The following comes by way of Dentons 50 partner firm Capitol Consultants
After 10 hours of debate, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed the 2019-2021 Executive Budget on a 60 to 39 vote. All 36 Democrats and 3 Republicans voted against passage of the budget. Joining the Democrats, were Republican Representatives Janel Brantjen (R-Menomonee Falls), Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger) and Tim Ramthun (R-Campbellsport).
The amended legislation now moves on to the Wisconsin State Senate, which is scheduled to begin debate on the bill at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
Democrats offered five amendments to the budget that were tabled on a party-line 63-35 vote (Representative David Bowen, D-Milwaukee, was not present).
Those amendments were:
- Assembly Amendment 2: Health Care related amendment. Includes Medicaid expansion and other healthcare investments.
- Assembly Amendment 3: K-12 related amendment. Funds special education at the level that Governor Evers proposed, plus other provisions.
- Assembly Amendment 4: UW related amendment.
- Assembly Amendment 5: Clean water related amendment
- Assembly Amendment 6: Dark Store “loop hole” related amendment
After a lively 10-hour debate, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Finance John Nygren (R-Marinette) noted the majority of the debate centered around issues that Assembly Democrats did not offer amendments on; like taxes, transportation funding, legalization of marijuana, shared revenue and increasing funding for stewardship