In just a few short weeks, the governor and the legislature will start working in earnest on preparing the next two-year state budget.
Unfortunately, the budget process has gotten off to a bad start.
Governor Walker recently unveiled his initial budget plans to a roomful of Republican operatives and wealthy campaign donors in California – rather than talking to the people of Wisconsin and first getting their input on their top priorities.
The details of what the governor and his allies have revealed are just as troubling.
Republican leaders seem to be pushing the same divisive policies as they did the past two years – giving more taxpayer funding to private voucher schools at the expense of public schools, more tax breaks for the wealthy and further cuts to higher education.
The people of our state sent a clear message in this election – they are sick and tired of partisan politics trumping the best interests of middle-class families.
And Republicans cannot claim a mandate for continuing their extreme agenda, as Assembly Democratic candidates actually received 200-thousand more votes statewide.
Our citizens want a renewed focus on creating good-paying jobs, strengthening public schools, protecting access to affordable healthcare, and moving past the polarization that plagued the last legislative session.
Republicans campaigned on bipartisanship and working together – and we will hold them to that.
It’s time for them to listen to the will of the people of Wisconsin – not just a national right-wing echo chamber.