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Governor Evers, Ready to Talk about the Budget
Wisconsin’s governor says he’s ready to sit down with legislative leaders, but he doesn’t only want to talk about tax cuts.
Gov. Tony Evers said in an interview with WisEye that aired Tuesday that he and legislative Republicans are going to sit down, face to face, this week or next and finally talk about the new state budget.
“But it can’t be just about taxes,” Evers said. “A budget is a budget. It includes expenditures. It includes what taxes are going to be bigger, or smaller. Those things work together.”
Senate Republican leader Devin LeMahieu last week said Evers has avoided an in-person meeting with top Republicans for weeks.
LeMahieu said if they didn’t meet soon, the budget may not be finished on time.
Evers didn’t disagree.
“We’re hopeful that the budget will be done soon,” Evers said. “We did our thing back in January/February. And we’re waiting for the legislature to come around, and see what they’re offering.”
Republicans on the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance have said for months that they don’t intend to spend anywhere near what Evers proposed back in February. His budget would take Wisconsin’s new spending plan above $60 billion per-year. Republicans are eying a plan much closer to $50 billion per-year.
The latest revenue estimates, which shows the state is projected to bring-in less tax money over the next two years, means lawmakers are looking to spend even less.
Evers didn’t say if he has a compromise price tag in mind. But did say he wasn’t surprised by the new revenue numbers.
“It’s somewhat of a downer,” the governor said. “I think we can handle it.”
Evers said, however, that he’s concerned because he hasn’t seen “anything” from Republicans yet.
The new state budget is supposed to be wrapped-up by the end of June.
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