A time to be bold: Evers’ budget a generational investment in our kids

Madison, WI – The largest investment in K-12 education in Wisconsin history. That’s what Governor Evers has proposed for our next state budget. In the past, state leaders have responded to desperate pleas for more funding from school districts across the state with their pockets turned inside out and shoulders shrugged like they pulled the wrong chance card from the Monopoly deck. In fact, it was only 12 years ago that Governor Walker passed the largest education cuts in state history.

Today, with a $7.1 billion surplus, we have the opportunity to restore school funding to the level our kids deserve, and Governor Evers is leading the charge, proposing a $2.6 billion investment in our children.

By expanding mental health services and providing free meals for all students, our kids will have the opportunity to learn and thrive like never before.

By bolstering our educator pipeline and reducing class sizes, our students will get the individualized attention they need and deserve.

By implementing new financial literacy, math, reading, and computer science programs, we will help our kids succeed in the 21st-century workforce.

By helping pay for childcare and finally providing parents with 12 weeks of paid family leave, our kids will have the loving care and attention they need to become confident, happy, and successful leaders of tomorrow.

Wisconsinites are a hardworking, resilient, and innovative bunch. It’s time for state government to meet them halfway and put our historic surplus to good use by investing it in our kids. I stand with the Governor and call on my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to give this entire budget fair consideration. If they don’t, Governor Evers will have my full support if he has to once again dust off his trusty veto pen.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.