Northwoods Reporter

Governor Tony Evers has unveiled his biennial budget proposal, prompting reactions from state legislators. Senator Romaine Quinn (R-Birchwood), a new member of the Joint Finance Committee, expressed concerns over the budget's implications.

Quinn criticized the governor's plan, stating: “This week Governor Evers introduced his budget filled with new spending proposals and costly regulations. While it is encouraging that the governor spoke about tax cuts in his televised address, his actual budget document paints a different picture.” He highlighted past issues with Evers' financial strategies, mentioning that previous recommendations nearly turned a surplus into a deficit.

Quinn emphasized: "His latest budget proposal includes over $2 billion in new taxes," and noted that it entails "a whopping 20% increase in new spending and an increase of over 1,000 new full-time government positions." He argued this approach was unsustainable compared to prior budgets which also increased government size.

Reflecting on Wisconsin’s fiscal stability, Quinn credited “a decade of prudent Republican decisions that lead to responsible, balanced budgets,” contrasting this with what he sees as the governor's inclination towards “reckless spending.”

In particular, Quinn voiced disappointment regarding funding cuts for rural programs: "I am particularly disheartened to see that he went out of his way to hurt rural Wisconsin by cutting funding to the successful Agricultural Road Improvement Program (ARIP)."

Looking ahead, Quinn stated: "In the coming weeks I will continue reviewing this proposal and listening to feedback from residents across the state as the Joint Finance Committee begins to craft the legislature’s budget." His focus will be on reducing taxes and costs while enhancing services in Northwestern Wisconsin.