Rep. Bowen Statement on Governor Tony Evers’ Biennial Budget

MILWAUKEE – State Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement in response to Governor Tony Evers’ budget address earlier this evening, in which the Governor laid out his budget priorities for the 2021-2023 Biennium:

“Tonight, Governor Evers laid out a vision of a Wisconsin budget that will work for everyone in our State. From investing in healthcare, to schools, to rural communities, to job creation, to cannabis legalization, to equity initiatives, this is a budget that will propel Wisconsin into a brighter future, and that will put us in the best possible position to tackle the crises created and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. I was thrilled to hear the Governor’s vision for this Biennium, and for the sake of Wisconsinites across the State, I urge my Republican colleagues on the Joint Committee on Finance to keep the Governor’s important investments and initiatives in the final budget. I am more than ready to work with both Gov. Evers and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this budget through the legislative process and onto the Governor’s desk.”

Tonight, Governor Evers unveiled his biennial budget for 2021-2023 in a joint address to the State Assembly and State Senate. In his address, Gov. Evers proposed a budget that will take bold steps towards addressing long-standing inequities in our State, increasing education funding and opportunities, investing in workforce development initiatives, promoting public health, and transforming our justice systems.

“I was particularly pleased with Gov. Evers’ budget initiatives relating to critically-needed justice reform, including a number of important issues I brought to the Governor’s attention earlier this year! Tonight, the Governor showed a commitment to ending the practice of youth shackling, ceasing the practice of handing down life sentences without the possibility of parole to juveniles, expanding Huber and earned release, reforming extended supervision practices, and making incredibly important investments in violence interruption programs. In particular, these justice reform measures have been adopted and expanded in a bipartisan manner in states across the country, and I hope that Republicans in the Legislature will come to the table, work with the Governor and Democrats like myself, and make these proposals that will move us forward into law!”