Madison, Wis. – At the long-awaited Joint Finance Committee’s Executive Meeting Thursday, Republican leaders made it clear they do not share the priorities of Governor Tony Evers or the majority of Wisconsinites in many key areas. They voted to eliminate 612 items from Evers’ 2025-2027 budget.
Wisconsinites at four state budget hearings held across the state, waited in line for hours to share their priorities and requests for public education funding– particularly for the state to honor its pledge of funding up to 60% of special education costs for school districts. Here in Janesville, had the state delivered on that promise, the School District of Janesville would have most likely avoided an operational referendum last year.
In addition, during 10 listening sessions and discussions held in the 44th district, from Porter township to La Prairie, residents stressed their concerns to Representative Roe about the critical need for emergency services funding, road funding and assistance for farmers as well as clean water and childcare funding.
“Budgets reflect one’s priorities. Like Governor Evers, I believe investments in our children, their education, their health, their families’ housing, childcare, public safety and clean water are the basic fundamental building blocks for our communities. The Republican majority is hell bent on making life harder for kids, working families, farmers, veterans, teachers and law enforcement,” Representative Roe said Thursday.
Of the 612 items cut from the proposed 2025-2027 budget, there are cuts to veteran’s programs for those Missing in Action and mental health services as well as housing assistance. Funding to help modernize dairy operations, a $116 billion industry in this state, and assistance for farmers as they navigate global trade disruptions were also cut.
Also, Republicans voted to cut Evers’ proposed tax cuts for Wisconsin’s middle class and Republicans rejected property tax relief. In making such cuts in a historically unprecedented way, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee made it unlikely if not impossible for any of the cuts to be discussed or mentioned in on-going budget discussions.
“Such reckless cuts are not only short-sighted, they don’t make economic sense. Seventy-five percent (75%) of Wisconsinites would have received a tax cut under this budget. That’s money they can use in their communities to pay for their everyday expenses,” Roe explained.
The budget process is expected to take at least several more weeks and may stretch up to the July 1 deadline. Residents are encouraged to reach out to their representatives and state senators with questions and concerns. Contact Representative Roe’s office by phone at 608-237-9144 or by email at rep.roe@legis.wisconsin.gov.
Link to Joint Finance Committee’s budget cuts notice: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/raw/cid/1917224
