Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers delivers his State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2025, at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis. He is set to propose an overhaul of Wisconsin’s corrections system. (Joe Timmerman / Wisconsin Watch)
MADISON, WI (WSAU) – The 2025 Wisconsin budget bill is continuing to make headlines. Gov. Tony Evers’ office has proposed another change that would change the way nominees are appointed to state government jobs.
According to Wisconsin Republican State Senator Van Wanggard, Section 50 of the bill proposes that the Advice and Consent of the Senate law be repealed, which would allow Gov. Evers to place nominees into a state government position even if the Wisconsin Senate rejects the nominee.
Proposed repeal of Advice & Consent by Gov. Evers
Back in 2023, the Wisconsin Senate voted to fire seven of Gov. Tony Evers’ appointees to state boards and commissions, which prompted the governor to say that the elected members have “a complete disregard for our democracy.” This proposal also comes four years after state Republican legislators rejected Sen. Brad Pfaff’s (D-Onalaska) nomination to become the next Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and declined to confirm former Wisconsin Department of Health Services secretary-designee Andrea Palmer due to her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wanggard, who represents a portion of Racine and Kenosha counties, further noted that “Table 2” of the “Statewide Position Summary by Funding Source” in the bill shows that Evers’ office intends to add more than 1,100 state employees despite Wisconsin agencies only requesting to add a total of 464 employees in 2025.
These proposals come just days after Gov. Evers made national headlines after it was revealed that his office was attempting to change how biological women and men are addressed in future legislation by removing terms such as “mother,” “father,” “husband,” and “wife” from state law in the 2025 budget bill. Evers claimed during a visit to Wausau on Monday morning that the changes are meant to apply to those seeking IVF treatment despite the issue of IVF not being raised in that section of the bill or linking to any other section that discusses IVF.
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