State Assembly Republicans touted the bipartisan deal that was crafted by GOP legislative leaders and Gov. Tony Evers to immediately return more than $800 million to Wisconsin taxpayers of their own money. In addition, the plan would eliminate taxes on tips and overtime for good.
Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) spoke first at the press conference. This is a “big beautiful bipartisan agreement,” he said.
“We know that family budgets, the pocketbook at home is under pressure,” he said.”This bill provides immediate relief.”
“Over 80% is sending money back to the taxpayers, something that should be the top priority right now. That’s super important to our Assembly Republican caucus.” He said the Assembly has already made “historic investments in education” in the state budget.
The bill needs to pass the floor of the Assembly and the state Senate to go into effect. Despite both Assembly and Senate Republican leaders being on board, it faces stiff opposite from two Republican state Senators and Democrats. Democrat Gov. candidates Kelda Roys and Fran Hong led the charge in opposing the plan. Read more about everything that went down on Tuesday here.
State Rep. Robert Wittke (R-Racine): ‘I Never Met a Tax Cut That Was Bad’
“It’s a great day for the citizens of Wisconsin. I never met a tax cut that was bad,” Wittke said. He also touted the “investment in special education. One thing schools districts asked for was to increase our investment in special education….Parents want additional investment in special education.”
Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls)
“We’re putting real money back in the pockets of Wisconsin workers. We are eliminating the state income tax on tips and overtime pay. This is permanent ongoing tax relief for Wisconsin workers,” said Zimmerman.
He said about 290,000 Wisconsinites “stand to benefit” from no tax on tips, including a bartender in Appleton, server in Hudson, and hotel worker in Madison.
“The state takes a cut out of every dollar. That ends now.”
He said eliminating the state tax on overtime will help factory and construction workers and others. He pointed out that the federal provisions doing the same expire in 2028. “The Wisconsin law does not expire. It’s permanent and doesn’t sunset.”
State Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R-Kenosha)
“It’s their money,” Nedweski said of taxpayers.
She said the reason tax relief is needed is because “Gov. Evers created a 400-year property tax increase that is already strangling Wisconsinites.” She said Republicans in the Legislature tried to overturn that but every Democrat voted against overturning it and Evers told taxpayers to “just deal with it.”
The first two media questions were about U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is against the deal because he wants structural change and to return the entire surplus to taxpayers.
Born responded that, if Tom Tiffany was governor, “we would have a better bill that is better for taxpayers, but the reality is that he is not. Folks need help now. We have to work with the governor we have. These things are hitting our pocketbooks right now.”
He said Republicans are “going to send that money back to the taxpayers” because they want “to help the taxpayers now.
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