State Budget: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Students
WEAC has serious concerns regarding the recent budget passed by the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee and the subsequent deal reached between the Governor and Senate leaders. The budget, as it stands, fails to adequately address the needs of our schools, staff and—most importantly—our students.
Key issues include:
- Insufficient Funding: The budget does not provide necessary increases for K-12 education, which will leave many districts struggling to maintain programs and services and further open the floodgates of school referendums. There is ZERO increase in new state aid for public schools in both years of the budget. Sixty-six percent of districts are already set to lose state aid next year and will further fall behind if this deal is passed.
- Missed Opportunities: Despite a strong state economy and billions of surplus budget dollars, the deal prioritizes tax cuts and political lip service over public education.
- Long-Term Impact: Without new resources, schools will face continued challenges in recruiting and retaining quality educators, providing up-to-date materials and schools, and supporting student well-being in areas of mental health and school meals.
WEAC President Urges Immediate Action
As the state budget deal is unfolding here in Wisconsin, Donald Trump’s Big, Bad, Very Ugly Bill is advancing. The anger we feel toward our state elected officials is amplified tenfold as we see the avalanche of damage soon to come from a hostile federal government.
WEAC President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen urged all WEAC members and supporters of public education not to lose hope. She said now is the time to act.
“WEAC members, you have led the efforts that resulted in thousands of educator calls and emails to the governor and Legislature,” Wirtz-Olsen said. “You’ve engaged hundreds of educators who have met with elected officials, face-to-face, to plead our case. The leadership you have shown has put a better deal on the table that we would have seen otherwise, but there is still work to do and change is possible.”
Wirtz-Olsen asked all WEAC members to do four things: Call their legislators, call the governor, email their legislators, and email the governor. Even if you have already done these things, it is good to do them again, she said.
“Tell legislators to vote no on any budget deal and tell the governor that any budget that fails students must be vetoed,” Wirtz-Olsen said.
1. Call your legislators (Get the names and numbers of your legislators)
2. Email your legislators
3. Call the governor (608-266-1212)
4. Email the governor
If you know your state senator’s name, here is the contact information for each Senate office. A vote on the budget will come up in the Senate first.
2025 Wisconsin State Senators
1 Jacque, Andre – R
(608) 266-3512
Sen.Jacque@legis.wisconsin.gov
2 Wimberger, Eric – R
(608) 266-5670
Sen.Wimberger@legis.wisconsin.gov
3 Carpenter, Tim – D
(608) 266-8535
Sen.Carpenter@legis.wisconsin.gov
4 Drake, Dora – D
(608) 266-5810
Sen.Drake@legis.wisconsin.gov
5 Hutton, Rob – R
(608) 266-2512
Sen.Hutton@legis.wisconsin.gov
6 Johnson, LaTonya – D
(414) 313-1241
Sen.Johnson@legis.wisconsin.gov
7 Larson, Chris – D
(608) 266-7505
Sen.Larson@legis.wisconsin.gov
8 Habush Sinykin, Jodi – D
(608) 266-5830
Sen.HabushSinykin@legis.wisconson.gov
9 LaMahieu, Devin – R
(608) 266-2056
Sen.LeMahieu@legis.wisconsin.gov
10 Stafsholt, Robert – R
(608) 266-7745
Sen.Stafsholt@legis.wisconsin.gov
11 Nass, Stephen – R
(608) 266-2635
Sen.Nass@legis.wisconsin.gov
12 Felzkowski, Mary – R
(608) 266-2509
Sen.Felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov
13 Jagler, John – R
(608) 266-5660
Sen.Jagler@legis.wisconsin.gov
14 Keyeski, Sarah – D
(608) 266-0751
Sen.Keyeski@legis.wisconsin.gov
15 Spreitzer, Mark – D
(608) 266-2253
Sen.Spreitzer@legis.wisconsin.gov
16 Ratcliff, Melissa – D
(608) 266-9170
Sen.Ratcliff@legis.wisconsin.gov
17 Marklein, Howard – R
(608) 266-0703
Sen.Marklein@legis.wi.gov
18 Dassler-Alfheim, Kristin – D
(608) 266-7153
Sen.Dassler-Alfheim@legis.wisconsin.gov
19 Cabral-Guevara, Rachel – R
(608) 266-0718
Sen.Cabral-Guevara@legis.wisconsin.gov
20 Feyen, Dan – R
(608) 266-5300
Sen.Feyen@legis.wisconsin.gov
21 Wanggaard, Van – R
(608) 266-1832
Sen.Wanggaard@legis.wisconsin.gov
22 Wirch, Robert – D
(608) 266-5660
Sen.Wirch@legis.wisconsin.gov
23 James, Jesse – R
(608) 266-7511
Sen.James@legis.wisconsin.gov
24 Testin, Patrick – R
(608) 266-3123
Sen.Testin@legis.wisconsin.gov
25 Quinn Romaine – R
(608) 266-3510
Sen.Quinn@legis.wisconsin.gov
26 Roys, Kelda – D
(608) 266-1627
Sen.Roys@legis.wisconsin.gov
27 Hesselbein, Dianne – D
(608) 266-6670
Sen.Hesselbein@legis.wisconsin.gov
28 Bradley, Julian – R
(608) 266-5400
Sen.Bradley@legis.wisconsin.gov
29, Tomczyk, Cory – R
(608) 266-2502
Sen.Tomczyk@legis.wisconsin.gov
30 Wall, Jamie – D
(608) 266-0484
Sen.Wall@legis.wisconsin.gov
31 Smith, Jeff – D
(608) 266-8546
Sen.Smith@legis.wisconsin.gov
32 Pfaff, Brad – D
(608) 266-5490
Sen.Pfaff@legis.wisconsin.gov
33 Kapenga, Chris – R
(608) 266-9174
Sen.Kapenga@legis.wisconsin.gov
