(The Center Square) – The top Republican in the Wisconsin Assembly says he’s ready to vote again on the $1.8 billion tax deal that fell short last month.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said on UpFront on Sunday that he wants a second chance to vote on the package.
“I still think we can get it done,” Vos said. “I think we should go back in. I have asked the governor to help us get another attempt at it.”
The tax deal, which packaged over $1 billion in tax rebates and property tax relief with a new law that ended taxes on tips and overtime, in exchange for $300 million more for special education passed the Assembly.
But it died in the State Senate when three Republicans, and every Democrat voted against it.
Vos, who is leaving office at the end of this term, said the Assembly is ready to vote again, but he’s not sure about a vote count in the Senate.
“Senate Democrats, hopefully when they get a look at [the Marquette] poll, and realize we can’t even get people in Wisconsin to agree on what day of the week it is, and if 80% of the people say this deal should have been passed, let’s give them some confidence that government can actually get things done to help real people, in real time.”
Last week’s Marquette Poll said 80% of people in Wisconsin wanted the tax rebates and tax relief that were included in the plan. The poll also said about 70% of those people wanted the tax relief and tax rebates now, as opposed to next year.
“The Assembly will come back in,” Vos said of a potential re-vote. “I reached out to the governor’s office. I have not heard back, I’ll be honest. But let’s put some pressure on these politicians to get it done. Why would we wait until November when most people are suffering now.”
Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, last week said on UpFront that there is a “zero percent” chance that lawmakers will vote on the tax plan again.
Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate have also been silent about the chances for a new vote on the plan. They are, instead, focused on what they can do with Wisconsin’s $2 billion-plus surplus next year.
“Senate Democrats remain open to sound and financially sustainable solutions to lower property taxes, invest in public schools, and lower costs for all Wisconsinites,” Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein said in a statement last week. “That’s what we will focus on when we are in the majority in 2027.”
