GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Republican lawmakers and many conservatives across the state are calling it ‘laughable’ that Governor Tony Evers is taking credit for tax breaks after signing off on the new state budget. The Republican-led legislature re-worked his initial budget proposals, and he made some 50 line-item vetoes from the budget.
“Well, that’s an interesting position for them to take,” Evers said.
The Democratic governor swung back during a stop at UW-Green Bay on Thursday.
“The legislature wasn’t in session for just about the entire time. A lot of the things we used as tools to get through this pandemic came from federal funds, which they encouraged Congress not to send to us,” Evers argued. “So for them to say ‘Oh by the way, you’re taking the credit for something we had nothing to do with’…Not wanting federal money. Not wanting to come into session. Then I sign a budget that keeps a promise that I made to the people of Wisconsin? That’s rich…that’s rich.”
Evers originally promised a 10-percent cut while running for office. The estimated income tax cuts through the budget are about 15-percent.
The stop at UWGB did have a purpose, however, as the budget included roughly $96 million to replace Cofrin Library.
