Staff Reports
Governor Tony Evers spent this summer blasting President Trump and Congressional Republicans for driving up costs for Wisconsin families, leaning on a Center for American Progress Action analysis that puts the added burden at about $2,035 per Wisconsin household. It’s a tidy number for a press release. It’s also the perfect time for critics to remind voters about Evers’ own 2023 partial veto that turned “2024‑2025” into “2024‑2425” — a move his foes call a 400‑year tax gift to local school districts. If you want drama, Wisconsin has it: data, court rulings, and plenty of political theater.
Evers’ claims rely on a CAP Action analysis
Governor Evers’ radio address and press materials cite the CAP Action study as the source for the $2,072 nationwide figure and the roughly $2,035 Wisconsin number. That study ties higher costs to federal policy choices like tariffs, energy rules, and changes to health subsidies. Fine — it’s an analysis, not gospel. The CAP Action team made assumptions to reach those totals, and the governor used their numbers to make a point about President Trump and Republicans. Campaign messaging and policy analysis walk hand in hand. That doesn’t excuse selective memory.
The “2425” partial‑veto — legal, effective, and politically explosive
Back in 2023, Governor Evers used Wisconsin’s broad partial‑veto power to rewrite budget text so a $325 per‑pupil revenue‑limit increase read through “2425.” The Wisconsin Supreme Court reviewed the move and, in a 4–3 decision, said the governor’s use of the veto was constitutional. So yes, the veto is legally valid. But “legal” and “wise” are not the same thing. The veto increased the statutory cap schools can use — and independent analyses show K‑12 levies rose sharply afterward. That’s the real ticket: Evers gave districts more room to raise revenue, even if local boards and voters ultimately decide how much to levy each year.
Power to tax versus guaranteed tax hikes
Let’s be clear about the nuance that fact‑checkers keep pointing out: the veto didn’t literally force every homeowner to write bigger checks for centuries. It changed the law so the limit exists longer, and that expands the legal authority for higher levies. Independent experts at the Wisconsin Policy Forum documented substantial levy growth after the change, which proves the veto had real-world effects. If you complain about higher costs today, you can either criticize federal policy or face your own record. Evers chose both: he blames Washington while giving local governments more power to raise property taxes.
Political fallout and what Republicans should do next
Did Evers pick a bad time to lecture voters about inflation? Absolutely. Republicans should keep the pressure on — push the constitutional amendment to curb the partial veto, highlight the levy data, and remind voters which officials expanded local taxing power. This story mixes numbers, court rulings, and political theater. Voters deserve straight answers, not selective outrage. If politicians want credibility when they preach about the cost of living, they might try practicing what they preach.
