Politics

GOP lawmakers tout state budget in La Crosse, say, if governor doesn’t sign, it’s “a whole new ballgame.”

Published

5 years ago

June 27, 2019

Tony Kurtz (left) and Loren Oldenburg (2nd from left) were among Republican lawmakers talking about the budget at La Crosse's Dura-Tech plant

Western Wisconsin Republicans say the new state budget is good for them, and also includes much of what the Democratic governor wants.

Meeting with reporters Thursday at the Dura-Tech printing plant in La Crosse, a group of GOP legislators celebrated items in the budget, which they said should help Wisconsin residents of all types.

Sen Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), speaking to reporters, urged Gov. Tony Evers to sign the budget and avoid vetoes.

Testin said that if the governor vetoes the entire budget, it would be “a whole new ballgame.”

Evers has yet to hint at whether he’ll veto the budget. When Republicans held the Senate, Assembly and the governorship under Scott Walker, they didn’t agree on a budget until Sept. 21, 2017 — two months past the deadline.

The lawmakers said the budget provides more money for prisons located in the region, as well as for nature and recreation areas such as the Elroy-Sparta bike trail.

Assemblyman Tony Kurtz said the budget has “over $500 million in tax relief for middle and lower income families,” meaning a family earning $50,000 a year will see a tax cut of $180 over the two-year plan.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.