After previously praising Gov. Tony Evers for his willingness to meet more often and compromise with Republican leaders, state Rep. Joel Kitchens left the Wisconsin State Capitol on Tuesday with a sour taste in his mouth.
The Democratic governor delivered his final State of the State address before a full gallery, setting the stage for 2026 to be the “Year of the Neighbor.”
Evers used the speech to take a victory lap on accomplishments from the past year, noting that 97% of the bills he signed had bipartisan support.
Eliminating the sales tax on household utility bills, providing Medicaid coverage for telehealth services, and bolstering support for public defenders and district attorneys were among the highlights he mentioned. However, he also placed blame on Republicans for what he described as their shortcomings.
Property tax hikes, domestic violence homicides and aging prisons were among the issues he laid at their feet, along with discussions about FoodShare and health care occurring at the federal level.
Kitchens said it was the most divisive of the 12 State of the State addresses he has attended as a legislator, despite the accomplishments Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature achieved together over the past year.
With the Assembly wrapping up its work in the coming days, Kitchens said there are still some topics lawmakers would like resolved before the session ends.
One bill Kitchens hopes will pass before he leaves is a compromise on the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. Under the proposal, about $28 million per year would be used to fund the program, with the focus shifting toward maintaining land rather than purchasing new parcels.
Across the aisle, Democrats used Evers’ final address to praise the outgoing governor. State Sen. Jamie Wall highlighted Evers’ success in cutting taxes, delivering job training and paying down state debt.
“I appreciate the governor’s accomplishments, but we can still do more to help regular people struggling with the cost of living,” Wall said. “We all want to lower costs, support our school kids and protect our communities. The only thing stopping us from doing that work is ourselves. It’s a shame we’re about to adjourn nine months before the next election.”
