(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s Republican Senate leaders say they need to meet with Gov. Tony Evers by next week to keep the state on schedule to pass a budget before the end of the fiscal year.
At the same time, Senate Democratic leadership said Republicans haven’t done anything but gut Evers’ proposals in the 87 days since his budget was introduced.
An essential part of the budget process for Republicans is a tax cut measure that will exempt some retirement income from taxes while also lowering the tax rate for the state’s second from the bottom tax bracket, a proposal Republicans made last year that Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said would be less than what was proposed a year ago.
“It’s imperative that we meet by the end of next week at the latest to stay on schedule to pass a budget by the end of the fiscal year,” LeMahieu said at a Thursday press conference. “It’s as simple as that. Time’s ticking. End of the fiscal year is coming and, if we’re going to work through finance to get a budget passed, we need to meet with the governor next week.”
Senate Minority Leader Diane Hesselbein, D-Middleton, said that the state’s Joint Finance Committee made “irresponsible actions” when it removed 612 items from Evers’ budget proposal. She said that Republican leaders have not met with her about a proposal.
“Our doors are open,” Hesselbein said. “We want this budget process done on time at the end of June. We believe we can get it done. And my door is open so hopefully we can get it done and get enough people in the state Senate to a yes on this budget and we can continue to work for the people in the state of Wisconsin.”
But Republican leaders want to meet with Evers. Hesselbein was asked if she would be part of those conversations.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get all of us in the same room because of timing and schedules and stuff like that,” Hesselbein said.
LeMahieu said that he expected to receive updated revenue estimates for the next two fiscal years later Thursday and those would be key to discussions. The state’s April revenue numbers showed a 6.3% decline in year over year April tax collections, a trend that continued from a March drop in the numbers.
LeMahieu said that he and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos sent a list of available times to meet with Evers through next week.
“The governor and his staff have had our plan that we worked out with the Assembly to provide meaningful tax relief to hard-working families since March,” LeMahieu said. “In response, we have asked for specific items he would need to see in his budget to agree to cutting taxes.
“His staff has not been able to provide any of those details over the last six or seven weeks.”
