Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday that the Wisconsin Senate is unlikely to reconsider a failed $1.8 billion tax relief and school funding package after Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, indicated her chamber would not return for another vote.
The proposal, negotiated between Evers and Republican legislative leaders, included property tax relief, taxpayer rebate checks, increased funding for special education and K-12 schools, and the elimination of state income taxes on tips and overtime pay. It passed the Republican-controlled Assembly but failed in the Senate on a 15-18 vote in May, with all 15 Democrats and three Republicans opposing it.
Hesselbein told WISN-TV on Monday that she had spoken with Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and that, with none of the 15 Democrat Senators willing to switch their no votes to yes votes, the Senate would not reconvene for a revote. She said none of the Democrats who voted against the measure had expressed regret about their vote to kill the tax relief package.
Today, in response, Evers told WISN TV, “If their leader is saying no way, my guess is it’s going to be no way.” Evers went on to say that Hesselbein “controls what people (Democrat Senators) get to do, who’s going to be head of the Joint Finance Committee on the Senate side, and I’m sure she has given promises there…and I’m sure she has got people wrapped around her finger by giving them the jobs they want.”
Evers further remarked, “We could bring people back into special session, but if there’s no change in the Senate, there’s no reason to drag anybody into Madison to do it. It’s not anything to do with Hesselbein or me or anybody else. It’s about kids and affordability.”
Gov. Evers abruptly canceled a scheduled appearance at the fundraiser of Sen. Dora Drake of Milwaukee after Drake voted no on the tax relief package.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, had previously called for another vote on the measure. The package aimed to address a state budget surplus by returning funds to taxpayers and supporting education initiatives.
The continued in-fighting between Gov. Evers and Sen. Hesselbein, the leader of Gov. Evers’ party in the State Senate, suggests that there is no new effort or momentum to pass the tax relief package again.
