Tony Evers on budget compromise, Trump and DOGE. Takeaways from the governor's meeting with county leaders

Yahoo

25-02-2025

MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday called on Republicans and Democrats to compromise to pass a state budget, referred to President Donald Trump as an "amazing human being" and focused on public schools in his latest public appearance.
Speaking at the annual Wisconsin Counties Association conference, Evers went through highlights in his budget, which he announced last week, and answered questions on a variety of topics.
Here's what the governor said.
Though Republican leaders have already declared the proposal is "dead on arrival," and that they will be drafting their own "responsible" budget, Evers said his document is a good place to start. He said it would provide tax relief to those who need it, in addition to relief on grocery store prices.
"I think it's a real it's a realistic start," he said.
Evers acknowledged that there will likely be concessions from both Democrats and Republicans by the end of the budget cycle this year, because that's what residents need from their lawmakers.
"At the end of the day, we're a purple state. I think most Democrats, most Republicans live in the world of the middle, and I think that's the majority," he said.
Evers said voters expected legislators to reach compromise.
"Frankly, they're not going to get reelected (without reaching compromise)," he said. "We should be having legislators on the Republican side and the Democratic side working together to get good compromise."
He highlighted the passing of the shared revenue bill and another securing funding for the Brewers stadium in 2023 as examples of bipartisanship and said he hopes to see more of that kind of work this year.
Evers highlighted his "Year of the Kid" designation and said a focus needs to be on schools during the budget season. An ongoing battle over literacy funding from the last budget is yet to be squared away and he called for setting aside funds for youth mental health. Though funding for public schools, the University of Wisconsin and the state's technical schools is large, it's a necessary investment, especially because of the uncertainty at the federal level, he said.
"It's a large increase, but it's a reasonable increase," he said.
Evers also called "unsustainable" school districts' need to go to referendum every few years to increase funding.
Evers' budget as proposed is projected to create shortfalls later in the decade.
Republicans have criticized language in Evers' budget using the words "inseminated person" instead of "mother," in addition to several other gender-neutral terms such as spouse and person.
Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, said in a release last week that Evers needs to apologize to mothers for those changes for "diminishing the importance and dignity of motherhood."
Evers did not talk about the language regarding parents in the budget during his time on stage, and he did not speak to reporters following the question and answer session.
In an interview with WISN12 Tuesday morning, Evers said he didn't know Republicans were against in vitro fertilization, or IVF.
"That's what it's about," he said in the interview. "Moms are moms and dads are dads. What we want is legal certainty that moms are able to get the care they need. That's it, end of story."
"You can count on this being something Republicans are becoming very good at, and that is lying."
When asked about attending a gathering of the National Governors' Association with President Donald Trump recently, Evers said he'd "never forget it."
"The interesting thing, you know, the President's an amazing human being, and his way of communicating is so different from anything I've ever seen," he said.
What was supposed to be a 20-minute conversation between Trump and governors turned into an hour-and-a-half event between Trump and his cabinet. But Evers then changed his tone, and expressed worry about the layoffs and cuts to federal funding that could have major impacts in Wisconsin.
"I am very fearful," he said.
Evers also took a hit at Elon Musk's DOGE committee, which he mispronounced "doggie," producing laughter from county officials at the conference. DOGE stands for Department of Government Efficiency.
Evers went on to say he was concerned about the firings and the impacts to normal people Musk's committee is having.
"It's going to impact our economy," he said.
More: Milwaukee VA employees grapple with confusion over Elon Musk directive
When asked if he was planning to run for office again, Evers declined to answer.
"After the budget is done, I'll be announcing what I'm going to do," he said.
Laura Schulte can be reached at [e-mail] and on X @SchulteLaura.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Takeaways from Gov. Tony Evers' comments Wisconsin counties leaders