was accurate in his claims that the financial shape of Wisconsin continues to be strong, but that is actually in spite of him and not because of him. Gov. Evers may enjoy blaming Republicans for the cost of living getting out of control, but if he wanted to be honest with the taxpayers of the Badger State, he would be pointing the finger directly at himself and his administration.
“It was Gov. Evers and not Republicans who locked in four centuries of property tax hikes with his 400-year veto. It was Gov. Evers’ Public Service Commission and not Republicans who approved boosting utility rates by more than $2 billion since 2019. It was Gov. Evers’ executive branch and not Republicans who tried to raise livestock fees by nearly 1,700 percent. And it was Gov. Evers and not Republicans who proposed unsustainable state budgets that would have resulted in billion-dollar tax increases, bigger government and future spending shortfalls.
“Because Gov. Evers is stepping down from his position in January, I can understand why he would want to try to use his last State of the State address to prop up his legacy. But all the diversions in the world cannot hide the financial harm he has caused for the hard-working residents of Wisconsin. Fortunately, Legislative Republicans remain committed to passing fiscally-responsible budgets and polices that cut taxes and fund our state’s core priorities – and that will continue to happen long after Gov. Evers is gone.”
