Madison, WI – Governor Tony Evers has vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have made Wisconsin a pioneer in offering portable benefits accounts for app-based drivers, drawing sharp criticism from Senator Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin) and Representative Alex Dallman (R-Markesan). The legislation, which aimed to provide more than 100,000 Wisconsinites with access to benefits like health care, paid time off, and retirement savings, was designed to preserve the independence valued by gig economy workers.
The bill would have allowed companies such as Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, and Lyft to voluntarily contribute to worker-controlled benefit accounts without facing legal risks under current laws. According to the legislators, 88% of drivers choose gig work for its flexibility and independence, but existing regulations discourage companies from offering support due to potential legal consequences.
“Governor Evers just told over 100,000 Wisconsinites that they don’t matter,” Senator Bradley said. “This veto blocks working parents, students, retirees, and entrepreneurs from building additional financial security – all because the Governor refuses to accept that work in the 21st century doesn’t look like it did when he was young.”
Representative Dallman echoed the sentiment, accusing Evers of prioritizing “outdated special interest politics” over the needs of working families. “He vetoed innovation, he vetoed independence, and he vetoed hope for thousands of Wisconsinites who just want a fair shot,” Dallman said.
Evers justified his veto, saying the bill didn’t do enough.
“I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the bill’s definition of independent contractor status in the absence of any guaranteed benefit for workers,” he said.
The veto has sparked frustration among supporters who saw the bill as a forward-thinking solution to support gig workers without imposing new mandates or bureaucratic systems. Bradley and Dallman have pledged to continue advocating for policies that align with the evolving nature of work in Wisconsin’s modern economy.
Dairyland Sentinel will continue to follow developments on this issue as legislators plan their next steps.
Published August 8, 2025.
