CAPiTOL EYE

Grand old budget

The state’s GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee passes its version of the two-year budget

The GOP-run Joint Finance Committee has voted

along party lines to approve a two-year state budget after adding a $3.4 billion tax cut.

The vote sent it to the full Legislature, where approval is expected by the end of the fiscal year, June 30. Then Gov. Tony Evers will review it

The committee’s final efforts on the budget use the additional $4.4 billion in revenue the state is expected to take in through mid-2023 to check off two priorities -- cutting taxes and ensuring the plan meets federal requirements to qualify for some $2.2 billion in aid through the last two COVID-19 packages.

In some cases, the committee’s proposals helped with both efforts. Republicans approved putting $408 million into general school aids and $72 million into funding technical colleges. For both infusions of state aid, the committee’s approach would keep spending caps in place, meaning all of the money would go toward driving down property taxes that districts and tech colleges can collect.

The JFC version of the budget was short of the investment needed in K-12 and higher education to ensure districts would qualify for the money.

The various pieces of the package were spread over several motions, each of which cleared the GOP-run committee 11-4. The final motion to send the document to the full Legislature also passed along the same party line vote.

The centerpiece of the package is nearly $2.4 billion to reduce the state’s third tax bracket of 6.27 percent to 5.3 percent, effective Jan. 1. The bracket applies to income between $23,930 and $263,480 for single filers. According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, for those making $25,000 to $30,000 a year who would receive a break, it would amount to an average decrease of $115. For those making $250,000 to $300,000, the cut would be an average of $2,283.

Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, knocked the approach as geared toward the wealthy. According to legislative fiscal analysts, 51.4 percent of all tax filers would benefit from the cut. Of those filers, more than 70 percent have an adjusted gross income of more than $100,000.

For about the same amount of money as Republicans want to put into the third tax bracket, the state could eliminate the lowest bracket of 3.54 percent hitting everyone with a tax liability.

Assembly sends police accountability bills to Evers

The Assembly has approved a series of bills to overhaul police policies, including one to ban chokeholds except in self-defense or when an officer’s life is in danger.

That bill was one of four heading to the desk of Gov. Tony Evers, who has said while he wished the bills went further, they were a first step.

One of the bills in the package hit a snag as the Assembly put off debating a Senate bill that would define useof-force for police policies and include new requirements that officers must report colleagues who use excessive force.

SB 120 outlines when it is permissible for law enforcement officers to use force and requires them to intervene when a colleague sees another cross the line. It also would set a standard that law enforcement officers must make every effort to preserve and protect human life and the safety of all persons.

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, said the chamber was working on an amendment that would address concerns raised by the Milwaukee Police Association over the whistleblower protections, before revising it today.

Evers included in his budget a provision to ban chokeholds. The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee removed the provision, which didn’t include exceptions, from the budget early in its deliberations.

Penterman declares victory in GOP Watertown primary

William Penterman has declared victory in the GOP primary for the 37th Assembly District after the county cavasses confirmed his 16-vote lead over Jennifer Meinhardt.

The Columbus native told WisPolitics.com his campaign was already focusing on the July 13 general election where he will face Democratic candidate Pete Adams and independent Stephen Ratzlaff. The winner will succeed now GOP Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown.

“We’re wasting no time moving forward,” Penterman said.

Meinhardt told WisPolitics.com she won’t be pursuing a recount because the county canvass process did not bring the vote difference down to 10 votes. Under state law, she’d have to cover the costs of a recount unless the difference was less than 10 votes.

Meinhardt also said she and Penterman agreed going forward with the general election instead of slowing things with a recount was in the public’s best interest because of the short time between primaries and the general election for this special election.

Tiffany votes against Juneteenth holiday

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany is defending his vote against a bill to make Juneteenth a national holiday, arguing Dems pushed the measure to drive a political wedge.

“Once again, House Democrats have used their majority to balkanize our country and fuel separatism by creating a race-based ‘Independence Day,’” the Mincoqua Republican said.

He said it’s unfortunate others chose to politicize Juneteenth and its historical significance, adding lawmakers who pushed the measure did so “to turn Americans against one another and foment division based on skin color instead of uniting us.”

Tiffany was one of 14 votes against the measure in the House and the only member of the Wisconsin delegation to vote against the measure. President Biden signed the bill.

State unemployment rate holds steady at 3.9 percent

The state’s unemployment rate in May was unchanged from April’s rate of 3.9 percent, according to the latest federal figures released by the state Department of Workforce Development.

Wisconsin’s May unemployment rate was well below the national unemployment rate of 5.8 percent, the release shows.

The state added 3,400 private-sector jobs over the month, with gains in manufacturing employment offset by job losses in construction, hospitality and entertainment.

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