Contact: Rep. Joel Kitchens
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GREEN BAY, Wis. – Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) was joined by several of his legislative colleagues today in Green Bay to announce a plan by Assembly Republicans to help the middle class by cutting income taxes.
Using the state’s budget surplus, which has been developed over eight years of sound budgeting, the proposal would deliver $340 million in tax relief for middle-class families. The tax reductions would affect residents making less than $100,000 and families earning $150,000 or less.
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau anticipates that median income families filing jointly would see a $310 reduction in net taxes.
“I am extremely pleased that responsible budgeting practices by Republicans have allowed us the opportunity to return a significant amount of money back to the hard-working taxpayers of Wisconsin,” Rep. Kitchens said. “What’s even better is our plan does not hurt farmers or local businesses because we are keeping the Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit in place, which the University of Wisconsin says helped create 42,000 jobs over a recent three-year period.”
Last week in a joint letter to Gov. Tony Evers, Rep. Kitchens and other Assembly GOP members offered different ways to work together with the new governor. The Republican representatives also discussed a series of topics this week – including the proposed tax cut – at a joint caucus meeting with Gov. Evers. During his campaign, Gov. Evers was proposing the same $340 million in tax relief, but wanted to pay for it by virtually eliminating the Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit. The Assembly GOP’s plan is a compromise that provides the same tax relief, but without increasing taxes on farmers and local businesses.
“Like I have been saying all along, with a divided government, we will accomplish nothing if we don’t try to find common ground,” Rep. Kitchens said. “I am committed to working with Gov. Evers and his administration to better the lives of all Wisconsin residents, and I believe this tax cut proposal is the perfect example of our desire to collaborate with the governor.”
Assembly Republicans are working with the Senate to finalize the tax cut legislation, which could be introduced as early as next week. Once approved, the tax cut would go into effect in 2020.
