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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – When you pay a dollar of your hard earned wages to the state in taxes, in Governor Evers mind, something magical happens. Poof! It’s no longer “your” dollar, it becomes the state’s dollar.
And now that Wisconsin’s budget surplus grew in 2025, Governor Evers has no intention of giving you any of your dollars back. Remember, in his mind they aren’t yours anymore.
The Governor would like Republicans in the legislature to reconsider some of his budget proposals that didn’t make it into the state spending plan. Consider what did make it in: the governor’s ever-increasing school spending, with no accountability for student achievement. A new program for daycare where the state pays directly, not the parents. Raises for state employees, many of whom still haven’t returned to in-person work. About $800,000 in new spending.
Tax cuts? Seriously. Republicans had a plan that would have cut state income taxes by about $700 per family. The governor kaboshed that, because he insisted that people who don’t earn enough to pay taxes be able to get refunds to. Instead the tax cut the governor signed was about $24. One free pizza a year.
Remember, the governor doesn’t consider it your money. The 24-bucks was a waste, as far is he’s concerned. It’s just less money that he can spend on other things.
So here should be the starting point for this discussion. “Governor Evers, how much money should go back to the people of Wisconsin – who were overtaxed over the past few years?” Republicans should suggest an about – about half of it. Then we can debate what the rest of the surplus might be spent on.
But it’s guaranteed not to happen. The governor doesn’t think of it as giving you your money back. He considers it a raid on the state treasury. The more he gives back to you, the less there is for him to spend.
Chris Conley
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