CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Suddenly, everyone in state government is a tax cutter. The debate is over what to cut.
Governor Tony Evers, who proposed large tax increases in both budgets he sent to the legislature, now favors rolling back the state gas tax and cutting the income tax for families earning less than $150,000.
An election year stunt? Obviously.
And it’s more than that.
The gas tax cut is a gambit specifically targeting Tim Michels. Gas tax dollars are segregated in the state budget, used exclusively for road projects. Michels, whose family is in the road building business, is particularly sensitive to cutting that tax.
So here’s an idea:
The candidate who had the best tax-cutting proposal was Rebecca Kleefisch. She proposed a flat tax in her first biennial budget, followed by the elimination of the state income tax in her second budget. But she lost the GOP primary.
Republican candidate Tim Michels should announce that his former opponent will be asked to chair a blue-ribbon panel on tax reform. He will immediately unify Republicans and will have the most credible tax cutter on his team. Should Michels not win, the legislature, certain to still be controlled by Republicans, should invite Kleefisch to present her plan to lawmakers. It would be incorporated into any budget bill they present to Tony Evers.
There are only seven states that have no income tax: Texas, Nevada, Florida, Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota, and Washington. Wisconsin would gain a competitive advantage in attracting businesses and making it easier for retirees to stay here if we joined the list.
Tony Evers signaled last week that he’s ready to cut taxes. Republicans should take him up on his offer.
Chris Conley.
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