Gov. Evers 'disappointed' with aspects of GOP shared revenue proposal, still reviewing bill

 

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Gov. Tony Evers is disappointed with a series of provisions restricting local control in Republican's shared revenue bill unveiled Tuesday, but he declined to comment further telling CBS 58 he hasn't read the 133-page bill.

"Got to see it first," Evers said in response to whether he would veto or sign the proposal. "Obviously it's a real important piece of legislation."

The governor added he has seen parts of the wide ranging $277 million package that would give every city, county, town and village a 10% funding boost. He met with GOP leaders Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu last week to discuss the bill, a day before Assembly Republicans held regional press conferences to announce the framework.

Since then, Evers has not weighed in publicly on the proposal since it was released Tuesday afternoon.

When asked about an extensive list of requirements in the bill he's either vetoed or objected to before, Evers said it would be a "tough choice" for him to support.

"I mean this could have been handled a lot differently, but Republicans don't trust the local decisionmakers to make wise decisions so I'm disappointed in that," Evers said.

GOP-authored bills banning local health officials from closing businesses and requiring Milwaukee Public Schools to hire police officers are both measures Evers has opposed but are included in the shared revenue package.

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m.