Nevertheless, this budget leaves much unfinished business, and there is, as always, more work to do. I will continue working to reduce our state’s tax burden for family caregivers, first-time homebuyers, low-income families, and seniors, all areas where current leaders in the Legislature dropped the ball in this budget.
I was also disheartened to see the Legislature remove long overdue initiatives I had proposed to make meaningful progress on reforming our justice system while also promoting equity both within state government and across our entire state. The people of our state have loudly and consistently demand that we – as a state and as a country – deliver on the promise of justice, fairness, and opportunity. This work is far from over, and the Legislature must be held to account for their failure to take meaningful action.
It is also disappointing the Legislature did not provide state funding for investments in the Verso Paper Mill in Wisconsin Rapids and the Park Falls Pulp and Paper Mill in Park Falls. Our state and our economy – clearly – are well-positioned to make meaningful investments in support of our paper industry. I previously called a special session that would have invested $1 billion into economic development projects and initiatives across the state, the purchase of both of these paper mills among them. Republicans in the Legislature gaveled out of that special session without consideration or debate. I then worked with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, legislators, local elected officials, and workers to reach a bipartisan agreement amending Assembly Bill 367 to ensure we could reach a deal without potentially jeopardizing state support for the mills. Republicans in the Legislature rejected that agreement, too. To date, these investments have been met with political games and obstruction of the worst kind. We have state resources to make these investments and they are available for expeditious legislative action. Enough partisan posturing – just get this done.
Other items this Legislature failed to meaningfully address include protecting the rights of every eligible voter and ensuring we have fair maps in this state. Across this country, we are watching as Republican politicians – including right here in Wisconsin – abuse their power, work to overturn election results, and undermine the confidence and credibility of our elections. Not only has the Legislature failed to join me in this budget by protecting the right of every eligible Wisconsinite to vote, but they have also passed and could continue to pursue legislation that would make it harder for folks to cast their ballot. So, I want to say unequivocally again today as I have said many times before: I will veto any bill that arrives to my desk that would make it easier for politicians to cheat and I will continue to protect the right of every eligible voter in this state.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, this Legislature must end its continued obstruction of expanding BadgerCare and access to quality, affordable healthcare in this state. For more than a decade now, Republicans in both the legislative and executive branches have put politics before people and refused the opportunity to ensure tens of thousands of people across Wisconsin could have access to affordable healthcare. Instead, they have worked to support litigation to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and protections for Wisconsinites who have pre‑existing conditions. Over the last decade, the Legislature’s relentless opposition to fully expanding Medicaid in Wisconsin has left billions of federal dollars on the table. This has never been more foolish than it is now as the American Rescue Plan Act provides an additional, one-time incentive for states like Wisconsin to expand Medicaid – that is $1 billion our state could invest in our continued economic recovery and support folks across our state. I don’t care what your party affiliation is, folks – this is just common sense.
I proposed expanding BadgerCare in my first budget, I proposed it again in this budget as part of our Badger Bounceback Agenda, and I proposed it once again in a special session call of the Legislature so we could take that $1 billion and invest it in economic development projects and initiatives in every corner of our state. Republicans must end their continued obstruction. I will continue working with partners at the federal and state level to explore any opportunity to expand BadgerCare in this state, and, as always, my door remains open – as it has been for two years – for any Republican legislator who wants to lead on this issue.
Healthcare should not be a privilege afforded only to the healthy and wealthy. And as long as I am governor, I will never stop fighting to ensure the people of this state can access quality, affordable healthcare. Period.
Though there is undoubtedly much more to do to move our state forward, at the end of the day, I ran for governor to get things done for the people of Wisconsin, to “move the needle” in our priorities, and to find common ground with those who may not agree with me on every issue. While this bipartisan budget – the first bipartisan budget passed in years – in many ways falls short of the budget Wisconsinites expected the Legislature to deliver, it does invest in a number of our priorities that are necessary for our state’s continued economic recovery and making Wisconsin an even better place to live, work, play and raise a family.
In the coming weeks and months, I will continue working to engage the Legislature to use the state resources available to further invest in our kids and our schools, our caregivers, our farmers, our veterans, our seniors, our small business owners and many others. I hope the Legislature will join me in this important work so we can continue our state’s economic recovery and bounce back from this pandemic better and stronger than we were before.
Let’s get to work.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
AA.
AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND JUSTICE 22.
Dairy Industry Promotion Grants and Loans 33.
Unencumbered Rural Development Loan Funds 44.
Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports 55.
Industrial Hemp Program Staffing 66.
Beaver Dam Lake Restoration 77.
Clam Falls Dam Repair 88.
Dead Pike Lake Restoration 99.
Southeastern Wisconsin Fox River Commission 1010.
New Berlin Road Construction 1111.
Waterfowl Hunting Stamp Reporting Requirement 1212.
Fire Fighting Foam Appropriation Title 1313.
Great Lakes Remediation Lapse 1414.
State Parks Maintenance Lapse 1515.
Building Acquisition and Maintenance Lapse 1616.
Motorized Stewardship BB.
EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 1717.
Grants to Lakeland STAR Academy 1818.
Benchmark Assessments 1919.
High Cost Transportation Aid 2121.
Occupational Drug Testing 2222.
Clearing Account Deficit 2323.
Unemployment Insurance Study CC.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 2424.
Building Program – Local Grants 2525.
Space Rental Account Transfer 2626.
Requirement to Submit Compensation Plan for Supplemental Pay Plans for Correctional Officers and Correctional Sergeants
2727.
Offender Reentry Demonstration Project DD.
HEALTH SERVICES AND INSURANCE 2929.
Grants for Employer Blood Drives 3030.
FoodShare Healthy Eating Incentive Pilot Program 3131.
Behavioral Health Bed Tracker 3232.
Statewide Public Safety Interoperable Communication System Request for Proposals
3333.
Statewide Public Safety Interoperable Communication System Request to the Joint Committee on Finance
3434.
Truax Field Electrical Micro Grid System 3535.
Department of Military Affairs Lapses to the General Fund EE.
TAX, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 3636.
Withholding Table Update 3737.
Transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund 3838.
Annual Transfer from the General Fund to the Transportation Fund 3939.
Interchange with Local Highways on I-41 in Brown County 4040.
Lieutenant Governor Security 4141.
Office of Innovative Program Delivery and Director 4242.
Office of Innovative Program Delivery Position Source 4343.
Design-Build Project Contracts, Reporting, and Project Delivery 4444.
Design-Build Technical Review Committee Experience Requirements 4545.
Requirements of the Technical Review Committee in Review of Prior Awarded Project Design-Build Bidders
4646.
Requirements of Project Delivery for Design-Builders 4747.
Design-Build Noticing Requirement for Request for Qualifications 4848.
Design-Build Technical Review Committee Process for Proposals 4949.
Design-Build Procurement Manual Committee and Reports 5050.
Report on Unallocated Business Development Tax Credit Authority AA.
AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND JUSTICE 11.
Dairy Industry Promotion Appropriation Section 25
This section repeals the dairy industry promotion appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (d) at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. I am vetoing this section because I object to limiting the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's ability to promote the dairy industry in Wisconsin. Our dairy farmers, families, and industry are an essential part of Wisconsin's history, economy, and heritage. This veto retains the current law dairy industry promotion appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (d).
22.
Dairy Industry Promotion Grants and Loans Section 335
This section repeals the authority for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to provide grants and loans to dairy producers.
I am vetoing this section because I object to limiting the ability of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to promote the dairy industry in Wisconsin, America's Dairyland, by providing grants and loans to dairy producers. Given the importance of the dairy industry to our state, we should retain all current options to provide support to our dairy producers.
33.
Unencumbered Rural Development Loan Funds Section 24
This section transfers, upon the approval of the Joint Committee on Finance, the unencumbered balance of the loans for rural development appropriation under s. 20.115 (3) (h) to the general purpose revenue funds general program supplementation appropriation under s. 20.865 (4) (a). I am vetoing this section because I object to transferring PR funds intended for rural development and placing them into a GPR appropriation for an unspecified purpose. In addition, this provision may be in violation of federal guidance.
