MADISON, WI – This morning State Representative Jenna Jacobson held a press conference with State Senator Brad Pfaff to promote their new back-to-school tax holiday legislation. In which, Rep. Jacobson emphasized her commitment to lowering costs on Wisconsin’s working families and called out Sen. Howard Marklein for his inaction in the face of these challenges.
This new piece of legislation, announced on Monday, would create a three day period each August where parents, guardians, and students alike would be able to purchase school supplies and clothes free of the charge of Wisconsin’s sales and use tax. School supplies capped at $100 an item, and clothing capped at $150 an item would be exempt from this tax for the entirety of the three day period.
Read Below for Rep. Jacobson’s Full Prepared Remarks:
Thank you all for joining us today.
We’re here today to address an issue that folks in every corner of our state are facing. Republican, Democrat, or Independent we are all struggling with rising costs. Stagnant wages paired with increasing expenses is a challenge that doesn’t discriminate by region, by religion, by political party, by race, or by creed. My family is feeling it here in Oregon, and I know yours is too. It is past time that my colleagues and I take steps to ease this burden for families across the state.
That is why I am proud to support and was happy to co-author a new bill that would establish an annual back-to-school tax holiday in Wisconsin. As a mom of three kiddos, I know first hand how expensive this time is, buying new backpacks, new materials, new clothes, new shoes – often for more than one kid at a time. Even for those of us who seek out sales, save up, or buy second-hand, back-to-school costs can take a real toll on our bottom line and our savings. I believe it is critical that your elected officials take steps to make this time more manageable.
This piece of legislation would lower the burden of cost on families as they get ready to start a new school year. This bill would establish a three day long tax holiday; individuals buying school supplies priced $100 or less and clothing priced under $150 will not have to pay Wisconsin’s usual sales and use tax.
The National Retail Federation has established that parents of children in kindergarten through high school are spending an average of $144 per child. For a family like mine, with 3 school aged children that is about $423. That is every year ,and that’s before we talk about the new clothes and shoes our kids need each fall as well. It is no secret that not every family can afford that annual bill.
There is more we can and must do to combat the challenge of rising costs in Wisconsin, but I know that Wisconsinites are looking for active representation and this measure will save real people real money. It is a step in the direction of lowering costs across this district and across our state.
I hope this bill receives bi-partisan support, I hope it is signed into law. But I do not expect Republicans like Howard Marklein to step up, they may talk a big game about caring about our bottom line – but when it comes time to act they always rollover for the wealthiest among us and the special interests that hold their purse strings.
The people of the 17th Senate District deserve more than that, they deserve a Senator who will stand with them in the face of challenges we share and who will fight for them in Madison. Howard Marklein has failed to hold up his end of the deal for far too long.
During the time I have left in the State Assembly I will continue working to lower costs for Wisconsin families, and next year when I am elected to be your new State Senator I will stand up where Howard has rolled over, and the 17th District will have a Senator they can rely on.
Thank you.
