GRAFTON, WI — State Representative Paul Melotik (R-Grafton) issued the following statement today after Governor Tony Evers vetoed bipartisan legislation aimed at eliminating state income tax on overtime pay for Wisconsin workers.
“On Good Friday, Governor Evers turned his back on the hard-working people of Wisconsin,” said Rep. Melotik. “This legislation could have helped address affordability issues facing families across our state. Instead, the Governor chose bigger government over bigger paychecks, rejecting a commonsense proposal that would have let workers keep more of what they earn.”
Assembly Bill 461 was designed to provide direct financial relief to Wisconsin residents by exempting overtime earnings from state income taxes, rewarding those who put in extra hours to support their families and contribute to the state’s economy.
Rep. Melotik emphasized that at a time when inflation and rising costs continue to strain household budgets, policies like AB 461 offer meaningful, immediate relief.
“Hard working Wisconsinites aren’t asking for handouts, they’re asking for fairness and to keep more of what they earn at such great sacrifices,” Melotik continued. “They deserve a government that recognizes their hard work, not one that takes more from every extra hour they put in. Unfortunately, the Governor would rather protect tax revenue than prioritize the financial well-being of working families.”
The federal government has already taken steps to help hardworking Americans keep more of their earnings. This legislation would have gone further by allowing Wisconsinites to keep even more, eliminating state taxes on their overtime pay.
“I will continue fighting for solutions that put the people of Wisconsin first,” Melotik said. I want to thank Senator Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) for leading this legislation in the Senate.
