On September 13th, the Assembly passed the biennial budget. Intraparty fights between the rightwing and the far rightwing delayed the budget's passage by two and a half months. Unfortunately, this extra time did not help this budget improve. The budget is rigged against workers, rigged against students and rigged against Wisconsin families.
I came to Madison to fight for fairness, opportunity and communities throughout Wisconsin. My Democratic colleagues and I offered amendment after amendment to improve the budget, but our commonsense changes were ignored. With no room to compromise, it seemed as though partisan politics were more important for those in charge than moving our state forward.
After looking through the budget and considering its implications, I voted against the bill. The major factors influencing my vote were the complete lack of sustainable solutions for Wisconsin's schools, infrastructure and environment.
Republicans and Governor Walker have taken victory laps on the money this budget puts toward education. However, this investment comes after three consecutive budgets that devastated our public schools and universities through budget cuts. Although Governor Walker and legislative Republicans claimed they lowered taxes while upholding our educational institutions; in reality they simply shifted the burden. Local residents have been forced to increasingly rely on referenda to keep the lights on and doors open in their children's schools. Increasing funding in this budget does not make up for six years of cuts as costs continue to increase and rural districts face unique challenges.
Wisconsin can do better. Democrats offered a plan to increase aid to every school district, especially rural districts, while still lowering property taxes. Our proposal would also have provided the first increase in special education funding in over a decade. Unfortunately, Republicans rejected our proposal.
Republicans in the legislature also made grand statements about solving our transportation crisis. Our crumbling roads and bridges impact nearly every resident in our state, and I regularly hear from constituents about the hardship our deteriorating infrastructure causes. In fact, the average Wisconsin driver spends $637 a year on car repairs due to the state of our roads. However, once again, Governor Walker and legislative Republicans kicked the can down the road and put hundreds of millions of dollars on the state's credit card without coming up with a real solution.
Wisconsin can do better. This cycle of borrowing, while delaying essential infrastructure projects, is unacceptable. Democrats have repeatedly pushed for sustainable funding, an end to irresponsible borrowing and an emphasis on improving local infrastructure. These ideas were rejected.
I also voted no because this budget does not adequately protect our natural resources and outdoor heritage. Wisconsin is known for our natural resources and the beauty they offer. Much of our tourism and economic development also depends on preserving our water, air and land. This budget eliminates a major funding source for Wisconsin forestry, including wildfire control. The budget also "reorganizes" the DNR by eliminating the Bureau of Science Services and concentrating even more power in the Governor's political office.
Wisconsin can do better. Democrats pushed to save scientist and educator positions at the DNR and restore state parks funding, but those efforts were ignored. One of the most essential functions of the DNR will be greatly reduced and our environment will suffer.
In addition, Republicans rejected tax relief for working families in this budget, but favored tax cuts for the rich. Legislative Republicans voted to eliminate the Working Families Tax Credit, which is specifically targeted toward low-income individuals and families. The few hundred families who claim this credit receive an average tax benefit of about $276. To a family making only $15,000 a year, $276 makes an enormous difference in helping to put food on the table. Republicans also rejected a proposed increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable tax credit that benefits working families with children.
On the other hand, legislative Republicans voted for the elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). The AMT was specifically created to ensure that wealthy individuals who qualify for large tax deductions and exemptions pay at least a minimum amount of income tax. Over half of those who claim the AMT earn over $300,000 per year. This tax break won't help regular Wisconsin families, it will help millionaires and billionaires. Wisconsin deserves better.
While there are certainly items in the budget that I support and that could have passed with strong bipartisan votes, a YES vote on this budget as a whole means supporting an increase in our state's debt, diminishing local control, endangering the long-term health of our environment and increasing the burden on working families. A NO vote means standing in solidarity with our public schools, hardworking families and local communities.
I am proud to have stood with all my Democratic colleagues, as well as five brave Republicans, in voting against a budget that is bad for Wisconsin. Wisconsin can do better.
- Rep. Mark Spreitzer represents the 45th Assembly District. He can be reached at 608-266-1192 or Rep.Spreitzer@legis.wisconsin.gov.
I came to Madison to fight for fairness, opportunity and communities throughout Wisconsin. My Democratic colleagues and I offered amendment after amendment to improve the budget, but our commonsense changes were ignored. With no room to compromise, it seemed as though partisan politics were more important for those in charge than moving our state forward.
After looking through the budget and considering its implications, I voted against the bill. The major factors influencing my vote were the complete lack of sustainable solutions for Wisconsin's schools, infrastructure and environment.
Republicans and Governor Walker have taken victory laps on the money this budget puts toward education. However, this investment comes after three consecutive budgets that devastated our public schools and universities through budget cuts. Although Governor Walker and legislative Republicans claimed they lowered taxes while upholding our educational institutions; in reality they simply shifted the burden. Local residents have been forced to increasingly rely on referenda to keep the lights on and doors open in their children's schools. Increasing funding in this budget does not make up for six years of cuts as costs continue to increase and rural districts face unique challenges.
Wisconsin can do better. Democrats offered a plan to increase aid to every school district, especially rural districts, while still lowering property taxes. Our proposal would also have provided the first increase in special education funding in over a decade. Unfortunately, Republicans rejected our proposal.
Republicans in the legislature also made grand statements about solving our transportation crisis. Our crumbling roads and bridges impact nearly every resident in our state, and I regularly hear from constituents about the hardship our deteriorating infrastructure causes. In fact, the average Wisconsin driver spends $637 a year on car repairs due to the state of our roads. However, once again, Governor Walker and legislative Republicans kicked the can down the road and put hundreds of millions of dollars on the state's credit card without coming up with a real solution.
Wisconsin can do better. This cycle of borrowing, while delaying essential infrastructure projects, is unacceptable. Democrats have repeatedly pushed for sustainable funding, an end to irresponsible borrowing and an emphasis on improving local infrastructure. These ideas were rejected.
I also voted no because this budget does not adequately protect our natural resources and outdoor heritage. Wisconsin is known for our natural resources and the beauty they offer. Much of our tourism and economic development also depends on preserving our water, air and land. This budget eliminates a major funding source for Wisconsin forestry, including wildfire control. The budget also "reorganizes" the DNR by eliminating the Bureau of Science Services and concentrating even more power in the Governor's political office.
Wisconsin can do better. Democrats pushed to save scientist and educator positions at the DNR and restore state parks funding, but those efforts were ignored. One of the most essential functions of the DNR will be greatly reduced and our environment will suffer.
In addition, Republicans rejected tax relief for working families in this budget, but favored tax cuts for the rich. Legislative Republicans voted to eliminate the Working Families Tax Credit, which is specifically targeted toward low-income individuals and families. The few hundred families who claim this credit receive an average tax benefit of about $276. To a family making only $15,000 a year, $276 makes an enormous difference in helping to put food on the table. Republicans also rejected a proposed increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable tax credit that benefits working families with children.
On the other hand, legislative Republicans voted for the elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). The AMT was specifically created to ensure that wealthy individuals who qualify for large tax deductions and exemptions pay at least a minimum amount of income tax. Over half of those who claim the AMT earn over $300,000 per year. This tax break won't help regular Wisconsin families, it will help millionaires and billionaires. Wisconsin deserves better.
While there are certainly items in the budget that I support and that could have passed with strong bipartisan votes, a YES vote on this budget as a whole means supporting an increase in our state's debt, diminishing local control, endangering the long-term health of our environment and increasing the burden on working families. A NO vote means standing in solidarity with our public schools, hardworking families and local communities.
I am proud to have stood with all my Democratic colleagues, as well as five brave Republicans, in voting against a budget that is bad for Wisconsin. Wisconsin can do better.
- Rep. Mark Spreitzer represents the 45th Assembly District. He can be reached at 608-266-1192 or Rep.Spreitzer@legis.wisconsin.gov.
