Republicans reject hundreds of items from Gov. Evers' budget

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Republicans on the powerful budget committee voted to reject hundreds of Gov. Tony Evers' state budget proposals ranging from marijuana legalization, tax hikes on the wealthiest earners, and paid family leave.

In one vote, along party lines, the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee eliminated 612 provisions in Gov. Evers' 2025-2027 spending plan.

Evers slammed the move.

"Today, Republican lawmakers are gutting my budget that did what's best for our kids and the folks, families, and communities that raise them,” Evers posted on "X". "There are pressing challenges facing our state. Wisconsinites are sick and tired of having a do-nothing Legislature."

GOP lawmakers have used the same process every two years since Evers was elected to drastically strip down his budget. It marks one of the first significant steps in the budget-making process.

"Every cycle we've done the same procedure to remove these policy items," said Rep. Mark Born, the committee co-chair. "It's just a more effective way to build a budget for all of Wisconsin."

Democrats on the committee decried Thursday's vote to drastically scale back Evers' spending plan. They fear their priorities, including addressing lead contamination, an issue plaguing Milwaukee Public Schools, will be ignored.

"We're getting this wrong," said Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee). "And we're doing it on this committee."

Republicans argued there's still opportunity to invest in several key areas, such as education, criminal justice and mental health services.

However, Sen. Howard Marklein, JFC co-chair, added that policy proposals won't be considered.

"I can point to things in the budget bill we're going to pull out that I like," Marklien said, referencing a bill that would require non-dairy alternatives from using the term milk on labeling. "It's policy. It's got nothing to do with the budget."

Rep. Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha) said he has doubts Republicans will make "meaningful investments."

"I don't know if that's going to happen," Tip said. "I can't predict what Republicans are going to do."

Over the next several weeks, Republicans on the committee will rework the budget to their liking before presenting it to the Legislature sometime this summer.