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.
Our Sources
Sources as noted