Budget battle continues as high-profile items loom

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – State Senator Kelda Roys, a Democrat from Madison, emphasized in a Tuesday press conference that education funding is Democrats’ main priority. And she blamed Republicans for letting the budget process drag and failing to fund important priorities.

“Namely, our kids’ education. Not just public K-12, although that’s important, but also childcare, early childhood education. Also, the Universities of Wisconsin and public higher education,” she said during a few hours ahead of the JFC’s executive session.

“Now Republicans have made it clear that tax cuts benefiting the wealthiest are their top priority, both here and in Washington D.C,” she added.

Republicans had other priorities in the Tuesday session of the Joint Finance Committee, which convened hours after originally being scheduled.

Those priorities included food inspection and safety.

“In the Division of Animal Health, we’re going to be adding three positions in that part of [the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection]. In certain areas that disease outbreaks are becoming more frequent, they would want to be prepared in the event of an outbreak,” said Senator and Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Howard Marklein, a Republican from Spring Green.

Lawmakers also approved money for youth apprenticeship programs, workforce training grants, and for the Wisconsin Historical Society, which is building a new museum on the Capitol Square.

They did not move forward with a proposal from the Governor to provide more funding to protect judges from violence, sparked in part by the murder of a retired judge in Juneau several years ago.

Republicans say they’re on schedule to finish the budget by the end of the month. That’s the deadline to get it all done and signed— or spending levels for municipalities, schools and programs will remain the same going forward.

But even once they’re done, Governor Evers has the power to veto the budget, or use Wisconsin’s unique line-item veto, like he’s done before.

The Joint Finance Committee meets again on Thursday, when they’re scheduled to take up key parts of the budget. Interest groups are scheduled to rally on the Capitol for child care funding, and special education funding, before then.