Gov. Scott Walker is threatening to take the unprecedented step of vetoing the entire Wisconsin state budget if it raises property taxes on homeowners.
Walker on Thursday promised to veto the entire budget if it results in a net property tax increase to homeowners. And on Monday he fired off a series of tweets defending his budget as the GOP-controlled Legislature continues working on making changes to it.
No governor has ever vetoed the entire state budget since 1931.
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That is the year the budget was first passed as a single, large bill.
“The only reason for a complete veto would be more for political optics or for related rhetorical or symbolic reasons,” said Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance President Todd Berry.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he was caught off guard by Walker’s threat.
“I don’t know why he wouldn’t call us instead of acting like Donald Trump and tweeting at us,” Vos said.
Walker tweeted, “Republicans did not run on a gas tax increase — so they should not pass one in this budget.”
Raising gas taxes is being looked at by some Republican legislative leaders as part of a way to pay for roads in the state.
Walker also tweeted that Republicans who ran on the promise of lowering taxes “need to keep that pledge.”
I ran on a promise to lower the overall tax burden in WI. So did other Republicans. We need to keep that pledge.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) May 22, 2017
Republicans did not run on a gas tax increase — so they should not pass one in this budget.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) May 22, 2017
Let me be clear, I will veto the entire budget if it includes an increase in property taxes for homeowners.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) May 22, 2017
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