Wisconsin Republicans vote down paid family leave, free school lunch and legalizing marijuana in Gov. Evers’ budget

During a meeting of the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC), the Republican-controlled body voted to reject over 500 budget proposals made by Gov. Tony Evers (D), including paid family leave and marijuana legalization.

With a record-high budget surplus of $7 billion, Evers wanted to bring popular policy ideas like marijuana legalization, paid family leave, free school lunch and breakfast, tax cuts for the middle class and mental health care expansion to Wisconsin. Republicans in the JFC called his proposals irresponsible and reckless spending before rejecting them outright, to the chagrin of every Democrat in the room.

“These aren’t fringe ideas, controversial concepts or Republican or Democratic priorities – they’re about doing the right thing,” Evers said on Twitter Tuesday. “With a historic surplus comes historic responsibility, and today, when we can afford to do more, this vote is foolish and a wasted opportunity.”

The two-year plan Evers submitted in February will be reworked by the JFC, who own majorities in both the state House (64 Republicans to 35 Democrats) and Senate (21-11). Evers’ policy ideas have been continuously shot down by the legislature despite voter popularity. Over the next couple months, a new budget plan will be constructed over a series of votes that will likely not contain much, if any of Evers or the Democrats’ provisions. However, Evers can make changes to the final plan through his veto power, which he has done to increase education funding in the past.

Voters reelected Evers as Wisconsin’s governor in November, and his policy ideas never seem to find the ears of his Republican legislature. Before this latest budget proposal, Evers has called for Medicaid expansion, raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage and action on gun control, all to no avail.