(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ announcement that he plans to start an Office of Violence Prevention was met with plenty of Republican criticism that the office was redundant and a misuse of COVID-19 recovery funds.
Evers announced he planned to send $10 million to start the department and put more funding in his 2025-27 budget proposal but Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the funds could be better used if they were sent to the Department of Justice.
“Why do we need a “new office” when you could give $10m to WI DOJ/ @JoshKaulWI for grants to law enforcement?,” Vos wrote on social media. “He’s a liberal Democrat and they ALREADY give grants to law enforcement. Instead you will waste it on even more bureaucrats and DEI? We all know almost all of the money will never go to law enforcement…it’s just cover for another agenda.”
Vos’ comment was in response to Evers Communications Director Britt Cudaback claiming that the Republicans are “so out of touch and so deeply oppose anything @GovEvers does.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee, said that the $10 million in federal funding was a misuse of COVID-19 recovery funds.
“In 2024, the Governor was still sitting on top of nearly $300 million Federal COVID-19 funds,” Tomczyk said in a statement. “Money meant for COVID will be paying for the expansion of government instead of flowing to the people. The Governor has deliberately and knowingly withheld federal dollars from the people of Wisconsin and has ignored input from the State Legislature.
“The Governor has sole discretion over his slush fund. He doles out money to whatever partisan group or cause sticks their hand out. I demand to know why we still have COVID money? Why was it not spent on the COVID response? And since it wasn’t spent on COVID response, why wasn’t it returned to the federal government? Where is the accountability for this money?”
Meanwhile, Democrats across the state voiced support for Evers’ initiative.
“The Governor’s proposal addresses what Wisconsinites have been demanding: a substantive and collaborative solution to gun violence,” said Rep. Ann Roe, D-Janesville. “This initiative protects rights while at the same time providing a path to end gun violence. This program will keep communities safe and is supported by gun owners, law enforcement, and public health officials.”