Evers to give fourth State of State as reelection race looms

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers was set to return to the Wisconsin Assembly chamber on Tuesday night to deliver his fourth State of the State speech as his reelection looms in November and the Republican-controlled Legislature nears the end of its session for the year.

Evers, a Democrat, gave his speech virtually last year just before the COVID-19 vaccine was readily available to the public. He’ll make this year’s address where it has traditionally been made: before lawmakers, members of the state Supreme Court, other elected officials and invited guests.

It comes about a month later than normal and as the Legislature prepares to end its biennial session in three weeks, making it even less likely than usual that Republicans would act on anything Evers calls on them to do.

Evers and the Republican legislators have found little common ground over the past three years. Evers rarely meets with GOP leaders and Republicans are advancing a conservative agenda that they know Evers will veto but that will give them fodder to use on the campaign trail.

In areas where the governor and lawmakers have come together, such as the two state budgets Evers signed into law, they have squabbled over who can take credit. For example, Evers has been touting the $2 billion income tax cut he signed as part of the last budget, even though that was written by Republicans who rejected his calls to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

More than anything, though, the prime-time speech will give Evers a platform to highlight his record and make the case for why he should be reelected in November.

Evers has called on the Legislature to tap into the state's projected $3.8 billion surplus to send every taxpayer a $150 check — a similar move to what Republican Gov. Scott Walker did as he...