Wisconsin Republicans are expressing their dissatisfaction with Governor Tony Evers’ recent round of vetoes.
The governor has rejected 40 proposals put forth by the Republicans. These include vetoing a tax cut aimed at retirees, a plan to establish a specific number for wolf hunting, as well as the child care tax credit and a measure to protect the state’s drinking water from road salt. Governor Evers has emphasized that these issues were of utmost importance to him.
Republican lawmakers accused the governor of engaging in political maneuvering.
Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, expressed his disappointment for the residents of Wisconsin while also emphasizing that he was not surprised by the governor’s action. According to him, this is not the first tax cut that the governor has vetoed, which indicates his belief that the government will handle the state’s multi-billion surplus better than the taxpayers themselves. However, Rep. Steffen strongly disagrees with this perspective, asserting that the taxpayers should have more control over how the surplus is spent.
Republican State Representative Elijah Behnke, from Oconto, expressed his disapproval of the governor’s decision to veto the road salt legislation.
He accused Gov. Evers of siding with trial lawyers instead of addressing the growing concern over the impact of road salt on freshwater resources.
Communities would have been provided with incentives to reduce their use of road salt through the road salt plan. Several states, including New Hampshire, Illinois, Colorado, and Minnesota, have already implemented similar programs.
Evers also rejected a proposal that would have given local schools the ability to hire superintendents who lack an educational background.
State Senator Duey Stroebel, a Republican from Cedarburg, expressed his intention to provide local schools with increased flexibility by opening up opportunities for potential school administrators.
According to Stroebel, Governor Evers has proudly vetoed a bill that would have given school boards the freedom to choose their preferred superintendent, allowing for local control. As a consequence, Wisconsin continues to have some of the strictest licensing requirements in the region, further aggravating the workforce challenges. Stroebel believes that being a superintendent is comparable to being a CEO, and one does not necessarily need a lifetime of experience in the field to effectively manage the professionals under their leadership. He argues that there are likely numerous Wisconsinites who could excel in this role and serve their communities well, even if they haven’t spent their entire careers with a teaching license. Stroebel criticizes the veto for maintaining the absolute prohibition on considering candidates outside the traditional framework of licensed educators.
The governor also vetoed a bill that aimed to establish a teacher apprenticeship program.
According to Chris Reader from the Institute for Reforming Government, the veto will not have any positive impact on Wisconsin’s teacher shortage.
“Governor Evers’ decision to veto this bill is disappointing as teacher apprenticeships are beneficial for educators, taxpayers, and students. We cannot effectively address the teacher shortage if we limit our options. Therefore, we are eager to collaborate with the Administration, public and private schools, colleges, and First Nations to ensure that every child has access to exceptional teachers,” expressed Reader.
On Friday, Evers signed over a dozen new laws.
The list encompasses various legislative measures in Wisconsin. These include laws aimed at enhancing Holocaust education in schools, a comprehensive plan to provide clarity on the regulations governing urgent care facilities, and a one-year funding expansion for the state’s Office of School Safety.