Evers signs budget bill; everyone claims credit

Posted at 1:40 p.m. on July 8, 2021

The Brillion News

WHITEFISH BAY - Governor Tony Evers signed the 2021-2023 state budget bill into law on the morning of Thursday, July 8.

He claimed credit for the bill's huge tax relief, and so did Republicans.

"I made a promise when I ran for governor - I promised I would cut taxes for middle-class families by 10 percent," Evers said. "Today, I am keeping my word."

The GOP co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance countered that claim.

"It is laughable that the Governor is now taking credit for cutting taxes. Just six months ago, the Governor wanted $1 billion in tax increases," said Senator Howard Marklein and Rep. Mark Born in a prepared statement.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LaMahieu, R-Oostburg, said: "Governor Eveers deserves no credit for signing our budget ... He got boxed into a corner."

State Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, praised Evers for not getting in a fight with the GOP majority in the legislature over the budget.

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, noted that Evers did an about-face on his original call for raising taxes by a billion dollars.

The budget passed both houses of the state legislature on a bi-partisan majority vote - 64 of 99 votes in the Assembly and 23 of 33 votes in the Senate - the most votes for a budget bill in 20 years.

Evers also announced more than $100 million in new funding, from federal sources, to go to public schools.