MILWAUKEE — Gov. Tony Evers says he wants to get money distributed quickly to businesses across the state impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monday, Evers vetoed Senate Bill 183, which would have given the state legislature a role in deciding how federal COVID-19 relief funds would be spent. The Governor expressed concerns that having to submit a plan to the Joint Finance Committee, required under the Republican backed bill, would slow down the ability to get funds distributed quickly.

The news came as the governor unveiled his plan for how to disperse more than $3 billion provided to the state through the federal American Rescue Plan.

Evers says around $600 million will be spent on providing direct economic relief to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is clear that small businesses in Wisconsin absolutely suffered during this pandemic. What we did in the last CARES Act, it helped, we need to get more money out the door to them,” Gov. Evers said Monday.

Around 53,000 Wisconsin businesses received CARES Act funding when those funds were distributed beginning in mid-2020.

One business that benefitted was Miss Molly’s Cafe on Milwaukee’s far west side. It is where Gov. Evers came to sign the veto of SB-183 and to lay out his plan for business aid under the American Rescue Plan.

Owner Molly Sullivan says her business benefitted significantly from the funding she received in 2020 and is pleased other businesses will likely be able to benefit.

“Businesses are still struggling, the pandemic with vaccines it finally feels like we are getting to a point where it will be good again but businesses are still struggling,” said Sullivan.

Last week, Republicans in the state legislature indicated they may sue if the Governor vetoed the funding oversight bill.