The Republicans in charge of Wisconsin’s budget says Gov. Evers’ office is six-months-late and silent about the state’s Opioid Settlement money.

Joint Finance chairmen Rep. Mark Born, Beaver Dam, and Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, said the Evers’ Department of Health Services should have reported Opioid Settlement spending back in April.

“More than six months late, DHS has not submitted a plan to JFC, will not disclose what is in the plan, and has almost no detail about the plan on its website. According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB), Wisconsin is scheduled to receive about $15 million in opioid settlement funds this year,” the two wrote in a statement.

Wisconsin is supposed to get $780 million through 2036 as part of the national settlement over opioid abuse, addiction, and over prescription. (RELATED: Wisconsin May See Legalization Of Online Sports Betting)

Born and Marklein said lawmakers are supposed to have some oversight over how that money is spent.

“Wisconsinites want to know that money coming into Wisconsin is being spent in a responsible and transparent manner. Unfortunately, the lack of transparency, accountability, and timeliness from DHS only leads to more questions than answers,” the two added.

The Joint Finance Committee has already approved three rounds of opioid spending going back to 2022.

Born and Marklein said they expect to do the same with the next round as well. (RELATED: Poll Finds Increasing Blame on Democrats for Continued Shutdown)

“JFC stands ready to exercise its statutory authority to review and approve state expenditures and support an opioid settlement distribution plan to prevent overuse, treat dependence, and provide recovery services to those who need it most,” the two added. “Unfortunately, DHS and the Evers Administration are playing politics with these funds, and their lack of transparency and accountability is leaving vulnerable Wisconsinites behind.”

This article was originally published with the MacIver Institute.