Here & Now

Updates: Tax Cut Vetoed, Voter Purge Ruling Struck Down

Frederica Freyberg:

Now to state politics and the fate of a Republican tax cut plan that passed both Houses of the legislature last week. The bill used state surplus dollars to lower income and business taxes while bringing down the debt. It had a short life span. That’s because Governor Tony Evers killed the bill with a veto on Tuesday. Appearing at a Wauwatosa school, Evers said the bill should have used surplus money to boost school aid.

Tony Evers:

Folks, this is — the sustainability of this is not possible. We have to start investing in our kids and our schools. And to be clear, we don’t have to choose between investing in our kids and reducing property taxes. We can do both at the same time.

Frederica Freyberg:

Republican leadership fired back at Governor Evers after his tax cut veto. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a statement, “While I’m disappointed in the governor’s actions, I’m not surprised. This is the second income tax cut he’s vetoed as governor. His budget proposal last summer included over $1 billion in tax hikes. Republicans in the legislature will continue to hold the line against his far left agenda,” he said.

A Wisconsin appeals court today struck down an Ozaukee County judge’s ruling that purged thousands of people from state voter rolls because they were tagged as having changed address. The appellate court also reversed the lower court’s ruling finding state election officials in contempt for not immediately removing the voters.

Speaking of state election officials, in trying to make sure the Wisconsin election coming up in a little more than a month is secure, the Wisconsin Elections Commission late this week threatened to publicly shame six unnamed communities across the state if they don’t upgrade outdated computer systems that could put them at risk for hacking. The commission made more than $1 million available to clerks to upgrade their computers but not all of them took advantage of the money.

Mark Thomsen:

I said this before. I do not like the way we address our weaknesses. I think we have to know who they are. We have to disclose it and we have to get over this myth that somehow keeping that a secret actually creates security.

Frederica Freyberg:

The commission wants the upgrades to happen before the April 7 presidential primary and Supreme Court election or the communities will be publicly named. For more on this story and others, go to PBSwisconsin.org and click on news.