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Ag Provisions Included in List of Walker Budget Vetoes
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/21/2017

Governor Scott Walker released a list of 99 final veto decisions for the 2017-19 state budget, which was approved by the full legislature last week. The governor claims these vetoes improve the general fund balance by $16.5 million in the current biennium and by an estimated $71 million over the next two years.

"This budget maintains the highest appropriated levels of K-12 school aid in state history, eliminates the state-levied property tax, and keeps property taxes for the typical homeowner lower than 2010 levels," Walker said. "This budget shows we listened to the priorities of all state residents. We invested in schools, worker training, and enacted broad-based tax relief. We are working and winning for Wisconsin."

One of the provisions to be cut from Walker's final version include funding for the Livestock Premises Identification program. He decided to scrap the budget item because its being financed by money from the Agricultural Chemical Management fund.

"The revenues from the fund are generated from feed, fertilizer, and pesticides, and are used for the regulation and oversight of those programs," he said. "Also, there is no evidence that additional funds are necessary to manage this program. The department believes it can manage this program with existing funds."

He also announced a partial veto for payments that go toward wolf damage.

"The department pays damage claims based on the value of the damage established by administrative rule through a panel of experts. Further, I object to permitting more than three percent of the voluntary payments for the endangered resources program to be used for wildlife damage claims, as these funds should continue to be used primarily for improving land or habitats for endangered or threatened species."

He is also vetoing a provision for FoodShare Employment and Training, saying there is no additional funding or positions included in the bill to implement the mandate. But Walker announced he is directing the Department of Health Services to develop a protocol for better informing all FoodShare applicants and participants about the training program.


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