Evers Sues Legislature, Vos Says it Will 'Eliminate' Pay Raises for State Workers

Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 -- 4:01 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) Governor Tony Evers has filed a lawsuit against Republican legislators.

The Democratic governor said lawmakers have violated the state Constitution and blocked basic government functions through what he calls “legislative vetoes,” most recently when a committee blocked approved pay raises for Universities of Wisconsin employees.

“When the Republicans decided that 35,000 people that worked for the UW System shouldn't get a raise, without having any legislation that gives them that authority, that's just bullshit. That’s illegal. You can’t do that.”

Governor Evers is challenging three instances in which he claims lawmakers have blocked basic government functions. “35,000 Wisconsinites that are working their tails off every day, have a 4% increase in pay. And one person or the Republican Party in the legislature decides, well we're not going to do that."

“At the end of the day, when we tell 35,000 Wisconsinites to stick it, you're not going to get your raise until whatever, until we negotiate something. That's not in law. You can't do that. And so that's why we made this. That's why we're suing. And that's why we're gonna win.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has held up the UW pay raises over diversity, equity and inclusion funding, said the lawsuit filed by Evers would "eliminate" pay raises approved last week to most state employees.

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