July 8, 2021
Contact: State Rep. Jim Steineke (608) 266-2401
Gov. Evers Signs State Budget with Historic Republican Tax Cuts
MADISON — This morning, Governor Tony Evers signed into law the Republican state budget; delivering a once-in-a-generation tax cut for working Wisconsin families. For the past several months Republican lawmakers worked to craft a spending plan that returns $3.4 billion our state’s strong surplus back to taxpayers – scrapping Evers original budget plan which would have raised taxes by more than $1 billion. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) responded to the news with the following statement:
“The taxpayers of Wisconsin should be celebrating the fact that today Governor Evers has done an about-face on his plan to raise taxes by more than a billion dollars and instead signed a Republican spending plan that delivers significant tax relief,” said Leader Steineke. “At a time when our state is receiving billions in COVID-related support, the idea of hiking taxes on Wisconsin families as our governor and his allies had proposed is simply ridiculous.”
The Republican-lead tax plan includes a reduction in income and property taxes and is estimated to save the average family of four roughly $1,200. This proposal was included in the latest state budget and was coupled with historic investments in healthcare systems, increased spending to fix our roads and bridges and much-needed support for our long-term care facilities and workers.
“Beyond this historic tax cut, the Republican budget signed into law today makes a number of important investments in the services we all use each day,” said Steineke. “With more support to fix our infrastructure, to provide for our schools and our most vulnerable, I’m incredibly proud to have reworked the governor’s original budget into something we can all be proud of.”
The two year spending plan was vetoed in part by Evers, who has broad authority to make changes to any bills which make appropriations. In total, Evers issued more than 50 partial vetoes – including one that removes a $550 million investment in the state’s rainy day fund.
“While it’s unfortunate to see the governor issue more than 50 partial vetoes of a budget that both Republicans and Democrats voted for, this is still a strong budget for Wisconsin,” said Steineke. “I’m proud that we were able to turn the governor’s tax hike into a reduction and delivers a budget that works for all of Wisconsin.”
Assembly Bill 68, which is now known as 2021 Act 58, passed both houses of the state legislature last week with a historic bipartisan vote – receiving 64 votes in the state Assembly and 23 votes in the state Senate – the most votes received on any state budget in a generation.