MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Hopes of reaching a bipartisan compromise on the 2025-27 biennial budget hit a wall Wednesday.
After months of negotiations, Democrats and Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature say they are at an impasse and discussions have ceased. Now, both sides are pointing fingers as to who is to blame.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said Republicans “backed out of months’ worth of bipartisan budget negotiations” while the GOP said they “reached a point where Governor Evers’ spending priorities have extended beyond what taxpayers can afford.”
Evers released the following statement:
I am grateful to the legislators and legislative staff for their efforts over the past several weeks to reach a bipartisan agreement that would have delivered on key priorities for Wisconsinites.
The concept of compromise is simple—everyone gets something they want, and no one gets everything they want.
I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities—even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed—because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids.
Unfortunately, Republicans couldn’t agree to support the top priorities in my half of the deal, which included meaningful investments for K-12 schools, to continue Child Care Counts to help lower the cost of child care for working families, and to prevent further campus closures and layoffs at our UW System. So, today, Republicans decided not to move forward with any more bipartisan negotiations with me.
We’ve spent months trying to have real, productive conversations with Republican lawmakers in hopes of finding compromise and passing a state budget that everyone could support—and that, most importantly, delivers for the people of Wisconsin. I am admittedly disappointed that Republican lawmakers aren’t willing to reach consensus and common ground and have decided to move forward without bipartisan support instead.
I will always try to do the right thing—and compromise in order to get good things done. Wisconsinites expect their elected officials to show up, act in good faith, and work together across the aisle to get things done—that’s what I’ve been committed to doing in these bipartisan negotiations from the get-go, and that remains my commitment.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chair Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, issued the following statement regarding budget negotiations stalling:
Since April, we have engaged in good faith negotiations with Governor Evers and his staff to establish the outline of a bipartisan state budget. Unfortunately, those talks have reached an impasse.
Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin. However, we have reached a point where Governor Evers’ spending priorities have extended beyond what taxpayers can afford.
The Joint Committee on Finance has successfully crafted three consecutive budgets that were signed by Governor Evers. We are confident that the legislature will pass a responsible budget that the governor will sign into law.
The only lawmaker from Northeast Wisconsin on the Joint Finance Committee is Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto.
The four Democratic members on the Joint Finance Committee released a statement saying Republicans are “abandoning a bipartisan compromise with Governor Evers. Those members are Rep. Tip McGuire, Kenosha; Sen. LaTonya Johnson, Milwaukee; Sen. Kelda Roys, Madison; and Rep. Deb Andraca, Whitefish Bay.
Instead of fully funding our public schools, preventing the closure of child care centers, or meeting the healthcare needs of Wisconsinites, Legislative Republicans have caved to the extremist wing of their party and walked away from budget negotiations with Governor Evers.
As members of the Joint Finance Committee, we will continue to fight for the priorities that Wisconsinites across the state have been demanding throughout this budget process.
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