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Gov. Evers Calls on Wisconsinites to Contact Their Legislators

Republicans on Joint Finance Committee gut Badger Bounceback agenda

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today called on Wisconsinites to contact their senators and representatives in the Wisconsin State Legislature. The call comes as Republicans on the Joint Committee on Finance today voted to gut the governor's Badger Bounceback agenda, the 2021-23 biennial budget, which includes provisions supported by an overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites such as expanding BadgerCare, legalizing marijuana, raising the minimum wage, and ensuring a nonpartisan approach to redistricting.

Every Wisconsinite can enter their home address here to find their state senator and assembly representatives' phone number and email address to contact their legislators and ask them to support Gov. Evers' Badger Bounceback agenda. Wisconsinites can also reach their legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline by dialing 608-266-9960 or toll-free by calling 1-800-362-9472.

“We simply cannot afford for politics to get in the way of making sure we can recover and bounce back from this pandemic. Republicans have obstructed our ability to beat this virus every step of the way, and now they're playing politics with our economic recovery,” said Gov. Evers. “Clearly these legislators need to hear directly from the same folks I've been listening to these past seven months, and that's why I'm calling on Wisconsinites in every corner of the state today to contact their legislators and ask them to support our Badger Bounceback agenda.”

Over the course of seven months, Gov. Evers hosted 10 listening sessions attended by thousands of Wisconsinites from every corner of the state both prior to introducing the 2021-23 biennial budget and following its introduction in February. Late last Friday, Republicans on the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee indicated they plan to gut the 2021-23 biennial budget, eliminating more than 380 provisions from the governor's budget, including several items supported by an overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites.

Among the items removed from the governor's budget includes provisions to expand BadgerCare, legalize marijuana, raise the minimum wage, ensure a nonpartisan approach to redistricting, address and mitigate the climate crisis, bolster equity and inclusion in state government, modernize the unemployment insurance system, establish automatic voter registration and make voting easier, allow undocumented Wisconsinites to get driver's licenses, reform the juvenile justice system and adult criminal justice system, create an extreme risk protection order process, protect consumers and reduce prescription drug prices, establish statewide PFAS standards and ensuring clean drinking water for Wisconsinites, close the dark store loophole, and support working families.

A full list of the more than 380 items removed from Gov. Evers' budget is available here: STATE OF WISCONSIN (govdelivery.com).