Republican Tax Cut Plan

Prudent fiscal policy since 2011 created a large budget surplus that the Legislature will use to create a new $3.4 billion tax cut. A typical Wisconsin household will realize $1,200 in savings. This tax cut is on top of the $13 billion in cuts enacted since 2011. The budget Governor Evers proposed earlier this year included over $1 billion in tax increases. Instead we want to return the new $4.4 billion surplus to where it belongs: you. 

The proposal includes:

• Historic Income Tax Cut:
  • A married couple each earning $50,000 would realize $63 more per month on their paychecks. A single filer earning $50,000 would realize $26 more per month.
    
• $650 million in property tax relief
• Creation of a child and dependent care tax credit
• $200 million towards elimination of the personal property tax

Office Hours

I will be holding office hours on Friday, June 25th from 8:30am - 10am. I will be at Clean Slate Coffee House in Rothschild, so stop by to let me know what is on your mind. Hope to see you there! 

Budget Update

The Legislature took additional action on a few other items of note in the State Budget. The Committee voted to:

• Invest in high-quality healthcare that benefits all Wisconsin residents including mothers, the elderly, those dealing with substance abuse, and children with developmental disabilities.
• Increase funding for long-term care facilities and their staff.
• Providing $129 million over the biennium for broadband expansion grants.

I will continue to provide updates throughout the budget process. Please never hesitate to reach out regarding your thoughts on the state budget. 

Session Update

This week, the Assembly passed a number of bills focusing on reforming police practices in Wisconsin along with a comprehensive bill on expungement reform.

Currently, there are many people who made poor choices earlier in their life who have lived good reformed lives ever since and have been ineligible for expungement. Those who truly reform should be given the opportunity to expunge their records. AB 69 will allow many to seek expungement by removing many arbitrary barriers while still ensuring that certain serious crimes will not be eligible for expungement.

The law enforcement reform package of legislation was created as part of the Speaker’s Task Force on Racial Disparities. The task force focused on reforming law enforcement practices: to best protect members of the public and law enforcement, provide transparency accountability, and ensure that our justice system works for all of Wisconsin.

Among the bills passed are:
AB 190 - allows for de-certification of officers that resign in lieu of termination, bans non-disclosure agreements, and requires departments to maintain personnel files for officers to be shared with other prospective departments.
AB 330 - would standardize training requirements for school resources officers.
AB 331 - would require an officer to pass a psychiatric evaluation as a condition of employment.
AB 329 - would require the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) to collect and report on data regarding the use of no-knock search warrants.

AB 335 - creates a grant program to allow law enforcement agencies to purchase body cameras for officers.
AB 332 - stipulates as a part of their recertification efforts, officers must receive a set amount of crisis management training.
SB 123 - would require the DOJ to collect and report on data regarding the use of force incidents.
SB 122 - would have all law enforcement agencies post their use-of-force policies online.
SB 124 - creates a grant program incentivize the use of vacant homes in high crime areas by police to have a constant, stronger presence.

Office Hours

I will be holding office hours on Friday, June 25th from 8:30 am - 10 am. I will be at Clean Slate Coffee in Rothschild, so stop by to let me know what is on your mind! Hope to see you there! 

2021 Spring Survey

You may have seen one of my 2021 Spring Surveys show up in your mailbox. If you did not receive one or would like to save a stamp, you can fill out the survey online by clicking here. Questions cover several topics including: medical marijuana, taxes, election reforms, and others. I'd love to hear from you today!

2019-2020 Blue Books & maps (paper highway maps or laminated maps) are still available in my office! The Wisconsin Blue Book contains information on all things Wisconsin, including census information, state history, official state symbols, and everything about Wisconsin government! Contact me for your free copy today!