Representative Jim Piwowarczyk Slams Governor Evers’ Vetoes on ICE Detainers, UW Reform
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Madison, WI — State Representative Jim Piwowarczyk is calling out the administration of Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez for vetoing a bill that would have required sheriffs to honor ICE detainers against violent criminals.
Piwowarczyk, the vice chair of the Assembly’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee, noted that the bill focused on felony cases, but Evers still vetoed it. “We are lucky that we have great sheriffs in Washington and Waukesha counties who already honor ICE detainers and who protect public safety. But that is not true in some other counties, like Dane and Milwaukee,” Piwowarczyk said.
Evers vetoed a string of important pieces of legislation in the past two weeks, including:
- A bill to protect minors from porn sites;
- A bill to exempt tips and overtime from taxation;
- Bills to protect kids by keeping boys and men out of girls’ sports and locker rooms, among other things.
Piwowarczyk also criticized those vetoes.
In addition, Piwowarczyk slammed Evers for vetoing a bill he introduced to reform the UW System by refocusing it on workforce development and industry experience.
Piwowarczyk, of the Town of Erin, authored 20 bills this session, and co-authored and co-sponsored many more.
“I am deeply disappointed by Governor Tony Evers’ vetoes of AB 24 and AB 757, which reflect a troubling pattern of rejecting practical, commonsense reforms that would strengthen public safety and accountability in Wisconsin,” Piwowarczyk said.
AB 24 would have required Wisconsin Sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration authorities to protect the public.
“Evers’ veto puts politics ahead of accountability and the rule of law,” Piwowarczyk said. “Governor Evers’ veto of AB 757 is a missed opportunity to bring greater transparency and fairness to leadership decisions in the UW System,” he added. “Strengthening oversight and broadening eligibility would have improved accountability, not weakened it.” Piwowarczyk is a member of the Colleges and Universities Committee.
Piwowarczyk is thankful to Governor Evers for signing Assembly Bill 907 into law. 2025 Act 198 modernizes Wisconsin State Lottery drawing procedures by eliminating costly per-drawing oversight requirements in favor of annual independent audits, reducing administrative burdens and saving taxpayer dollars while maintaining security and integrity. This will save the taxpayers $956,000 annually. This bill emerged from Piwowarczyk’s chairmanship of the Speaker’s Task Force on Government Efficiency and Modernization.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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