Rep. Chris Taylor, 608-266-5342
GOP balks at significant investments in our children while funding corporate tax giveaways
MADISON – Today, Republican legislators balked at Governor Evers’ significant proposed investment in special education. According to a Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo, the primary special education fund has not been increased since the 2008-2009 budget. Had this appropriation even kept up with inflation, an additional $61 million dollars would have been needed in funding. Since the 2008-2009 appropriation, the costs of providing special education has skyrocketed for public schools.
Yet in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article published today, Rep. Robin Vos is quoted as saying, “I get that they want more money, but we did quite a bit in the budget.” Rep. Vos is apparently referring to $1.6 million increase in special education funding in the 2017-19 state budget that went into a small appropriation for the most high-need students, not the general special education appropriation under which most school districts receive money. Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) issued the following statement:
“When are our children going to come first? How is it that the Republican controlled legislature can come up with $3 billion for Foxconn, and not $600 million for special education funding which the vast majority of school districts, including in their own communities, desperately need? Just today, Rep. Vos and Senator Fitzgerald announced they are intervening in yet another lawsuit, spending unlimited funds on unlimited attorneys, yet they refuse to commit to the pressing needs of our children and public schools. Once again, these leaders’ priorities are not the priorities of the people, but their own political agenda that shortchanges our children and our public schools.”
