Gov. Tony Evers vetoed Bill 602 on Monday, which would have required opting Wisconsin into a nationwide expansion of private voucher schools under President Donald Trump’s and Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The bill is expected to divert billions of dollars from public schools and public education.
Evers, who had a long tenure in public education, has been staunchly opposed to the nationwide expansion of private voucher schools and has previously indicated he would not sign onto Wisconsin joining the program.
The expansion would require public funds to be directed to private school tuition through tax incentives.
“It is the first-ever federal effort to fund private school scholarships through vouchers,” Evers said in a statement. “The federal government will pay individuals in exchange for donating to organizations that award scholarships to attend private schools.”
The voucher program provides incentives for people to donate up to $1,700 toward organizations providing private school tuition scholarships, allowing deductions up to $1,700 from their tax bill.
“Put another way, the federal government is now going to use public funds that should be used for public schools to essentially reimburse donors for helping fund private schools instead,” Evers said.
