Earlier this week, I received the incredible honor of being named the Senate vice-chair of the powerful Joint Finance Committee.

The Joint Finance Committee is responsible for determining all state appropriations and expenditures, including the biennial budget. I was first appointed as a member of the committee in 2022.

As Senate vice-chair of JFC, I will be more heavily involved in the negotiation process when putting together our state’s two-year spending plan and deciding what to do with our projected $4.6 billion budget surplus.

I am extremely proud that my colleagues have the confidence in me to be a leading voice in handling our state’s finances. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously and I cannot wait to begin the budget proceedings in January.

One of my top priorities will be making key investments in our state while also reducing the tax burden on the hard-working taxpayers of Wisconsin.

The next biennial budget will cover the two-year period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027.