GOP removes marijuana legalization, paid family leave from state budget
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee took one of the first significant steps in the budget crafting process by removing more than 500 provisions in Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposal including marijuana legalization and paid family leave.
In one vote, along party lines, the Republican-led committee eliminated several proposals ranging from Medicaid expansion, funding for the Milwaukee Brewers stadium, raising the minimum wage and free school meals.
The move was anticipated. After delivering his state budget address in February, the GOP-co chairs of the JFC committee, Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), said they would reject a majority of Evers nearly $104 billion two-year spending plan.
Still, Democrats put up a fight and tried to pass a motion to include several of Evers priorities that have strong public support, according to polling from Marquette University Law School. The motion failed 12-4.
"We are saying no to universal background checks…we are saying no to paid family medical leave and we know 73% of Wisconsinites are in favor of paid leave for new parents," Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) said referencing MU polling.
A poll released in June found 79% of voters supported mandatory background checks on gun purchases at gun shows or through private sales. An August release of the poll found 69% of Wisconsinites supported marijuana legalization.
Born called the governor's budget a progressive "wish list" referencing the number of policy-related provisions. The Republican co-chairs argued those issues should be debated in the Legislature, not during budget deliberations.
"When the solutions presented by the Democrats are more government, more spending, more welfare and smoke more weed. Yeah, our approaches are going to be different," Born said.
Sen. Marklien said, "This budget is about numbers, not policy."
Democrats decried the decision to remove proposals voters overwhelming support.
Republicans on the committee said there will be plenty of opportunities through the budget process to invest in areas such as education, health care and transportation.
"The opportunity is there to meet all these goals for a budget that is truly made for Wisconsin and not just for the governor's reckless spending wish list," Born said.
Rep. Evan Goyke, a Democrat from Milwaukee, suggesting during the committee whatever Republicans end up investing in those areas, he said, won't be enough.
"If we don't start today and make these critical investments in housing, local governments, health care and education and infrastructure we will set the stage for incredible economic pain," Goyke said.
Several aspects of Evers budget are still included, but those are subject to change.
Over the next several weeks Republicans will rework the budget to their liking before presenting the 2023-2025 budget to the Legislature this summer.