Lawmakers react to Governor Tony Evers budget address

MADISON (CBS 58) -- The GOP controls both the Senate and Assembly, and leaders from both houses say they're disappointed with what they heard from the Governor's speech.

Republicans say they wanted to find areas of common ground with the Governor but that the budget presented on Thursday evening showed fewer areas of compromise than what they had hoped for.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called the Governor's budget speech "a liberal wish list."

Now, the GOP says they will work on their own base budget.

"This really is not the budget for our people. Our people said we are on the right track. This budget takes us off that track and I'm very very very disappointed. I was hoping we could work with the Governor. But, I'm optimistic in this regard. We're going to go forward. We're going to start with a base budget that we're going to build that's going to put us on the right track. We're not going down this way, we're not going to let this happen," said State Sen. Alberta Darling.

Going forward, this sets up a stalemate for both the Governor and the legislature.

Madison--Co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance, Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) and Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) released the following statement after Governor Evers' Budget Address:

"Wisconsin can't afford Tony Evers budget. He's spending our record surplus and billions more. His budget increases spending by $1,000 for every resident in the state, raises taxes, and eliminates the reforms that worked over the last eight years. Governor Evers is digging another hole that Republicans will again have to fill.

It's important to point out that the reason Wisconsin is in such great shape financially is because of the responsible budgeting of Republicans. If Governor Evers is serious about passing a bi-partisan budget, he needs to get serious about including us in the process.

While we are willing to work with the governor, we won't let him take us back to the dark days of 2009. Republicans in the legislature have set the stage for a great budget, but Governor Evers is jeopardizing the continued surpluses, increased revenues, historic tax cuts, and expanded economic opportunity created by making fiscally responsible decisions. Some of those decisions were not easy, but they worked.

We have concerns that we can't afford the Governor's wish list and its long-term effect on our finances. Our next step is a thorough review of the Governor's budget by the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

We look forward to travelling around the state to help craft a budget that works for all of Wisconsin."

Stay with CBS 58 News for more information on this developing story.