Evers calls for axing COVID-19 relief provision allowing for spending cuts

Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday called on legislators to drop a proposal that would allow the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee to cut spending in response to COVID-19. A GOP leader called Evers’ comments “irresponsible” since lawmakers are still hammering out a deal.

Evers said Wednesday that legislative leadership presented him with an overview of planned legislation targeting COVID-19 that would allow the Legislature’s budget-writing committee to “unilaterally cut investments in healthcare, local communities and schools, among other priorities.”

“I’m asking for the Legislature to take politics out of this proposal so we can move forward on addressing the needs of our state,” Evers said in a statement. “We have work to do folks—we don’t have time to play politics, and this provision won’t do anything to help our state respond to COVID-19 or to help our families who are struggling during this crisis.”

The overview includes parts of Evers’ two originally proposed aid packages, according to the governor’s statement.

Spokespeople for Evers and Republican leaders did not provide a copy of the overview.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, criticized Evers for being “irresponsible” by publicly saying he’d veto the bill while they’re still in private negotiations.

“For almost a month we have been at work on a bill that includes essential provisions dealing with everything from Medicaid to the first week of unemployment,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Millions of relief dollars are at stake for Wisconsin.”

He said they’re still working with the Democratic lawmakers to put together a bill that “can hopefully pass soon with bipartisan support.”

Fitzgerald and Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said last week that they assumed the package would include approval for an emergency Medicaid waiver and temporary Medicaid changes for the state to receive an estimated $150 million in additional federal funding per quarter.

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