MADISON, Wis. — State Rep. Amanda Nedweski on Wednesday criticized Democrats and several Republicans after a proposed tax relief and education funding package failed to advance in the Wisconsin Senate.
The legislation would have provided more than $600 million in additional funding for Wisconsin schools, including what supporters described as the largest increase in special education reimbursement funding in state history. The package also included tax relief measures such as eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay and sending $300 rebate checks to taxpayers based on 2024 tax returns.
According to reports from the Capitol, the proposal faced opposition from Assembly and Senate Democrats, along with some Republicans who argued the plan either spent too much of the state surplus or did not provide enough tax relief.
“Legislative Republicans spent years budgeting responsibly, putting Wisconsin in the strong fiscal position today to be able to return the surplus to hardworking families while making another historic investment in special education,” Nedweski said. “Democrats think the surplus belongs to them to be able to spend it on their next political pet project.”
Wisconsin Public Radio reported that Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee unanimously opposed the proposal, with some arguing the deal did not go far enough to solve long-term school funding issues.
The proposal also drew criticism from Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany, who reportedly called the rebate checks a “gimmick” and argued the tax cuts were insufficient.
Nedweski accused Democratic lawmakers of rejecting both education funding increases and tax relief for working families.
“Today, Democrat lawmakers said ‘no’ to historic investments in special education and ‘no’ to helping hardworking families keep more of what they earn,” Nedweski said. “While Republicans led the effort to return the surplus to Wisconsin families, Democrat leaders spent more time complaining that they were left out of negotiations.”
Nedweski also renewed criticism of Gov. Tony Evers over the controversial “400-year veto,” arguing it contributed to rising property taxes statewide.
“Wisconsin families saw the single largest property tax increase in 30 years this past December because of the Governor’s 400-year veto,” Nedweski said. “This bill will provide meaningful relief for families now, but long-term property tax relief starts with electing a Republican governor who will repeal the 400-year veto once and for all.”
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