Representative Gae Magnafici Weighs in on the Governor's State of the State Address

"Representative Gae Magnafici, of the 28th Assembly District in Wisconsin, has issued the following statement in response to Governor Evers' State of the State address:

"As we heard from Governor Evers tonight, it's clear that our priorities as a state may differ. While the governor presented a liberal agenda, the Republican majority in the legislature remains focused on fiscally responsible decisions that align with the citizens’ priorities throughout Wisconsin.

"Our state's strong fiscal position is a testament to the budgeting decisions made by Republicans over the past four years. We will continue to uphold this principle by opposing any attempts to significantly expand government and spending unsustainably.

"Despite some differing opinions on how to move forward, I am proud of our progress in Wisconsin and am dedicated to continuing our efforts to improve education, combat learning loss, and make our state more affordable for families. We have made significant investments in education by providing two-thirds of state funding in the last budget and increasing state funding by about a third since 2011, including an additional $1.4 billion in state aid and a $565 million increase since 2017-18. Despite these efforts, we still have a lot of work to do as nearly two-thirds of our state's children are not proficient in math or reading, and proficiency in these subjects is at the lowest it has been in 25 years.

"Additionally, we have led the way in cutting state and local taxes by over $22 billion since 2011 and have recently achieved the lowest tax burden on record. However, we must continue to strive for competitiveness with our neighboring states, as Wisconsin's top marginal income tax rate and corporate tax rate are among the highest in the nation.

"The 28th Assembly District, which includes Polk County and the communities of New Richmond, St. Croix Falls, Osceola, Amery, Somerset, Frederic, and Clayton, is a prime example of the progress we've made and the work that still needs to be done. My colleagues and I in the legislature will continue to address our state's issues, prioritize workforce development, and make smart financial decisions to ensure Wisconsin remains a great place to call home."