Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Budget season/Lobby Days


Cartoon illustrating the Wisconsin state budget process: START 1. State agencies and constitutional offices form their own budgets.. 2. which are sent to the Governor. 3. The Governor develops .. 4. The FIRST BUDGET DRAFT. 5. The Joint Finance Committee 6. Reads it, then schedules 4 public hearings around the state. 7. Anyone in Wisconsin can speak. 8. The committee edits the budget based on what people want. 9. Time for the Senate and the Assembly. 10. They go back and forth .. 11. Until both can agree on a draft. 12. If they can't agree, they form a committee to find a compromise. 13. It is sent back to the Governor for a final edit. 14. The Governor may change parts of it .. 15. Finally, the budget is complete! 16. State Budget approved.
It's budget season in Wisconsin and 
the Governor will release his budget on Tuesday, February 18

In the past few years, Republicans, with their gerrymandered majorities, have ignored his recommendations. While the Joint Finance Committee is still heavily stacked, smaller Republican majorities in the Assembly and Senate, and the possibility that control could flip in 2026, may provide a better chance to negotiate. 
 
 
Illustration of current make up by party of Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senate showing current Republican control of Senate by 18-15 (was 22-11) and Republic control of Assembly by 54-45 (was 64-35) with 2026 opportunity of 2 Senate seats for Democrats to win control and 5 new Assembly seats for Democrats to win control.

Advocacy groups are gearing up for in-person lobby days where people from around the state gather for training on issues and meetings with their representatives. 

Several opportunities for action were highlighted at the February 15 Wisconsin Transit Summit, where the budget process was discussed (and the source of these illustrations).

If you can, plan to attend one or more of these important events. Because intercity transit in Wisconsin is so abysmal, try using https://www.groupcarpool.com to seek or offer car pool rides.
We will update this list as more events are scheduled.
 

No comments: