Wisconsin @GOP Legislature rejects governor's special session on child care, worker shortages

Wisconsin Legislature rejects governor's special session on child care, worker shortages

Associated Press Sep 20, 2023 Updated 16 hrs ago


https://www.gmtoday.com/news/state/wisconsin-legislature-rejects-governors-special-session-on-child-care-worker-shortages/article_f9ab724e-57c0-11ee-8b72-17c64ba47033.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share


MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday ignored Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' call for a special session to pass a $1 billion package that would keep a pandemic-era child care program running, send more money to the University of Wisconsin and create a paid family leave program.

Republicans in the Senate and Assembly convened the session as required by law, but adjourned less than a minute later after taking no action. It's a familiar show in Wisconsin, as Evers has called 12 previous special sessions that have largely gone this way.
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Republicans have shown little interest in Evers' ideas so far and are taking a different approach on child care.

The Assembly last week approved a package of child care bills that would create a loan program for child care providers, lower the minimum age of child care workers and increase the number of children workers could supervise. The Senate is expected to consider the package this fall....................................

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Evers' proposal goes beyond child care funding.

It would also provide up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for Wisconsin workers starting in 2025 at a cost of $243 million, and would give UW an additional $66 million.
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The Evers package also includes $40 million more for the Wisconsin Technical College System; $100 million more for a grant program targeting healthcare-related worker shortages; $60 million for programs targeting nursing shortages; and $16 million to address teacher shortages.