Senate GOP leader floats middle income tax cuts, criticizes medical marijuana bill

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Families that earn about $200,000 would see an income tax cut under a new bill Senate Republicans are crafting at the state Capitol.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) revealed some details about the proposal during a WisPolitics event Thursday.

"It looks like it would be roughly $1 billion dollars a year (in tax cuts)," LeMahieu said.

The measure would target the middle class by expanding the second income tax bracket to include more taxpayers. It would lower the tax burden on those who earn between about $36,000 and $200,000 from 5.3% to 4.4%, the Senate leader said.

Right now, that tax bracket applies to income that ranges from $36,000 to more than $400,000.

LeMahieu said he hopes the measure will win over Gov. Tony Evers who vetoed a series of GOP income tax proposals because they "benefit the wealthiest Wisconsinites."

A spokeswoman for Evers did not respond to a request for comment about the proposal. Instead, his office referred to his most recent veto message that stressed tax cuts should be crafted to ensure it doesn’t' wipe out the projected state surplus, and avoid cuts in other areas like schools and child care.

State-Run Medical Marijuana Dispensaries: "Nonstarter"

The Oostburg Republican was also critical of a proposal that would legalize non-smokable medical marijuana products sold at state-run dispensaries.

LeMahieu said he opposes a provision in the GOP bill that would allow the Department of Health Services to operate five dispensaries across the state.

"I think it's a nonstarter for a lot of our caucus members," he said. "The framework of growing the size of government and adding a new department in DHS and things like that seems like overkill."

Assembly Republicans unveiled the bill earlier this week which would create one of the most restrictive medical cannabis programs in the county.

LeMahieu added, "a lot of that bill is really good," with how regulated it would be, but he expressed doubts the proposal, as drafted, would gain support in his caucus.

Gov. Evers told CBS 58 earlier this month he would sign a medical marijuana bill into law even if it was heavily regulated, but he has not said whether he supports this latest effort.