News
January 23, 2025 | By Benjamin Yount
Policy Issues
Accountable Government

Wisconsin Republicans pan Evers’ State of the State as ‘More of the Same'

Evers spent the first part of his speech taking credit for middle class tax cuts, though he failed to mention that his last tax cut was for people making under $39,000 as a married couple.

As expected, there were no surprises from Gov. Tony Evers during his State of the State Wednesday, and there were no surprises from Republican lawmakers after the speech either.

Almost every Republican lawmaker accused the governor of offering more of the same, taking credit for Republican tax cuts, and offering nothing but tax-and-spend solutions to Wisconsin’s problems.

Rep. Dave Maxey, R-New Berlin, was one of the first.

“Governor Evers loves to take credit for things he didn’t lift a finger to make happen. The only reason Wisconsinites saw any tax relief was because of the fiscal discipline and hard work of Legislative Republicans. Meanwhile, the governor fought tooth and nail to keep the state’s record surplus in Madison, hoping to use it as a slush fund for his liberal agenda, rather than returning it to the people who earned it,” Maxey said after the speech.

Rep. Rick Gundrum, R-Slinger said much the same.

“It is extremely disappointing to see Governor Evers try to take credit for tax cuts. When Republicans approved the largest tax cut in state history, the governor vetoed those tax cuts which would have helped middle-class families and seniors.,” he added.

Evers spent the first part of his speech taking credit for middle class tax cuts, though he failed to mention that his last tax cut was for people making under $39,000 as a married couple. He also didn’t mention how he vetoed tax cuts for anyone making more than that.

The governor also told lawmakers he wants to spend $300 million on student mental health, and wants new gun control laws.

Evers also announced plans to push-back on President’s Trump's plans to deport criminal illegal immigrants.

Rep. Barb Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, took issue with that part of the governor’s speech.

“It was heartbreaking to hear him imply that he wants people who are in the country illegally to remain untouched by the federal government so that he can have cheap labor in our state,” Dittrich said.

State Senate President Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, said Republicans have issues with both the specifics of Evers’ speech, and the general tone that the governor laid-out Wednesday night.

“The Governor painted a rosy picture of his plans [Wednesday night], but at their core, they are tax and spend policies; Republican policies to address these issues are market-driven and do not expand the bureaucracy,” Felzkowski said in a statement. “Instead of taking credit for the work Republicans have done, I hope the Governor decides to come to the table this year and work on policies that actually work for Wisconsinites.”

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