Today (June 30), I was pleased to support a budget that reflects our shared values and priorities for the people of western Wisconsin. This budget corrects the bloated and unreasonable budget that was originally proposed by the current governor which increased taxes over $1 billion and borrowed an additional $3.6 billion. In my recent 93rd_Assembly District budget survey, 73 percent of respondents indicated they did not support the taxing and spending policies proposed by the governor.

This conservative budget reinvests the excess taxes the state collected by putting this money back in taxpayers’ pockets. In contrast to increasing taxes on our manufacturers and family farming communities as the governor had proposed, the budget that the Assembly passed with support from both parties will save the typical Wisconsin family around $1,200 and provide additional relief to Wisconsin businesses, according to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

My vote today also ensures that historic funding will be sent to our local K-12 schools. The budget provides additional state funding for student mental health services and special education while returning to Wisconsin’s commitment to fund two-thirds_ state funding for education. This budget provides schools in the 93rd_ with millions of dollars in new state funding and secures $44 million in additional federal resources for local schools._ This budget also delivers on the promise to invest in our healthcare system by providing $440 million for nursing homes and $100 million for our hospitals._ It also allocates $129 million to broadband expansion and increases funding to fix our local roads—all while borrowing less.

This common-sense, fiscally responsible budget funds our state while also providing much needed tax relief to Wisconsinites. This budget serves as common ground for everyone as we continue moving our state forward.