Madison – Rep. Joy Goeben (R-Hobart) shared the following statement in response to Governor Evers’ final State of the State Address presented in the Assembly Chambers last night:
“Over the past 15 years, Legislative Republicans have delivered meaningful, durable reforms for Wisconsin families by staying disciplined, focused, and willing to hold the line. Yet time and again, we have watched Governor Tony Evers attempt to take credit for Republican-led victories, most recently on child care investments included in the last state budget.
“Let’s be clear: those provisions were secured because legislative Republicans insisted on them. We negotiated responsibly, prioritized working families, and ensured that targeted child care support was included in a fiscally sustainable way. The governor did not originate those reforms; he signed a budget shaped by a Republican majority that refused to rubber-stamp excessive spending.
“This pattern is not new. The governor routinely promotes so-called “tax cuts,” but his budget proposals have consistently included billions of dollars in new spending, wish lists tailored to satisfy liberal special interests rather than reflect fiscal reality. In budget after budget, he has proposed significant increases in state spending, far beyond what taxpayers can reasonably afford.
“By contrast, legislative Republicans have focused on protecting taxpayers, reducing the tax burden responsibly, and investing in priorities like workforce development, public safety, and child care, without blowing a hole in the state’s long-term fiscal outlook. When tax relief has passed, it has been because Republicans insisted on it. When spending has been restrained, it has been because Republicans held firm.
“Wisconsin’s recent policy successes did not happen by accident. They happened because a Republican Legislature set clear priorities, negotiated from a position of strength, and refused to cave to unsustainable spending demands.
“We will continue to stand for responsible budgeting, real tax relief, and policies that put Wisconsin families first, not political talking points,” shared Rep. Goeben.
