Checking Evers’ promises on Act 10, prisons, commissions

The first half of Gov. Tony Evers’ term wasn’t what anyone expected.

Evers, a Democrat, not only operated in a divided government with Republicans controlling both legislative chambers, he was tasked with responding to a coronavirus pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 5,000 state residents.

But neither of those hurdles erased the multitude of other issues many Wisconsinites face on a daily basis — many of which Evers promised to address while seeking the state’s highest office.

We’re monitoring 27 of those campaign promises using the PolitiFact Wisconsin Evers-O-Meter. At the halfway point in the governor’s term, it’s time to check in on two high profile issues — rolling back Act 10 and reducing prison population — and two commissions Evers promised to create. 

Promise: Repeal or soften Act 10

Rating: STALLED

In this political atmosphere — and amid a historic pandemic — Evers has not attempted to address Act 10. He is still only halfway through the term, so there’s time to move the needle.

Promise: Work to cut prison population in half in coming years

Rating: IN THE WORKS

Wisconsin is a long way from reaching the goal of cutting the prison population in half — and the immediate progress seen in 2020 largely is related to the pandemic rather than policy changes — but steps have been taken in that direction.

Promise: ​Create ‘blue-ribbon’ panel on agriculture, rural issues

Rating: PROMISE KEPT

For a promise in this vein, keeping it requires creating a panel that meets and generates action or a report. That’s what happened.

Promise: Create ‘blue-ribbon’ panel on Veterans Trust Fund solvency

Rating: PROMISE BROKEN

Staff did hold listening sessions, but the core of this promise was to create a commission, and that didn’t happen.