MADISON, Wis. (AP) — When the Wisconsin Legislature returns to work in January, Republicans will still be in control but will have their smallest majority since they took power in 2011. That gives Democrats, including Gov. Tony Evers, optimism that the two parties can work together better than they have since Evers took office six years ago.
Both parties are eyeing the state’s massive budget surplus, which stands at more than $4 billion. What to do with that money will fuel debate over the next two-year budget, to be written in 2025, while questions hang in the air over whether Evers plans to run for a third term in 2026 and how the state will deal with the president. -elect Donald Trump’s government.
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New dynamics in the legislature
Democrats gained seats in the November elections thanks to redrawn maps ordered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Republican majority now stands at 54-45 in the General Assembly and 18-15 in the Senate. Democrats have ten more seats in the General Assembly than the previous session and four more seats in the Senate, and are hopeful of gaining the majority after the 2026 elections.
“We have already seen a shift in the Capitol as a result of the new maps,” Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Great Neubauer told The Associated Press.
She and other Democrats predict this will lead to more pressure from rank-and-file Republicans in competitive districts to move to the middle and compromise with Democrats.
“Everyone understands, at least at this point, that we have to work together and work together,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu told the AP. “And it’s important to get some things done.”
Pushing back against President Trump
Democrats say they have spoken with Evers and Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul about how Wisconsin can oppose the Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations. But Democrats say they are also looking at other ways the state can fight Trump’s policies on issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
“We are concerned about many of the things that former and future President Trump could do, especially when it comes to deportation and immigration,” said Senate Democratic Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein.
Republicans prioritize lowering taxes. Democrats are open
Republicans passed a $3.5 billion tax cut, which Evers vetoed in the previous budget, reducing it to just $175 million. With another large surplus, Republicans say they want to try again.
“People who are struggling to pay their bills,” LeMahieu said. “We heard that during our local races. And so we want to help help families out there. We have the money to do it. And that will be our first priority.”
He said he would like to see a tax cut of about $2 billion.
Democrats say they are not against tax cuts, but they want them to be aimed at helping the middle and lower classes and families.
“We are not interested in tax cuts that primarily benefit wealthy Wisconsinites or corporations,” Neubauer said. “But we are certainly open to tax cuts that help those who are struggling to make ends meet.”
Education financing for primary and secondary education
State Superintendent of Schools Jill Underly proposed spending more than $4 billion on elementary and secondary education in her budget proposal, which must still be approved by the Legislature. That will almost certainly not happen, both Republicans and Democrats said.
“We are not going to spend $4 billion on education, I can guarantee you that right now,” LeMahieu said.
Although Democrats say they are prioritizing education funding, “I don’t think we can match that,” Hesselbein said of the $4 billion request.
University of Wisconsin
Leaders of Wisconsin’s cash-strapped universities have asked for $855 million in additional funding in the next budget, an increase of nearly 11%. System President Jay Rothman says schools need the money to stave off tuition increases, cover the increases, subsidize tuition and keep two-year branch campuses open in the face of declining enrollment and flat state aid.
Evers has promised to include the request in his budget, but Republican leaders said they would not approve much of it, and Democrats also said it was a goal that would likely not be met.
LeMahieu said the university must reconsider spending in light of declining enrollment.
“We’re going to need a substantial change in the way they program,” LeMahieu said. “We can’t just keep spending more and more on a system that trains fewer and fewer people.”
Marijuana, healthcare and other priorities
Democrats say they will continue to push for ways to expand and reduce costs for child care, health care for new mothers and prescription drugs. Both Republicans and Democrats say they want to do more to create affordable housing. The future of the state’s land management program is also at stake after the state Supreme Court said Republicans illegally blocked funding for projects.
Democrats also say they hope to revive efforts to legalize medical marijuana, an effort that was supported by some Republicans but failed last session.
LeMahieu predicted that the smaller Republican majorities will make it more difficult to pass a marijuana bill because some lawmakers are “absolutely against it.”
