Last week, we updated you about the GOP plan to remove over 280 items from Governor Evers’ 2021-2023 Budget Bill. Republican lawmakers who control the Joint Finance Committee have now, with a single vote, voted to remove over 384 of the Governor's Budget provisions including many of the proposals to support Wisconsin workers, our unions, and our middle class, and all of the proposals highlighted in our previous post.
Removed from the budget are proposals that would have restored collective bargaining rights for frontline public employees, reinstated Wisconsin’s prevailing wage provisions, repealed so-called right to work laws, expanded BadgerCare, advanced nonpartisan redistricting, increased the minimum wage, modernized Wisconsin's unemployment system, penalized employers that engage in misclassification and payroll fraud, and many, many more budget items that would have invested in a fair and just economy and democracy.
Despite the fact that Governor Evers’ 2021-2023 Budget contained many proposals that Wisconsinites overwhelming support, Republicans have ignored the will of the voters and chosen to use the 2019-2021 Budget as their new budget starting point. After the JFC concludes final voting, the budget will go to both houses of the state legislature for a vote. The full Legislature is expected to vote on the budget in June or July. After the state legislature passes a budget bill, Governor Evers has the opportunity to use his veto pen before signing the budget into law.
All Legislators, including Joint Finance Committee Members, can be reached through the Legislative Hotline at (800) 362-9472.
Republicans also took time last week to restrict our freedom to vote by advancing a slew of anti-voter bills designed to make it harder for Wisconsinites to exercise our constitutional right to vote. The measures are part of a nation-wide push by Republicans to change voting laws in the wake of Donald Trump's defeat in November.
No matter our race, background or zip code, we believe that for democracy to work for all of us, it must include us all. Throughout our history, we have fought to ensure more Americans have our right to vote honored and that every eligible American is able to cast their vote and have it counted. But a handful of politicians want to take us backwards, making it harder to vote and are creating barriers to the ballot box, instead of doing their duty and delivering pandemic relief. Thankfully, Governor Evers has said he will veto any attack on voting rights.
To move forward together as a nation, we must ensure that every eligible Wisconsinite can cast a ballot so we are able to elect leaders who govern in our interests and make the promise of our democracy real for us all.
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