Here & Now

>> A deal that made strange bedfellows of Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany and Democratic state lawmakers fell apart this week.

Governor Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders had negotiated a $1.8 billion spending package that sent $600 million more to K-12 schools, including half of that for special education.

The spending designed to lower property taxes.

It also eliminated taxes on tips and overtime, and gave $850 million of the state's projected $2.5 billion budget surplus, directly back to income taxpayers, in the form of $300 checks to singles and $600 for married filers.

But when it went to the full legislature, the state Senate voted it down with three Republicans and all Democrats rejecting the plan.

Tom Tiffany had come out earlier lambasting the measure, calling it an Evers backroom deal, saying it's, quote, another Madison gimmick that fails to deliver lasting tax relief for Wisconsin taxpayers that put him in sync with Democrats like Senator Mark Spreitzer.

>> This is money that is simply not targeted to those who are actually hurting in this economy.

And with a price tag that we simply don't have the money to actually fund.

>> For his part, Governor Evers torched Tiffany, saying he purportedly made phone calls to help tank the deal and that needed investments and tax reductions wouldn't happen because some Republicans and Democrats would, quote, rather do what's best for rather do what's best for