Sen Robert Cowles announces he won't seek re-election in the newly redrawn 2nd District
A Republican lawmaker from Allouez is on board with plans to spend $35 million on raises for prison workers.
Senator Rob Cowles says they need to increase starting wages to fill job openings. He says it’s a lot of money, but it’s necessary to keep staff. He says they had to put in significant money because of the overtime issues.
Majority Republicans on the Legislature’s budget committee are putting the money in the state budget. The $35 million amount is more than the nearly 24 million Governor Evers was proposing for raises.
Cowles hopes by spending the money now they can lower overtime rates over time. He believes that would happen if not as many guards are forced to work extra hours to cover shifts.
