Governor takes credit for Legislative Republicans’ record of cutting taxes
MADISON, Wis. – Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) released the following statement in response to tonight’s State of the State address where Gov. Tony Evers once again presented a revisionist history of the source behind lowering taxes for Wisconsin residents:
“It felt like watching an episode of ‘The Twilight Zone’ when Gov. Evers used his State of the State address to take credit for providing the hardworking taxpayers of Wisconsin with significant tax relief in recent budgets. As the governor referenced, in the past two decades, almost no other state has seen a greater decrease in its tax liability than Wisconsin. The governor also boasted about Wisconsin’s state and local tax burden dropping to a record low in 2024.
“However, what the governor intentionally failed to mention is that, if it were not for Legislative Republicans, the 2023-25 state budget would have increased spending by billions of dollars and added more than 800 full-time government positions. Time and time again, Gov. Evers has also vetoed meaningful tax relief proposals brought forward by Legislative Republicans that would cut taxes even further for middle-class families.
“We are now seeing the same thing play out with our state’s projected $4.6 billion budget surplus. Legislative Republicans know that we would be walking into a fiscal nightmare if we were to use that money to expand government programs. It has always been our goal to return the surplus to its rightful owners: Wisconsin taxpayers. Instead, Gov. Evers wants to use those billions of dollars to grow government and create an even higher tax burden on Wisconsinites. He made that perfectly clear when he laid out his wish list for the upcoming state budget.
“As a former educator, the governor should know better than to take credit for the work of others. As we have done since Gov. Evers first took office in 2019, Legislative Republicans will continue to craft responsible budgets that eliminate wasteful spending, make investments in key areas and focus on those who have been hit hardest by rising costs.”