Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business group, is calling Gov. Tony Evers’ budget “an attack on small businesses, manufacturing, and the middle class” and vows to work with lawmakers to reject his ideas.
In a statement on Evers’ budget proposals detailed in Tuesday’s address, WMC Executive Vice President of Government Relations Scott Manley says the Dem governor wants to tax manufacturing production “at a time when we need to produce more goods” domestically.
Evers is seeking to cap a tax break for manufacturers at $300,000 of their income, which would amount to a tax hike of $792 million. A budget document from the guv’s office says the change would curb “excessive benefits” to high-income earners.
“Taxing small businesses and family-supporting manufacturing jobs is the exact opposite of what Wisconsin needs to do to ease the financial burden on families,” Manley said. “WMC looks forward to working with lawmakers to reject these misguided proposals, and instead enact tax reforms that will make Wisconsin more competitive and prosperous.”
Evers’ two-year spending plan now goes to the Republican-run Legislature, which will likely toss a lot of the governor’s initiatives before returning the massive document to him around June 30, the end of the current biennium.
Other business groups are praising elements of the governor’s proposed budget, with the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association calling his proposal a “strong foundation” for critical infrastructure projects in the state.
The group says his budget would put nearly $1 billion in new funding into the state’s transportation system, increase the amount Wisconsin can borrow for large projects and boost vehicle title fees.
Steve Baas, the association’s executive director, calls Evers’ proposed funding framework “a strong starting position” for the Legislature’s work.
“The critical importance of keeping our roads safe and our economy strong through smart transportation investment is one of the rare areas of the state budget with bi-partisan consensus,” Baas said in a statement.
The Transportation Development Association says the proposal recognizes that current transportation funding streams are “insufficient” to meet the state’s needs.
“Transportation investment has been an area where bipartisan agreement led to significant progress in recent budgets, and we are optimistic that will be the case again this year,” TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson said.
Meanwhile, the Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin is applauding Evers for “numerous” provisions in his budget aimed at expanding clean energy access.
“From doubling our state’s commitment to energy efficiency to capitalizing the state’s green bank, these priorities demonstrate the Governor’s commitment to driving economic growth and job creation,” the coalition said in a statement, also noting Evers’ plans to cut carbon emissions from the energy sector by 2050.
And Imagine MKE, a nonprofit arts and culture organization in Milwaukee, touted the inclusion of “much needed investment” into Wisconsin’s creative industries. The group noted Evers wants a funding increase for the Wisconsin Arts Board, funding for a new Rural Wisconsin Creative Economy Grant Program, and creating a Wisconsin Office of Film and Creative Industries and Film Tax Incentives.
“We will work closely with partners and advocates in Milwaukee and statewide to amplify the understanding that this critical investment is one that will strengthen and grow not just this sector, but the broader Wisconsin economy,” Imagine MKE Executive Director Christine Hojnacki said.
See more budget reactions at the WisPolitics press release page.
