(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is under fire after a recent bill alleges he has illegally kept more than $170 million in taxpayer dollars from interest earned on unspent funds since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, would require Evers and Department of Administration Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld to hand over $170 million in earned interest on the funds to the state’s General Fund.
The state of Wisconsin received $3 billion from the federal government during the pandemic.
In 2023 the Legislative Audit Bureau discovered the interest earned from these funds during an annual audit of the state’s finances, according to Wimberger.
That interest has now ballooned to more than $170 million.
“Gov. Evers exploited federal programs, turning interest payments on relief funds into his own $170 million slush fund,” Wimberger said in a statement. “State law is clear: the governor needs to return this slush fund to the people of Wisconsin. Every week he fails or refuses to do this, the governor is violating state law.”
State law requires all money with no specified purposes to be credited to the General Fund weekly unless otherwise provided by law, according to Wimberger.
A memo from Wimberger and Rep. Robert Wittke, R-Caledonia claims the administration misclassified the interest earnings as funds from the federal government. The memo argued the interest itself was not received from the federal government, and no federal restrictions may apply to its use.
Wimberger argues Evers has kept the $170 million illegally for every week he has failed to give the interest earnings to the General Fund.
This bill would force Evers to return the money to the people of Wisconsin, Wimberger said.
An email to Evers’ office seeking comment was not answered at the time of publication.
“Taxpayer money, including the interest it earns, should never be at the sole discretion of one individual,” IRG executive vice president Chris Reader said in a statement. “Lawmakers have a duty to ensure every public dollar – including the $170 million in interest from federal COVID funds – is spent responsibly, transparently, and with oversight.”
The bill isn’t just about money, but about maintaining the checks and balances that protect Wisconsin’s taxpayers and uphold the integrity of the state government, Reader said.
