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There’s a plan at the Capitol that would return some of Wisconsin’s COVID relief money to the state.
Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, on Thursday introduced a plan to return the interest on Wisconsin's Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund dollars to the state treasury.
“Gov. Evers exploited federal Covid programs, turning interest payments on relief funds into his own $170 million slush fund," Wimberger said. "State law is clear: the governor needs to return this slush fund to the people of Wisconsin. Every week he fails or refuses to do this, the governor is violating state law."
Wimberger points to a 2023 state audit that showed millions of dollars in interest that is not connected to any of the governor's, or federal government's, COVID relief plans.
"Through June 30, 2023, the State earned $68.3 million in interest earnings. In FY 2023-24 and through November 30, 2023, the State earned an additional $28.9 million in interest earnings," the audit said at the time. "Under [state law} all moneys paid into the treasury are to be credited to the general purpose revenues of the General Fund unless otherwise specifically provided by law."
"This bill will force the governor to follow the law and return millions in interest earnings to the people of Wisconsin," Wimberger added. "These funds should be spent in accordance with state law and not hidden for the governor to use to fund his pet projects.”
That 2023 audit tracks how Gov. Evers spent, or has not yet spent, the $3 billion that came to Wisconsin during COVID.
Wimberger’s proposal would not touch any unspent COVID money, just the interest that the unspent money has made.
Wimberger is not saying where he’d like to see that unspent money spent.
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