(The Center Square) – A Wisconsin congressman is saying that Gov. Tony Evers’ claims are “misleading” about the costs of the federal reconciliation bill dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Evers claimed last week that the bill will cost Wisconsin taxpayers $142 million annually, in large part due to increased workforce programs to help recipients fulfill work requirements, in increased state taxes.
But U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-5th Congressional, says that the work requirements for able-bodied recipients will save taxpayers nearly $326 billion between 2024 and 2035, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Those savings would come due to federal money not spent on health care for those who do not meet the able-bodied work qualifications for the program. Those who have BadgerCare Plus who are ages 19 to 64 but do not have a child living with them under the age of 19 can meet the requirement of 80 hours per month of work, training or volunteering.
Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were also necessary, Fitzgerald said, because SNAP enrollment has grown 17% since 2019 with costs increasing 83% and a payment error rate that has nearly doubled nationally to 11%.
Fitzgerald said those changes include a “modest, incentive-based state benefit share, expanding work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, controlling runaway state administrative costs, and restricting eligibility for illegal aliens.”
Evers estimated that it would cost the state $11.4 million annually for additional staff to ensure that Wisconsin has an annual SNAP payment error rate below 6%. The state’s 2024 error rate was 4.47%. States with payment error rates higher than 6% will be required to pay 5% to 15% of SNAP benefit costs for the state.
“It’s the definition of bloated government spending,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Our focus is on restoring integrity to SNAP, keeping it strong for families who truly need help, and finally putting Washington’s spending habits on a diet.”
Fitzgerald also pointed to the elimination of SNAP food education courses, which the U.S. Government Accountability Office said cost the federal government nearly $907 million in fiscal year 2017 without having any provable effectiveness.
The reconciliation bill will lead to a $3,183 tax cut for the average Wisconsin taxpayer starting in 2026, according to The Tax Foundation. That compares to an average 3,752 tax cut nationwide, according to the group.
“Finally, Governor Evers conveniently ignores everything else the One Big Beautiful Bill delivers for the American people,” Fitzgerald said. “It delivers historic tax relief by boosting take-home pay, makes the Trump Tax Cuts permanent, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, provides seniors eligible for Social Security tax relief, increases the child tax credit, and protects family farms from the death tax. It also fully funds President Trump’s border wall and increases staffing for ICE and Border Patrol to keep our communities safe.”
