State Budget Update: Badger Bounceback Live Sessions & JFC Hearing Schedule
It’s time to make our voices heard for a pro-worker Wisconsin State Budget. Governor Evers’ 2021-23 Budget contains many positives for working families including repealing Wisconsin’s so-called right to work law, restoring collective bargaining rights for public employee frontline workers, restoring prevailing wage laws, and eliminating the prohibition on Project Labor Agreements. However, the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee now has the ability to make anti-worker changes to the Governor’s Budget. Working people need to raise our voices in support of a pro-worker Wisconsin Budget.
You can share your thoughts on the budget during the Governor’s Budget Listening Sessions called the “Badger Bounceback Budget Live Sessions” and the Joint Finance Committee’s public hearings (calendar below).
Gov. Evers will be holding a series of virtual listening sessions to hear from Wisconsinites. The “Badger Bounceback Live Sessions” will be held in the evening over Zoom and are geared to allow Wisconsinites to discuss, provide feedback, and share how the Governor’s Budget affects us, our families, our unions and our communities.
Governor Evers’ Badger Bounceback Budget Live Sessions
- Economic Recovery & Opportunity: Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here. - Accessible & Affordable Healthcare: Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here. - Transportation & Infrastructure: Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here. - What’s Best for Our Kids: Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here. - Justice Reform & Marijuana Legalization: Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
- Climate Change & Our Environment: Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here.
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) Co-Chairs Rep. Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Sen. Marklein (R-Spring Green) announced the final schedule for four public budget hearings on the budget in April. It is unfortunate that the JFC leadership scheduled only one virtual hearing, severely limiting the opportunity for Wisconsinites to participate in these Budget hearings. The JFC Co-Chairs also scheduled the remaining three public hearings in areas not accessible to the largest portions of our state’s population to be able to travel and attend Budget hearing in the middle of a workday to testify about the State’s Biennial Budget, which has deep impacts on our lives and futures.
Joint Finance Committee Hearing Schedule
Friday, April 9: Whitewater, UW-Whitewater, 800 W Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 21: Rhinelander, The Hodag Dome, 665 Coolidge Ave, Rhinelander, WI 54501. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 22: Menomonie, UW-Stout, 712 Broadway St S, Menomonie, WI 54751. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 28: Virtual. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Those wishing to testify must register in advance; more details to come.
As union members and working families we will raise our voices through our democratic process for the best budget possible in order to lay the groundwork for a fair and equitable economic recovery that centers on advancing the rights and well-being of Wisconsin’s workers.