Tight GOP majority stirs bipartisanship hope

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When the Wisconsin Legislature returns to work in January, Republicans will nonetheless be in cost however may have the narrowest majorities since taking management in 2011. That’s giving Democrats, together with Gov. Tony Evers, optimism that either side will be capable to work collectively higher than they’ve since Evers took workplace six years in the past.

Each side are eyeing the state’s huge finances surplus, which sits at greater than $4 billion. What to do with that cash will drive debate over the subsequent two-year finances, which might be written in 2025, whereas questions cling within the air about whether or not Evers plans to run for a 3rd time period in 2026 and the way the state will work together with President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Here’s a take a look at a few of the greatest pending points:

New dynamic within the Legislature

Democrats gained seats within the November election due to redrawn maps ordered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket. The Republican majority now sits at 54-45 within the Meeting and 18-15 within the Senate. Democrats have 10 extra seats within the Meeting than final session and 4 extra within the Senate and are hopeful about gaining the bulk after the 2026 election.

“We’ve got already seen a shift within the Capitol because of the new maps,” Meeting Democratic Minority Chief Greta Neubauer informed The Related Press.

She and different Democrats predict it should result in extra stress from rank-and-file Republicans in aggressive districts to maneuver to the center and compromise with Democrats.

“All people understands, not less than at this level, that we have to work collectively, pull collectively,” Republican Senate Majority Chief Devin LeMahieu informed the AP. “And it’s necessary to get some issues completed.”

Pushing again in opposition to Trump

Democrats say they’ve been speaking with Evers and Democratic Lawyer Normal Josh Kaul about how Wisconsin can push again in opposition to the incoming Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations. However Democrats say they’re additionally different methods the state can battle Trump’s insurance policies on points like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

“We’re nervous about a number of the issues that former and future President Trump would possibly do, particularly with regards to deportation and immigration,” Senate Democratic Minority Chief Dianne Hesselbein stated.

Republican Meeting Speaker Robin Vos stated he would help Trump’s efforts to deport people who find themselves within the nation illegally and commit crimes.

Republicans prioritize chopping taxes. Democrats are open

Republicans handed a $3.5 billion tax minimize that Evers gutted to simply $175 million along with his veto within the final finances. With one other massive surplus, Republicans say they need to strive once more.

“Folks struggling to pay their payments,” LeMahieu stated. “We heard that in our native races. And so we need to assist assist assist households on the market. We’ve got the cash to do it. And that’s going to be our primary precedence.”

Each he and Vos stated they want a tax minimize of round $2 billion.

Democrats say that they aren’t against chopping taxes, however that they need it to be focused to serving to the center and decrease courses and households.

“We aren’t serious about tax cuts that primarily profit wealthy Wisconsinites or firms,” Neubauer stated. “However we’re actually open to tax cuts that assist those that are struggling to make ends meet.”

Ok-12 training funding

The state superintendent of faculties, Jill Underly, proposed spending greater than $4 billion on Ok-12 colleges in her finances proposal, which is topic to legislative approval. That’s nearly actually not going to occur, each Republicans and Democrats stated.

“We’re not going to spend $4 billion on training, I can assure you that proper now,” LeMahieu stated.

Whereas Democrats say they’re prioritizing training funding, “I don’t assume we’re going to have the ability to match that,” Hesselbein stated of the $4 billion request.

Universities of Wisconsin

Leaders of the cash-strapped Universities of Wisconsin have requested for $855 million in extra funding within the subsequent finances, practically an 11% enhance. System President Jay Rothman says colleges want the cash to stave off tuition will increase, cowl raises, subsidize tuition, and hold two-year department campuses open within the face of declining enrollment and flat state support.

Evers has promised to incorporate the request in his finances, however Republican leaders stated they’d not approve that a lot, and Democrats additionally stated it was a aim that was unlikely to be met.

LeMahieu and Vos each stated UW wouldn’t get what it desires.

“We’re going to want to see some substantial change in how they’re doing their programing,” LeMahieu stated. “We will’t simply hold spending increasingly more on a system that’s educating much less and fewer individuals.”

Marijuana, well being care and different priorities

Vos stated he intends to create a state-level job power to enhance authorities effectivity, much like what Trump created on the nationwide degree dubbed DOGE. He additionally helps passing a invoice that might permit for the processing of absentee ballots the day earlier than Election Day, a measure that’s had bipartisan help up to now however didn’t move.

Democrats say they may proceed to push for methods to broaden and cut back prices for baby care, well being care for brand new moms and prescribed drugs. Each Republicans and Democrats say they need to do extra to create inexpensive housing. The way forward for the state’s land stewardship program additionally hangs in within the steadiness after the state Supreme Court docket stated Republicans have been illegally blocking funding of initiatives.

Democrats additionally say they hope to revive efforts to legalize medical marijuana, an effort that was backed by some Republicans however that didn’t move final session.

LeMahieu predicted the slimmer Republican majorities will make it tougher for any marijuana invoice to move as a result of some lawmakers “are useless set in opposition to it.”

Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our publication to get our investigative tales and Friday information roundup. This story is revealed in partnership with The Related Press.