Devin LeMahieu Archives - The Wisconsin Daily Star

Republican-Led Wisconsin Senate Turns Tables on Democrats in Resolution That Could Lead to Elections Commission Chief’s Ouster

June 29, 2023June 28, 2023 M.D. Kittle

In a move that turned the tables on Democrats who had played political games with the appointment of controversial Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe, the Republican-controlled state Senate late Wednesday evening dropped a surprise resolution that sets up a confirmation vote sources say Wolfe can’t win. Democrats stormed out of the Senate Chamber, refusing to vote on the resolution.

Wisconsin’s Budget-Writing Committee Passes Budget with ‘Historic’ $4.3 Billion Tax Cut

June 24, 2023June 23, 2023 M.D. Kittle

After a season of spending, the Wisconsin Legislature is finally getting around to talking tax cuts. Perhaps Republicans have saved the best for last.

The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee put the finishing touches on a complete rewrite of Democrat Governor Tony Evers’ 2023-25 state budget proposal, passing a tax reform package that promises to deliver $3.5 billion in income tax cuts and nearly $800 million in property tax relief.

Wisconsin Senate Republican Boss: Votes Aren’t There for Share Revenue Tax Changes

June 6, 2023June 5, 2023 The Center Square

The top Republican in the Wisconsin Senate says there are not enough Republican votes to change the plan for a Milwaukee sales tax increase.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said on UPFRONT over the weekend that he doesn’t have the 17 votes needed to pass a plan that would allow Milwaukee and Milwaukee County leaders to raise taxes, as opposed to putting the question to voters.

Top Wisconsin Senate Republican Unhappy with ‘Line in the Sand’ over Shared Revenue Specifics

May 20, 2023May 19, 2023 The Center Square

The prospects for Wisconsin’s shared revenue plan got a bit dimmer Thursday after the top Republican in the State Senate said his half of the legislature wants a slightly different plan of their own.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu told reporters Thursday morning that the Senate will hold some public hearings, then vote on a version of the shared revenue proposal that Senators agree upon.

Report: Wisconsin Tax Collections Projections Come in Lower Than Expected

May 16, 2023May 15, 2023 M.D. Kittle

Wisconsin state tax collections over the next three years are projected to come in more than three-quarters of a billion dollars lower than expected, according to a new report from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Republican lawmakers say the revised projections further underscore their efforts to remake a more fiscally responsible biennial budget out of Democrat Governor Tony Evers’ big-spending proposal.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Threatens to Veto Republicans’ Shared Revenue Plan

May 6, 2023May 5, 2023 M.D. Kittle

Republican leadership is blasting Governor Tony Evers for threatening to kill a bill that would boost state shared revenue and bail out financially troubled Milwaukee.

The liberal governor, however, isn’t the only critic of the legislation that pours hundreds of millions of dollars of new taxpayer revenue into Badger State towns, villages, cities and counties.

New Report Highlights Benefits of a Wisconsin Flat Tax

April 21, 2023April 20, 2023 M.D. Kittle

As the Wisconsin Legislature considers sweeping tax cuts, a new report finds a flat tax would yield substantial benefits for all.

The report, published by the Badger Institute, notes single-rate reform to Wisconsin’s costly progressive tax system would spur faster economic growth, creating more jobs and more investment — all while lowering the burden on Badger State taxpayers.

Wisconsin Legislature Passes Key Crime Bills, Stops Evers Administration Rule on ‘Conversion Therapy’

March 23, 2023 M.D. Kittle

In a busy and divisive day, the Republican-led Legislature on Wednesday passed several crime bills, a measure blocking what some say is the Evers administration’s assault on the First Amendment, and a resolution demanding the governor call an election for Secretary of State.

Milwaukee-Based Free-Market Think Tank Expands with New Madison Office

February 1, 2023January 31, 2023 Bradley Vasoli

The Badger Institute, a free-market think tank that has operated in Milwaukee for since 1987, is expanding with a new office near the state Capitol.

While the policy-research center, known in its early days as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, will keep its principal headquarters in Cream City, its educational consultant Jim Bender and communications vice president Michael Jahr will staff the new Madison office. Badger leadership expect the new capital-city presence to bolster the think tank’s government-relations efforts.

Wisconsin Flat Tax Proposal Overshadows Zero Tax Idea

January 22, 2023January 21, 2023 M.D. Kittle

Tax reform is top of mind for Republicans this legislative session. But while a flat tax measure has taken center stage, another proposal by one legislative leader to eliminate Wisconsin’s personal income tax has seemingly disappeared from the tax cut discourse.

A new State Policy Network (SPN) survey shows a good deal of support for nixing the state income tax.

Wisconsin Part of Flat Tax ‘Revolution’

January 17, 2023January 16, 2023 M.D. Kittle

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and state Representative Rob Brooks (R-Saukville) are set to introduce a tax reform proposal this week that would ultimately phase in a 3.25 percent flat income tax rate by tax year 2026. The measure would make Wisconsin part of a recent “flat tax revolution”, according to a national tax expert.

Wisconsin Senate Leader Opens Door to Some New State Spending

January 9, 2023January 8, 2023 The Center Square

The top Republican in the Wisconsin Senate is talking about inflation.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu on Wednesday used his speech to the newly sworn-in State Senate to talk about the pressure that inflation is exerting on Wisconsin residents.

Republican Leaders Call Wisconsin Gov. Evers’ Latest Special Session ‘Political Stunt’

September 23, 2022September 22, 2022 The Center Square

Wisconsin lawmakers are once again planning to ignore a call from Gov. Tony Evers’ for a special session, and they are once again calling it a political stunt.

The governor on Wednesday said lawmakers need to come back to the Capitol in Madison in two weeks and start work on a constitutional amendment that would allow voters in Wisconsin to vote on binding referendum questions that would create new state law.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Appear Ready to Override Wisconsin Elections Commission Once Again

July 20, 2022July 19, 2022 The Center Square

It is going to be another scolding for the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

The Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules will meet on Wednesday to consider new rules for ballot curing.

Wisconsin Senate Leader Warns Elections Commission over Ballot Curing

July 16, 2022July 15, 2022 The Center Square

The top Republican in the Wisconsin Senate is warning the state’s Elections Commission about its new rule for filling out ballots.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, on Thursday said the Elections Commission needs to follow the state law on ballot curing.

Fiscal Report: Wisconsin’s Tax Burden Down $22 Billion Since 2011

February 27, 2022February 26, 2022 The Center Square

Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are pointing to another report as proof their policies are working.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu on Wednesday released a memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau that shows Wisconsin’s tax burden has fallen by $22 billion since 2011.

“In 2010, Wisconsin had the 5th highest tax burden in the nation. Residents were sending far too much of their earnings to Madison. On top of high taxes, the state had a $3.6 billion structural deficit, no Rainy Day Fund, and businesses were leaving in droves,” LeMahieu said.