Wisconsinites sent a clear message about the “Return the Surplus” package passed by the State Assembly on May 13. According to a recent Marquette Law School Poll, 80% of Wisconsin adults believed the surplus bill should have passed. Support crossed party lines, with overwhelming majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats all agreeing that taxpayers deserved relief.

Unfortunately, Senate Democrats, including Senator Habush-Sinykin, who represents my constituents in the 24 th Assembly District, abandoned hardworking Wisconsinites by refusing to advance the bipartisan compromise package.

The legislation would have returned a portion of the state’s historic surplus directly to taxpayers while also investing in key priorities that families across Wisconsin care about. The package included meaningful property tax relief, increased support for K-12 schools and special education, tax relief for working families, expanded veteran benefits, and disaster relief assistance for communities and businesses still recovering from severe weather events.

These were not partisan ideas. They were commonsense reforms supported by a broad majority of the public.

For months, we heard calls from Senate Democrats for increased school funding, property tax relief, disaster assistance, and support for veterans and working families. Yet when legislation containing those very priorities came before the Senate, Democrats chose to block it rather than deliver results for the people they represent.

At a time when families continue to struggle with rising costs, inflation, and uncertainty, taxpayers expected action, not political gamesmanship. Wisconsinites understand that the surplus belongs to the people who earned it, not the government.

No bill is ever perfect, but leadership means finding common ground and delivering meaningful results. The “Return the Surplus” package represented an opportunity to provide real relief to families, seniors, homeowners, veterans, and small businesses throughout Wisconsin.

The Assembly did its job by passing legislation focused on affordability and taxpayer relief.

Senate Democrats chose obstruction instead.

I will continue fighting for policies that lower costs, support our communities, strengthen our schools, and return more of your hard-earned money back to you. Wisconsin taxpayers deserve leaders willing to put results ahead of politics.