Madison – Taxpayers will lose out on nearly $2 billion in tax relief and education funding after the State Senate killed a bipartisan plan late Wednesday night. The tax relief and school funding plan had strong bipartisan support in the State Assembly, but failed in the Senate, where every Democrat and three Republicans voted against it. Representative Kitchens praised Governor Evers’ effort to work with Republicans on a solid plan that benefited both taxpayers and schools.
The bipartisan plan:
- Delivered $300 in property tax relief
- Eliminated state taxes on tips and overtime pay
- Created a direct rebate program that will send $300 checks to individual taxpayers and $600 checks for married couples later this fall
- Increased the state’s special education reimbursement rate to 50 percent
“This isn’t a perfect deal, but it provided real relief for real people,” Kitchens said, “I’m not surprised that a few members refused to support the deal, but when not a single Democratic Senator supports a plan negotiated in good faith by their governor, it shows how far Democrats have moved to the left in the last eight years.”
What started as a bipartisan agreement ended in partisan in-fighting. One of the far-left Democrats took aim at Governor Evers on social media, posting: “Good riddance, Tony.” Representative Kitchens says there likely won’t be a better deal for taxpayers on the table again.
“There are few things more dangerous than leaving money around for politicians to spend,” Kitchens said, “The safest thing to do is return the money as soon as possible to the taxpayers. It’s their money, and they definitely can use it now.”
Representative Kitchens represents Door, Kewaunee, and parts of Brown County.
