Gov. Tony Evers isn’t backing off his demand that any tax plan he’d sign be included in the state budget, and he wants Republicans to fund education “at every level” to move forward on budget negotiations.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, told WisPolitics in a statement yesterday that GOP leaders have asked to meet with Evers by the end of next week to keep budget deliberations on schedule.
He added there’s agreement in the Legislature on a tax cut proposal, something the guv’s office disputes.
LeMahieu, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Evers met in the guv’s office March 26 to discuss a tax plan. LeMahieu said in yesterday’s statement the guv and his staff “have had the details of the legislature’s proposal since our first and only meeting on March 26th.”
>> WisPolitics is now on the State Affairs network. Get custom keyword notifications, bill tracking and all WisPolitics content. Get the app or access via desktop.
The guv’s office said staff for Evers and the two leaders met yesterday to continue budget talks.
While Republicans have pushed to pass a tax plan ahead of the budget, the guv has insisted repeatedly any deal would have to be part of the two-year spending plan, and spokesperson Britt Cudaback stressed that again in a statement to WisPolitics.
She added late yesterday Evers “expects Republicans to come to the table on investing in education at every level, among other critical priorities, in order to move forward.”
“We look forward to Republican leaders bringing us a plan both caucuses support that invests in education at every level, cuts taxes for middle-class families, and stays well within our means so we can continue to have productive conversations,” she said.
WisPolitics first reported last month on the initial meeting between Evers and GOP leaders.
Vos told WisPolitics at the time the two GOP caucuses also hadn’t reached consensus on a tax plan. He said Assembly Republicans were focused on retirement income and “Senate Republicans have what they prefer.”
LeMahieu said in a December interview that he was focused on lowering the state’s third-highest income tax bracket.
>>Follow the budget news by entering Budget Blog into the keyword section at State Affairs Wisconsin.
