Can the GOP-controlled Legislature find compromise with Gov. Evers after failing to reach supermajority?

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MADISON Wis. (CBS 58) -- Can Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and the GOP-controlled Legislature work together after Republicans fell short of winning a veto-proof majority? That's the $5 billion-dollar question.

January kicks off a new legislative session and when lawmakers return, they'll have a large pot of money to work with -- a projected $5 billion state surplus.

Republicans' goal of reaching a two-third majority to override Evers vetoes fell short. While they flipped one Senate seat, they were only able to pick up three of the five seats needed to gain a supermajority.

If they had succeeded, Republicans would have pushed an aggressive conservative agenda such as changing state election laws, unemployment benefits, gun laws and more. It was a victory for Democrats to block Republicans' ability to bypass the governor and enact their own laws.

"Of course, we were disappointed to lose a couple of close races, but we also knew going into this our number one priority was preventing a Republican supermajority and we were successful," said Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer.

It means the status quo stays intact with a Republican in control of the legislative branch and a Democrat representing the executive branch.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he was pleased with the results despite falling short of what they needed to override the governor.

"We won three districts that were 50-50 seats, running on the same issues we know are important," Vos said. "That's controlling spending, taxes, education reform, crime, all those things that are important to us."

Republicans will still be in the driver's seat, but they'll have to find a compromise with Gov. Evers to reach their mutual goals of providing tax relief and investing more money into schools.

On Thursday, Vos expressed willingness to work with Evers on each issue.

"He wants more money, we want some reforms, it seems like there's a potential for a deal,” Vos said, referencing a possible agreement on a school funding plan.

Neubauer said she hopes Republicans are serious about working across the aisle.

"I hope they are serious about coming to the table to try and work with us," Neubauer said. "We've seen significant partisanship in the last couple of years. We have to go up from here, it's what the people of Wisconsin want from us."

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