Evers hopes lawmakers revisit failed tax relief plan as Trump prepares Wisconsin visit
WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) — Governor Tony Evers is urging state lawmakers to take another vote on his tax relief proposal after it failed to advance last month, even as support to revisit the measure seems limited among members of his own party.
Evers said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has indicated a willingness to call lawmakers back into session to pass a tax relief bill, but the governor said any action would depend on the Senate.
“If there is no change in the Senate, there is no reason to drag anybody into Madison to do it,” Evers said.
A Marquette poll found 80% of Wisconsinites supported the $1.8 billion tax relief plan. Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein cited concerns about draining the state surplus amid economic uncertainty. She gave no indication that Democrats would pursue a new deal. Evers suggested other factors may have influenced lawmakers' votes.
“She’s got people wrapped around her finger by giving them jobs that they want,” Evers said.
We reached out to Senator Hesselbein for comment about Evers' remarks but didn’t hear back by our deadline.
Evers addressed the tax relief bill during a National Dairy Month event just days before President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Wisconsin to promote his agricultural policies. The governor has argued Trump’s agricultural policies are harming Wisconsin farmers.
“The fact that he is making people feel unwelcome in Wisconsin because they are undocumented, even though they are doing everything right, is a problem...as well as the tariffs have caused really great havoc,” Evers said.
Trump is scheduled to visit Chippewa County on Friday. We reached out to both Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu to see if a new special session would be called, but neither of them got back to us.