2021-23 State Budget

State Budgets are moral documents that offer a powerful reflection of a state's collective priorities and values - yet, most people don't pay attention to the details of a budget proposal.

For this project, we analyzed 12 vital programs that impact reproductive, maternal and child health throughout the three versions of the state budget. The three versions included Governor Evers’ original budget, the Republican legislative version that passed both houses, and the Governor’s partial-vetoed version. We searched each version for each program’s allocated funds, or lack thereof, and evaluated what that amount meant for the programs. We then assigned an emoji describing how we felt about each program’s budget throughout each version. ​


Opportunities to Be Heard in the Budget Process:

2019-21 State Budget

Well Woman Program
Governor Evers
Governor Evers increased the funding by $200,000 over the next biennium and removed a significant hurdle that has been put in place under Governor Walker that prevented these funds from being distributed to certain providers. ​
GOP Majority in Legislature
Republicans maintained the funding increase,
Signed Budget
We are happy this stayed in the budget, but there is much work to be done to ensure this investment has the impact that has been lacking for many years. We remain hopeful by this inclusion. 
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12 month medicaid postpartum coverage
Governor Evers
Evers' budget extended Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum, invested in the health of mothers, and would have improved access to essential services and impacted the health of infants.
State Republicans
This was removed this from the budget. Fewer women will have access to the important care they need during the critical postpartum period.
Signed Budget
Postpartum care for women is a critical piece of maternal and infant health. Women and babies across our state need their legislators to prioritize and invest in their postpartum health.
Doula support
Governor Evers
We were excited & hopeful that Governor Evers' Healthy Women and Healthy Babies initiative included doula reimbursement. Wisconsin's infant mortality rate for African-American babies is the highest in the nation, and our state must recognize this crisis and invest in moving the dial.
State Republicans
By removing this investment, Republicans send the message to communities of color that they are not their priority. While this was an expected outcome, this loss of investment for women and children is heartbreaking.
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Final Budget
Wisconsin is already ranked as the highest infant mortality state in the nation, and without smart investment, we will continue to slide. This is an area our legislators should feel the heat on, and be ashamed of turning their backs on this crisis this budget cycle.
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Early Childhood
Governor Evers
Evers' Budget made significant investments to improve access to high-quality childcare programs by increasing support for YoungStar and Wisconsin Shares.  This included significant increases in childcare reimbursement rates, which are currently among the lowest in the nation.
GOP Majority in Legislature
Republicans included a $56.5 million increase in reimbursement rates for childcare providers. This is $24 million less than Evers' budget.
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Final Signed Budget
Quality, affordable, and accessible childcare remains a struggle for families and is a barrier to employment. Additionally, studies show a direct link from early childhood investments to better outcomes for children. This should be a much higher priority as early childhood is such a smart investment. ​
InFANT Mortality prevention
Governor Evers
Gov. Evers recognized the crisis that is black infant mortality in WI and added five full-time positions for an infant mortality prevention program.
GOP Majority in Legislature
While we are glad Republicans kept the 5 positions in the budget, without Medicaid expansion, it is unclear how these positions will be funded.
Signed Budget
It is still to be determined how these positions are funded and how effective they, alone, can be in addressing the vast health disparities that exist in our communities of color.
K-12 PUblic school education
Governor Evers
Governor Evers' budget invested $1.4 billion in K-12 education, with $600 million towards special education.
GOP Majority in Legislature
Republicans allocated $500 million to K-12 education. This cuts the funding from Evers' budget by about 2/3.
Signed Budget
Governor Evers used his partial veto power to increase the amount to a total of $587 million.
LEAD AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER
Governor Evers
Evers' budget invested $14.2 million in lead testing and abatement and included funding to address the issue of childhood lead poisoning. Evers' also increased bonding authority: $13.5 million for the clean water fund, $3.5 million for the safe drinking water loan program, and $40 million to replace lead service lines. ​
GOP Majority in Legislature
​Republicans cut $40 million increase in bonding authority to replace lead service lines, the pipes that connect homes to the water mains under city streets, from Evers' budget.
Final Signed Budget
While the final budget signed by Evers has higher funding for clean water than under Gov. Walker, we missed a big opportunity by removing the $40 million to targeted lead issues, which most directly affect children in Wisconsin.
LICENSES for undocumented individuals
Governor Evers
Governor Evers' budget provided undocumented people with identification cards and the option to qualify for driver's permits.
GOP Majority in Legislature
This was removed by Republicans.
Signed Budget
Removing the barriers for immigrants to legally drive would help people retain employment, make our roads safer and provide security for families. Undocumented immigrants could legally have driver's licenses in Wisconsin until 2007, when our state lawmakers took this right away. This right should be restored.
Medicaid expansion
Governor Evers
Evers' budget would have fully expanded Medicaid to 138% FPL providing 82,000 low income Wisconsinites access. Full expansion would have brought $1.6 billion in new federal funding, generating $324.5 million in state savings - which would have been available to invest in programs like the Healthy Women Healthy Babies initiative. ​
GOP Majority in Legislature
Republicans once again rejected full Medicaid expansion, but did increase Medicaid funding by $200 million.
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Final Budget
Wisconsin needs full Medicaid expansion and this is a big lost opportunity. People across our state are struggling to afford healthcare. It is wrong to turn away from an opportunity to provide 82,000 people access. The additional investment opportunities in good programs, lost by refusing federal money, are devastating. 
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minimum wage
Governor Evers
Governor Evers' budget increased the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.50 by 2023. After 2023 it would grow at the rate of inflation. His budget also included a task force to look at ways to get minimum wage to $15. ​
GOP Majority in Legislature
Republicans scrapped Evers' minimum wage increase plans and the task force. They approved a 2% increase for most state employees, and a 14% boost for state prison employees.
Signed Budget
Wisconsin's low minimum wages means many working poor will remain unable to lift themselves out of poverty perpetuating disparities. We must keep the focus on this issue.
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women's health block grant
Governor Evers
Evers' budget increased funding for the Women's Health Block Grant to a total of $1.9 million each biennium. His budget also expanded Women's Health Block Grant, Title V and Title X funding to entities and providers that offer abortion referrals and services but does not change the prohibition on using state or federal funds for abortion services.  ​
GOP Majority in Legislature
Republicans removed the funding increase and the definition changes that expanded who is eligible for these funds, in particular to Planned Parenthood clinics.
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Final Budget
Women’s Health Block Grant funds are distributed to local public health departments and organizations that provide critical services like cancer screenings, testing, and treatment for (STIs), patient education and counseling, pregnancy diagnosis, prenatal counseling, referrals, and other health services. Access to these services should be expanded.