State GOP Mulls Options For Extra Tax Revenues, If Any

Republicans are debating amongst themselves how to handle a possible bump in state tax collections as the legislative session enters its final few months.

It’s all speculation at this point, since the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has yet to revise its projections. But Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he has his ideas for how to use the money, if it’s there.

“Is it possible that more and more revenue will accrue to the state? Yes it is. And if for some reason, more revenue accrues, I would prefer to do what we did last fall, which is don’t say, ‘Let’s figure out more programs to spend it on,’ but say, ‘Let’s get it back in the hands of families all across Wisconsin so that they can decide what’s best for them,’” Vos said. “But we don’t know the number yet.”

Vos wasn’t specific about what kind of tax cut he’d like to see, though the speaker has been supportive of creating a sales tax holiday. Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has been guarded about his plans, saying some of his members might want to save any extra revenue instead.