This week, I had my first Joint Committee on Finance meeting. We had a great conversation about Assembly Bill 4/ Senate Bill 18, The Middle Class Income Tax Cut, and voted to put the bill forward for a floor vote on next Tuesday. The Middle Class Tax Cut bill uses the GOP surplus to deliver on one of Governor Tony Evers' campaign promises.
Due to sound fiscal reforms by Republican leadership, we have more than enough money to fund our priorities without raising taxes on manufacturers and job-creators across Wisconsin. Fiscal Year 2018 will end with a net balance of $616.5 million, and we plan to use this money to deliver a real middle class tax cut for Wisconsin's families.
In addition, the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau also projects that revenues collected in the 2019-2021 biennium will be approximately $1.78 billion over collections made in 2018-2019. In total, this means the state should have about $2.39 billion above the 2018-2019 base.
The governor will announce his budget proposal on February 28th, and I look forward to working with Governor Evers on the upcoming budget.
As always, I encourage you to follow my updates on social media or contact my office directly with your questions. Best wishes on your weekend!
Protecting Wisconsin's Unborn Children
On Wednesday I joined my Assembly Republican colleagues at a press conference in response to the tragic anti-life legislation passed in New York and brought up in Virginia.
We heard powerful stories from many of the legislators about how their lives were impacted positively by pro-life choices. One legislator has a lovely daughter with a disability, who has been able to live a full and happy life because she was given the chance. Another colleague has a son whose biological mother decided to make the wonderful choice of giving him a loving home through adoption rather than ending her child's life.
My colleagues and I are committed to protecting life, and we will not allow any loosening of restrictions and regulations of abortions here in Wisconsin.
Rescheduled Listening Sessions
We have rescheduled the two listening sessions in Sheboygan and Sheboygan Falls that were cancelled because of weather last week. I look forward to hearing from many of you about the issues impacting the 26th Assembly District. These joint listening sessions will be with Rep. Tyler Vorpagel from the 27th Assembly District and Senator Devin LeMahieu.
The times and locations are as follows:
Sheboygan Falls
February 18th, 2019
10:15 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Sheboygan Falls Municipal Building
City Council Chambers
375 Buffalo St, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
Sheboygan
February 18th, 2019
11:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m.
UW-Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus
Wombat Room
1 University Dr, Sheboygan, WI 53081
I hope to see as many of you there as possible. If you are unable to attend, please know that you can always contact my office at 608-266-0656 or at Rep.Katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov.
Office of Rep. Terry Katsma State Capitol, Room 306 East PO Box 8952 Madison, WI 53708 Toll-Free (888) 529-0026 or (608) 266-0656 Rep.Katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov| |