Gov. Evers and GOP leaders look to rebuild relationship, meet for the first time in years

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- After four years of rocky relationship, Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Republican Legislative leaders are looking for a fresh start heading into the new year after meeting in-person for the first time in years.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) both met with Gov. Evers to discuss priorities and areas of possible compromise ahead of 2023-2024 Legislative session. It marks the first time GOP leaders and the Governor spoke face-to-face in two years.

On Thursday, Vos met with Evers for an hour. Ahead of meeting, Vos said he's was looking forward to hitting the "reset button."

"Every election we get the chance to hit the reset button," Vos said. "We can either spend all of our time arguing about the last four years or say that’s in the review mirror. Let's focus on the future."

LeMahieu met with the governor last week and expressed a desire to find compromise on issues such a school funding and tax cuts.

"We are going to need to negotiation areas that are important to him like K-12 funding," LeMahieu said. "That's why it will be important to start meeting with the governor so he can see what some of our priorities are and we can try and work towards some of his priorities."

The meetings come as both sides have a unique opportunity to tap the state's record $6.6 billion projected surplus which they can use towards their advantage when crafting the next state budget.

Evers said part of his discussion with LeMahieu was centered around cutting income taxes.

“We brought up taxes,” Evers said. “I don't think we came to a conclusion, but we talked about the issues facing Wisconsin.”

Evers said he anticipates more meetings with both GOP leaders in the future, but noted it won't weekly as it was under former Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

"We also have different constituencies. They have their caucus to worry about, I have the people of Wisconsin to worry about. We will meet when we need to meet."

Before Evers was sworn into office in 2019, Republican lawmakers passed a series of lame-duck laws that restricted his powers along with the Attorney Generals office. Then their relationship became more contentious after Senate Republicans fired his Cabinet secretary nominee to serve at the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Republicans then became upset after Evers' staff secretly recorded their meeting about the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020.

Now heading into 2023, both sides are hoping to mend their relationship during the next four years of divided government.