State Senate Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald is generally pleased that Democratic Governor Tony Evers made relatively few line item vetoes on the state budget he signed on Wednesday. “I want to thank Governor Evers for signing the budget into law today, including fully embracing the middle-class tax cut. This budget targets state investments more responsibly and spends $2 billion less than the governor’s original plan,” Fitzgerald.
Evers used his line-item veto authority 78 times. Those partial vetoes increased per pupil aids to school districts, eliminated a work requirement for FoodShare recipients, and eliminated a so-called “Tesla provision” which was crucial in getting the budget through the Senate.
It was in the spirit of the words in the governor’s conference room that we crafted a budget — The People’s Budget — that represents the will of the people of Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/VIdKwMWSLo
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) July 3, 2019
Fitzgerald said he has yet to speak with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, about the possibility for veto overrides in the fall. “I’m please that he signed it, and for the most part I would say because our veto was kept intact, it’s a good thing for the state of Wisconsin.”
This conservative budget crafted by the Republican legislature deserved to be signed into law, but without the political, partial vetoes.
— Speaker Robin Vos (@SpeakerVos) July 3, 2019
Vos struck a more critical tone in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“This conservative budget crafted by the Republican legislature deserved to be signed into law, but without the political, partial vetoes. These vetoes remove dollars from important programs, give more spending authority to government bureaucrats, and allow people to cheat the system by not following the welfare reforms we passed.
“Governor Evers seems intent on trapping people on welfare. Because of his partial vetoes, he’s starving programs that incentivize work, undermining their implementation and skirting the law. We know people support drug testing and work requirements for welfare recipients and this budget ignores that fact.
“At a time with historically low unemployment and many unfilled jobs, this is merely a shortsighted, political move and an insult to the hardworking men and women of our state.
“At the very least, the final budget is no longer a liberal wish list; it’s a more fiscally responsible spending plan. I want to thank the members of the Assembly Republican caucus for their hard work in getting the budget done in a conservative way. I also want to thank our Senate Republican colleagues for working together on the WISCONSIN Budget and getting it across the finish line. Together we eliminated the $1 billion tax hike and massive spending increase. We right-sized the budget, invested in the state’s priorities and reduced taxes on the middle class.”
“Wisconsin has a good budget thanks to the Republican legislature.”