The Wisconsin Legislature is back in session with lawmakers eager to take up an agenda that includes tax reform, job training, funding public schools, and the challenge of the continued labor shortage.
There are twenty-four new members of the Assembly, including sixteen Republicans and eight Democrats. Six new members were elected to the State Senate, five Republicans and one Democrat. Republicans will control the Assembly 64-35, as well as the Senate 21-11.
Governor Tony Evers, reelected to a second four year term, has called on legislators to work together, as he described his reelection as a message from the voters rejecting a “return to the bitter politics of resentment.”
The Governor said his priorities are attracting more workers, expanding affordable housing, investing in job training, public transit transportation alternatives, public education, and a middle class tax reduction.
Meanwhile, legislative leaders are focused on the nearly $7 billion budget surplus which they believe should fund individual income tax cuts, moving toward a lower flat tax bracket, or even eliminating the individual income tax altogether.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu favors a flat tax rate, “the beauty of a surplus of this size is you can make a lot of important investments while still providing tax relief…”
Representative Robin Vos, Speaker of the Assembly, said he “likes Senator LeMahieu’s idea of a 3.54 percent flat tax but wouldn’t say it’s a red line. We’ve got to make progress. Why would you want anybody who’s successful to not stay in Wisconsin? So we’ve probably got to help everybody, from the lowest taxpayer to the highest taxpayer getting relief.”
Governor Evers has indicated he is opposed to a flat tax that would provide tax relief to the wealthy … “the majority of people in Wisconsin are middle class folks and that’s where I am focusing my efforts.”
NFIB members have an opportunity to weigh in on this important tax reform debate by voting their 2023 State Ballot.
