'I have not been invited': Senate GOP leader says he's being frozen out of surplus talks

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The top Senate Republican said Thursday, Feb. 12, he believes he's being pushed aside in talks over how Wisconsin should use its projected surplus of $2.5 billion.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) spoke for nearly an hour at WisPolitics luncheon event.

LeMahieu said Senate Republicans have not been involved in ongoing talks between Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Oostburg) about a compromise package that would increase funding for K-12 schools and provide property tax credits.

"From what I'm hearing right now, the governor and speaker are still negotiating," LeMahieu said. "And I have not been invited to those negotiations."

Evers' office shared an email summarizing a meeting last week with Vos and LeMahieu, who said he hasn't been involved in talks since then.

Vos told reporters this week he'd met again with the governor's staff Tuesday.

A key dividing line among Republicans is Evers' 2023 partial budget veto that allows school districts to raise their property tax limits every year for 400 years.

Vos said Assembly Republicans are willing to support a surplus agreement that keeps the veto etched in state law. LeMahieu said the Senate will only pass a surplus spending plan that repeals the 400-year veto.

Wednesday afternoon, LeMahieu offered a completely different plan. The Senate is now proposing give taxpayers about $1.5 billion worth of one-time rebate checks. Joint filers would get $1,000 while single filers get $500.

"It's not the worst idea," Vos said of rebate checks. "It's not the best kind of cake in my opinion, but it's not bad."

Vos went on to say rebate checks likely aren't a realistic surplus option because Evers has indicated he'd only sign a bill that includes education funding, which would offset the money raised by school districts under his 2023 veto.

He added it made sense to include property tax relief in a surplus plan because both Evers and GOP lawmakers have identified that as a top priority.

"We have not ruled anything out," Vos said. "But when we have talked to folks, the thing that has most impacted them is the massive property tax increases they saw last December."

LeMahieu maintained Vos and the governor's office have proceeded with talks about a property tax plan, knowing the Senate wouldn't get on board. He suggested it was just a political show.

"I just feel, at this point, if the governor and speaker are actually serious about accomplishing something, shouldn't they include both houses?" LeMahieu said. "Because it's going to need to go through both houses, so it seems like purely a political stunt."

Evers' spokesperson Britt Cudaback posted about LeMahieu's stance on the social media platform, X, Thursday.

"Actually, yesterday our office suggested that Republican leaders should try talking to each other since they're clearly not on the same page," Cudaback wrote.

Cudaback did not respond to a message from CBS 58 asking if the governor's office had any additional comment beyond her social media post.

Vos told reporters before Thursday's Assembly session he was working to keep Senate Republicans involved in surplus talks.

"Earlier this morning, I sent a text to Senator LeMahieu saying we need to sit down and figure this out," Vos said. "So hopefully, we'll be able to do that."

A CBS 58 reporter tried to ask LeMahieu after the luncheon whether Vos had texted him. LeMahieu continued to walk without replying.

The Assembly plans to wrap up its legislative work next week, so it's very unlikely a deal will come together before lawmakers shift into campaign mode.