Madison – Today, Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D-Green Bay) voted against a series of Republican-authored bills in the State Assembly that claimed to address our state’s mental health crisis—but offered no actual funding to back them up.
“These weren’t real solutions—they were empty gestures,” said Rep. Rivera-Wagner. “As someone who believes government should be a force for good, I cannot support bills that make promises we can’t keep. Green Bay families deserve better than press releases without funding.”
The bills would have created the appearance of investing in mental health care services, but included zero dollars to implement them. Rivera-Wagner and other Democrats attempted to add the needed funding, but those amendments were blocked by the Republican majority.
“Had these bills included the resources they needed, I would’ve proudly voted yes,” Rivera-Wagner continued. “But right now, we have families, kids, and veterans who will see headlines about mental health bills passing—and then feel the sting when nothing actually changes. That’s not leadership. That’s playing games with people’s hopes.”
Wisconsin’s budget is still in limbo as Republican legislators delay negotiations with Governor Tony Evers. Instead of passing a responsible state budget, they’ve introduced one-off bills that allow them to talk about priorities without paying for them. The new fiscal year starts July 1.
“Government at its best is about delivering results—not scoring political points,” Rivera-Wagner said. “I’m proud to represent a community like Green Bay that expects accountability. That’s why I voted no. No to gimmicks. No to promises we can’t keep. Yes to a government that works for the people.”
