• Reduces the number of uninsured individuals by over 224,000 or nearly 50 percent by providing Medicaid coverage to children and adults living in poverty, while protecting taxpayers by rejecting the unsustainable federal expansion mandated by the Affordable Care Act. The budget provides $54 million all-funds to county income maintenance consortia to assist residents in obtaining health care coverage.
• Strengthens the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of Health Services by establishing a permanent administrative structure. To date, the work of the office saves taxpayers $23 on average for every dollar of administrative cost.
Investing in Wisconsin's Veterans
• Extends the Veterans and Surviving Spouse Property Tax Credit to un-remarried surviving spouses, whose spouse died of a service-connected disability.
• Adds more than 100 new full-time direct-care staff at veterans' facilities.
• Increases funding to veterans organizations providing assistance to veterans and their families.
• Extends the Wisconsin GI Bill to veterans who have established residency in the state by being here for five consecutive years.
• Provides an additional $5.3 million in state funds for the Veterans Trust Fund; improving its solvency.
Mental Health Initiatives
• Invests $28.9 million in state funds for mental health programs to expand services to individuals living with mental illness.
Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence
• $10.6 million in state funds will be used to partner with Children's Hospital and the Sojourner Family Peace Center on the Family Justice Center project in Milwaukee to provide services and shelter to families in crisis.
• Provides $560,000 to the Domestic Abuse Intervention Services Center (DAIS) in Madison to help construct a new facility.
• Provides $2 million in additional funding for counties to use in establishing and continuing restorative justice programs promoting drug abuse treatment.
• Provides stable funding of $2 million annually for Sexual Assault Victim Services center grants.
Protecting the Innocent and Seeking Justice for Victims
• Institutes a DNA at Arrest initiative to promote a more effective, efficient and certain investigative process to find criminals, exonerate innocents and comfort victims.
• Creates a GPS tracking program to protect victims from violent accused abusers.
• Provides additional resources for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
I have made 57 vetoes to the budget. These vetoes remove unnecessary reports and requirements, clarify program intentions and timelines, and promote the more efficient administration of the executive branch. These vetoes reduce spending by $865,000 GPR over the biennium.
I applaud the leadership of the Legislature for delivering on a substantial tax cut, entitlement reform, and investing in education and infrastructure needs. The budget makes investments in our people and maintains Wisconsin’s solid fiscal integrity. In this way, Wisconsin is better prepared to preserve the freedom of its citizens, and to meet the competitive challenges of a globalized economy.
Respectfully submitted,
SCOTT WALKER
Governor
_____________
Veto Message
Table of Contents
A. Growing Our Economy
1. Vapor Recovery Equipment Removal Grant
B. Developing Our Workforce
2. Unemployment Insurance – Holidays and Partial Benefits
C. Transforming Education
3. Release of Data Related to Schools Participating in Parental Choice Programs
4. Work Based Learning Programs
5. School Accountability Report Issuance
6. Acceptance of Pupils Outside the Enrollment Caps
7. Notification by the Department of Public Instruction of Accreditation Status
8. Notification by the Department of Public Instruction of Acceptance Status of Parental Choice Program Applicants
9. Segregated Fee Freeze
10. Differential Tuition Freeze
11. Performance Funding Formula
D. Reforming Government
12. Conversion of Farmland Preservation Credit to Grant
13. Grain Inspection Funding Transfer
14. Weights and Measures Program Contracting
15. Tank and Petroleum Testing Plan Review
16. Self-Insurance for Health Care Liability Coverage
17. Termination and Dissolution of the Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan and Authority
18. Tobacco Use Surcharge for State Employee Health Insurance
19. OpenBook for Municipalities
20. Self-Funded Portal Administrative Rules
21. Information Technology Infrastructure Transfers
22. Prison Industries Procurements
23. Division of Facilities Development Fee
24. Study of Public Library System Efficiencies
25. Report Requirement Related to Overweight Permits for Raw Forest Products
26. Relocation of Outdoor Advertising Signs
27. Highway Signage—Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help
28. Highway Signage—Milwaukee Central Library
29. Speech Language Pathologist and Audiologist Fees
30. Transfer Special Counsel Appropriation
31. Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
32. Sale of Department of Natural Resources Land
33. Report on Deletion of Positions in the Department of Natural Resources
34. Unclassified Position Authority
E. Investing in Infrastructure
35. Building Program Issued Bonds
