Rep. Brostoff Statement on Passage of Assembly Bill 68

MADISON – In response to the passage earlier today of Assembly Bill 68, the Republican version of the biennial budget bill, State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement:

“This year, we had the opportunity to pass a budget that would have truly moved our state forward in a progressive and equitable direction. Governor Evers sent us that budget back in February: a budget that would have expanded access to quality, affordable healthcare; made historic and much-needed investments in education; ended gerrymandering; made enormous strides for criminal justice reform; and would have put us in the best possible position for a substantial economic recovery as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget we voted on today was not that budget.

Instead of maintaining the much-needed and forward-thinking policies and investments included in Governor Evers’ original budget draft, Republicans on the Joint Committee on Finance chose to either water down or completely strip many of the provisions that the Governor proposed. Time and again, Republicans looked at Governor Evers’ proposed investments in our state and gutted them. And what did they choose to do instead? They chose to push tax cuts that will primarily benefit the wealthiest Wisconsinites, they chose to raid funding for our schools to instead offer a few dollars a month in property tax relief, and they chose, yet again, to do everything within their power to starve government of resources and the ability to actually help the people who need it most.

Governor Evers made it clear with his budget that his priorities are public education, healthcare, and morally-sound public policy. But the document we voted on today, this Republican budget, shows that Republican priorities, yet again, are their wealthy donors, special interests, and denying Governor Evers victories no matter who suffers as a result.

Republicans will try to gaslight us and tell us that they crafted the best possible budget, but the reality is that they had a phenomenal budget in front of them, and they purposely turned down the opportunity to work with it! No matter how much they try to posture over the coming weeks and months, the reality will remain: Republicans had a chance to do the right thing, and they turned it down.

I could not, in good conscience, vote in favor of this budget of half-measures and missed opportunities. My neighbors deserve better, and the people of Wisconsin deserve better.

I couldn’t make this budget better with my vote today, but I hope Governor Evers can make it better through his 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.