Driving dairy in state budget process

By John Holevoet, director of government affairs

When Slick Willie Sutton (a fine name for a lobbyist, although he was a professional criminal) was asked why he robs banks, he logically responded, “Because that’s where the money is.” 

 Similarly, that’s why lobbyists spend so much time working to get their priorities included in the state’s biennium budget. It is the state’s two-year spending plan. If you have a priority that could cost money, it is only natural to try to get it done in this legislation. 

This budget cycle, we pushed hard in two main areas: assistance for dairy processors and water quality initiatives. We had some success in both areas. 

Additional funds were dedicated to the dairy processor grant program. Also, funds were redesignated to pay for additional efforts by the agriculture department to promote Wisconsin ag exports. The department already does some of this for dairy exports. The shift in funding would mean expanded efforts. As the budget was making its way through the Legislature, a separate bill on ag export promotion was also being done. It would do even more to expand the program if it passes. 

The previous legislative session ended abruptly because of COVID-19, leaving many bills unfinished, including several pieces of water quality legislation. Last session, Gov. Tony Evers declared the year of clean drinking water, and Speaker Vos created a legislative task force on water issues. DBA would still like to see some of the task force’s proposals become law. We have also partnered with other groups on a clean water initiative to advocate for the state to help address other water quality challenges.

We know it has been far too easy to simply point fingers instead of working toward solutions. Inevitably, some of those fingers are pointed at farmers. Our initiative is an attempt to change this unproductive approach. Achieving and maintaining clean water is going to require collaboration as well as significant investments by the state. DBA and our partners proposed a bold spending plan with that in mind. Much of what we were seeking has not been included in this budget, but there may be other options to get these ideas enacted. 

At the same time, the budget the Legislature sent to Evers did contain some positive water quality provisions for which DBA lobbied: 

Increased grant funding for farmer-led watershed conservation groups. DBA so far has partnered with six of these groups across the state to enact conservation practices and track farmers’ progress. These groups let farmers learn from farmers and have really made a difference statewide through the expansion of non-traditional farming practices. 

Increased funding for county conservation programs, from $9.4 million to $11.28 million per year. Conservation departments and our state’s non-point program have never been funded at the level necessary to ensure broad adoption of existing state standards. This is a step in that direction. 

The Well Compensation Grant Program would receive increased funding by
$1 million per year. This directly addresses the problem of contaminated wells, which is necessary to give us the time needed to work on long-term solutions. 

Most of those involved with government affairs were predicting a drawn-out state budget process lasting into the summer and maybe the fall. We have divided government and posturing has begun for the gubernatorial race already. Neither of those facts would normally indicate a quick budget process. However, the Joint Finance Committee, the Legislature’s budget writing committee, defied those expectations and completed its work efficiently.

While the Legislature might be done with its work, the future of the budget is still unknown right now. Gov. Evers still has the option to veto the bill and make the Legislature try again with a different proposal. Vetoing the entire budget would be highly unusual, though. Indeed, it has not happened since 1931. Much more common is the governor exercising his line-item veto authority, which is very broad in Wisconsin. That power only applies to spending bills, but it does mean the final version of the budget that the governor signs can end up being much different than what the Legislature passed. 

DBA will carefully monitor the outcome of the budget process and we expect the governor to have acted on the budget by the time this newsletter reaches your mailbox. We will also push for our other spending priorities to be included in either a supplemental spending bill or handled as stand-alone legislation.