Dem Gov. Tony Evers said it’s “a joke” that GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos thinks schools can get by on the spending boost due them over the next two years, vowing to propose an even bigger boost in his budget.
Evers used his partial veto authority in the 2023-25 budget to write into state law an annual increase of $325 per student over the next four centuries. The increase applies to the cap on how much schools can increase spending through a mix of state aid and property taxes. GOP lawmakers challenged Evers’ move with the state Supreme Court.
Vos, R-Rochester, suggested last month if the court upholds Evers’ veto, “schools are mostly off the table,” and GOP lawmakers will focus their attention on other areas of the 2025-27 state budget.
“Honest to God, that is a joke,” Evers told reporters on Friday as he previewed his coming budget and answered questions.
Evers added, “there’s going to be more” for schools when he introduces his budget next month.
The guv used Friday’s briefing, which was embargoed until this morning, to announce he’ll propose in the budget a pathway for state voters to put binding referendums on the ballot. It would require lawmakers to create such a process through a constitutional amendment. If lawmakers signed off and voters approved of the change, those seeking to put a binding referendum on the ballot could file petitions with the Elections Commission to hold a vote on proposed state laws, constitutional amendments or to repeal state statutes. Currently state constitutional amendments can only occur through the Legislature, which must OK a proposed amendment in two consecutive sessions before sending it to voters.
Evers previously proposed lawmakers create a binding referendum process after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 decision that guaranteed access to an abortion. Lawmakers ignored that call, and they could strip this Evers proposal out of his upcoming budget if they chose.
Evers knocked GOP lawmakers for proposing multiple amendments to the state Constitution while refusing to give the same power to the people they serve.
“Republican lawmakers shouldn’t be able to ignore the will of the people and then prevent the people from having a voice when their legislators fail to listen. We have to change that,” Evers said.
See more on Evers’ comments in today’s AM Update.
