MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address highlighting the one-year anniversary of signing the 2023-25 biennial budget on July 5, 2023, and urging the release of nearly $200 million that was approved in the 2023-25 biennial budget to fight PFAS contamination statewide, improve reading outcomes and literacy for kids, and support child care providers and working families across the state. While these investments were initially approved in the 2023-25 biennial budget, they have languished in Madison for over a year as Republican lawmakers continue to obstruct and delay critical funding to address this and other pressing challenges facing Wisconsin.

Hey there, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here!    

One year ago, I signed our 2023-25 state budget into law, and that budget included a lot of good bipartisan work.  

We secured historic investments in affordable housing statewide, the first real increase for local governments in a decade, and made significant investments in our roads and infrastructure, kids and schools, and so much more. 

We also approved several investments to address pressing issues facing our state, including $125 million to fight PFAS contamination statewide, nearly $50 million to help improve reading outcomes and literacy for our kids, and $15 million to support child care providers and working families across the state.   

Unfortunately, it’s been a year since I signed that budget into law, and some of these critical investments are still sitting in Madison because Republican lawmakers refuse to release them.    

In total, from the last legislative session, there’s more than $200 million worth of investments sitting in Madison that could be going out the door today to help folks, families, and communities across our state.

And make no mistake: Republican lawmakers can release these already-approved investments at any time. They’re simply choosing not to.    

And this isn’t the first time Republican lawmakers have come under fire for months of inaction and delays.

These are many of the same lawmakers who led the “Least Active Full-Time Legislature in America” during the coronavirus pandemic.

I don’t think that's how government’s supposed to work. Do you?

Wisconsinites expect their elected officials to show up to work and find common ground to solve problems and address real and pressing challenges facing our state.

I’m urging Republican lawmakers to release these funds as soon as possible so my administration can get these resources out the door to communities who need them because Wisconsinites shouldn’t have to wait another day longer than they already have. Simple as that.

An online version of this release is available here.