(The Center Square) – Two of Wisconsin’s Democratic candidates for governor voted against the deal to send $600 million to schools in the state and send taxpayers up to $600 in tax rebates.
State Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, and Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, are the only two Democrats running for governor who had a vote on the $1.8 billion tax deal late Tuesday night. Both women voted no.
“We need more than a band aid – we need a long-term fix to lower property taxes and sustainably fund our schools,” Roys wrote on X.
“Wisconsin lawmakers saw through the con of election-year gimmicks with long-term threats to our stability. We will fix the real structural issues our schools and communities face, but that takes smart and intentional investment, not backroom deals and high-pressure tactics,” Hong added.
They are not the only Democrats to vote against the plan. Most of Wisconsin’s Assembly Democrats voted against the plan, as did every single Senate Democrat.
Three Senate Republicans also joined with Democrats to kill the proposal.
But Hong’s and Roys’ votes are also part of the race for governor.
Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate in the race, said earlier this week that he would not vote for the tax package. He didn’t say anything about Wednesday’s failed vote, though Gov. Tony Evers blamed Tiffany for the tax plan’s demise.
“Wisconsin’s kids and schools aren’t going to get the investments they desperately need this year because Tom Tiffany and a few Republican and Democratic lawmakers chose to blow up a bipartisan plan to invest in our K-12 schools, lower property taxes, and help working families afford rising costs, all because they’d rather do what’s best for the next election than what’s right for the people of our state,” Evers said in a statement.
The tax deal would have sent $600 million to public schools in Wisconsin. It was earmarked for both special education funding and to “buy down” local property taxes.
There was also a plan to send either $300 or $600 rebate checks to taxpayers. It also included a proposal to end taxes on tips and overtime as part of the deal.
With its failure, the tax plan is now dead. Wisconsin’s $2 billion-plus surplus will now sit until at least next spring.
