1
00:00:00,030 --> 00:00:02,169
2026 special session.

2
00:00:02,170 --> 00:00:03,349
Will the members and visitors please

3
00:00:03,350 --> 00:00:04,350
take your seats? Please be seated.

4
00:00:18,830 --> 00:00:20,429
Will the members and visitors please

5
00:00:20,430 --> 00:00:21,829
rise? The prayer today will be

6
00:00:21,830 --> 00:00:23,009
offered by the representative from

7
00:00:23,010 --> 00:00:24,669
the 25th Assembly District,

8
00:00:24,670 --> 00:00:25,670
Representative Timm.

9
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:31,200
Thank you.

10
00:00:33,710 --> 00:00:35,589
My favorite Bible verse is

11
00:00:35,590 --> 00:00:37,429
Nahum 1-7.

12
00:00:37,430 --> 00:00:39,269
Yes, that is in the Bible.

13
00:00:39,270 --> 00:00:41,129
It's a very minor

14
00:00:41,130 --> 00:00:43,529
prophet in the Old Testament.

15
00:00:43,530 --> 00:00:45,729
And it says, the Lord is good and

16
00:00:45,730 --> 00:00:47,989
a stronghold in the day of trouble.

17
00:00:47,990 --> 00:00:50,929
And he knows them that trust in him.

18
00:00:50,930 --> 00:00:52,470
Have you trusted him?

19
00:00:53,750 --> 00:00:55,249
Let's go to the Lord with her.

20
00:00:55,250 --> 00:00:56,829
Lord God, we thank you for this day.

21
00:00:56,830 --> 00:00:59,069
We thank you this special session.

22
00:00:59,070 --> 00:01:00,209
Lord, we pray that you would just

23
00:01:00,210 --> 00:01:02,169
give us kindness in our

24
00:01:02,170 --> 00:01:03,170
words.

25
00:01:03,580 --> 00:01:05,159
Love in our heart,

26
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,499
and righteousness in debate.

27
00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:11,159
Lord God, I pray that you would just

28
00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,019
help us to

29
00:01:13,020 --> 00:01:14,959
be the examples that we need to be

30
00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:16,819
of you in this

31
00:01:16,820 --> 00:01:18,599
chamber, and Lord, guard our hearts

32
00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,219
and our minds towards you, in Jesus'

33
00:01:20,220 --> 00:01:21,539
name I pray. Amen.

34
00:01:21,540 --> 00:01:22,540
Amen.

35
00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:25,899
The Pledge of Allegiance will be

36
00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:26,919
offered by the gentleman from the

37
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:27,920
59th District.

38
00:01:29,150 --> 00:01:32,429
Of the United States

39
00:01:32,430 --> 00:01:34,769
of America, and to the Republic

40
00:01:34,770 --> 00:01:36,709
for which it stands, one

41
00:01:36,710 --> 00:01:38,669
Nation under God,

42
00:01:38,670 --> 00:01:40,569
indivisible, with liberty and

43
00:01:40,570 --> 00:01:41,570
justice for all.

44
00:01:53,500 --> 00:01:54,879
The first order of business is to

45
00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,039
call the roll, the clerk will open

46
00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:57,040
the roll.

47
00:02:01,650 --> 00:02:04,049
Andrew Kloss, I'm going to say.

48
00:02:04,050 --> 00:02:05,050
Okay.

49
00:02:05,490 --> 00:02:06,490
Remember that?

50
00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:08,379
Oh, yeah.

51
00:02:08,380 --> 00:02:09,380
All right.

52
00:02:10,020 --> 00:02:11,020
Okay.

53
00:02:12,150 --> 00:02:13,150
Thank you.

54
00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:29,489
Thank you.

55
00:02:29,490 --> 00:02:31,639
It's not Grant's McCarvel product.

56
00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:32,640
Thank you.

57
00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:37,379
Have all members recorded their

58
00:02:37,380 --> 00:02:38,459
presence? If so, the clerk will

59
00:02:38,460 --> 00:02:40,179
close the roll. There are 95 members

60
00:02:40,180 --> 00:02:41,520
present. The quorum is present.

61
00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,859
Mr. Speaker, I ask your consent

62
00:02:45,860 --> 00:02:48,579
for a leave of absence for

63
00:02:48,580 --> 00:02:50,539
the gentleman

64
00:02:50,540 --> 00:02:52,649
from the 82nd.

65
00:02:52,650 --> 00:02:54,089
A gentleman from the 68th Eskimo

66
00:02:54,090 --> 00:02:54,929
Manor has been sent to the lead.

67
00:02:54,930 --> 00:02:56,029
Be granted for the balance of the

68
00:02:56,030 --> 00:02:57,289
day. The gentleman from 82nd has

69
00:02:57,290 --> 00:02:58,409
already objected.

70
00:02:58,410 --> 00:02:59,869
Hearing none, he is supported.

71
00:02:59,870 --> 00:03:00,930
Lady from the 79th.

72
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:05,719
Pardon me while I knock the phone

73
00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:06,720
off the desk.

74
00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,619
I rise to ask for a leave of absence

75
00:03:09,620 --> 00:03:11,099
for the balance, or unanimous

76
00:03:11,100 --> 00:03:12,879
consent for a Leave of Absence for

77
00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:14,519
the Balance of the Day for the

78
00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,739
representative from the 42nd,

79
00:03:16,740 --> 00:03:18,599
the representative from the 9th,

80
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,680
and the representative for the 52nd.

81
00:03:22,070 --> 00:03:23,889
Lady from the

82
00:03:23,890 --> 00:03:25,789
79th, ask unanimous consent to leave

83
00:03:25,790 --> 00:03:26,929
for the balance of the day be

84
00:03:26,930 --> 00:03:28,509
granted the lead from the 49th, the

85
00:03:28,510 --> 00:03:30,209
9th, and the 52nd.

86
00:03:30,210 --> 00:03:31,649
Is there any objection?

87
00:03:31,650 --> 00:03:33,109
Hearing none, those leaves are

88
00:03:33,110 --> 00:03:34,110
granted.

89
00:03:34,350 --> 00:03:35,389
We are in the 10th order of

90
00:03:35,390 --> 00:03:37,729
business. It has the May 2026

91
00:03:37,730 --> 00:03:39,189
special session calendar, so it's

92
00:03:39,190 --> 00:03:40,369
going to be the title of the book.

93
00:03:40,370 --> 00:03:42,609
May 2026 Special Session

94
00:03:42,610 --> 00:03:44,149
Assembly Bill 1 relating to income

95
00:03:44,150 --> 00:03:45,969
tax subtraction for qualified

96
00:03:45,970 --> 00:03:47,529
tips and for qualified overtime

97
00:03:47,530 --> 00:03:48,649
compensation.

98
00:03:48,650 --> 00:03:50,249
State aid for school districts,

99
00:03:50,250 --> 00:03:51,869
surplus refund payments, increasing

100
00:03:51,870 --> 00:03:53,709
funding for special education and

101
00:03:53,710 --> 00:03:54,889
school agent program.

102
00:03:54,890 --> 00:03:56,869
State aid to technical colleges and

103
00:03:56,870 --> 00:03:58,189
the technical college district

104
00:03:58,190 --> 00:03:59,249
revenue and information

105
00:03:59,250 --> 00:04:00,250
appropriation.

106
00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:06,699
Represented from the 32nd for an

107
00:04:06,700 --> 00:04:07,700
introduction.

108
00:04:15,430 --> 00:04:17,088
Thank you Mr. Speaker.

109
00:04:17,089 --> 00:04:18,369
I would just like to take a moment

110
00:04:18,370 --> 00:04:20,328
to recognize the Kenosha County Law

111
00:04:20,329 --> 00:04:22,589
Day Group, sponsored by the American

112
00:04:22,590 --> 00:04:24,529
Legion County Council and led

113
00:04:24,530 --> 00:04:26,109
by the Kenoshia County Sheriff's

114
00:04:26,110 --> 00:04:27,029
Department.

115
00:04:27,030 --> 00:04:28,509
These students participate annually

116
00:04:28,510 --> 00:04:30,329
in an essay contest.

117
00:04:30,330 --> 00:04:32,329
This year's theme is the rule of law

118
00:04:32,330 --> 00:04:34,029
and the American dream.

119
00:04:34,030 --> 00:04:35,389
Sorry I can't be with you guys

120
00:04:35,390 --> 00:04:36,709
today. I'll try to catch up with you

121
00:04:36,710 --> 00:04:37,729
a little bit later. Thanks for being

122
00:04:37,730 --> 00:04:38,730
here.

123
00:04:58,530 --> 00:05:00,789
The question is, shall May 2026

124
00:05:00,790 --> 00:05:02,789
Special Assembly Bill 1 be ordered

125
00:05:02,790 --> 00:05:04,409
engrossed and read a third time?

126
00:05:04,410 --> 00:05:05,409
All those in favor, we'll sing a

127
00:05:05,410 --> 00:05:06,469
nice A and I.

128
00:05:06,470 --> 00:05:08,309
All those no, the ayes have it, the

129
00:05:08,310 --> 00:05:10,629
bill is engrosed.

130
00:05:10,630 --> 00:05:12,649
Representative from the 33rd.

131
00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:16,559
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

132
00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:17,699
I stand to present the rules of this

133
00:05:17,700 --> 00:05:19,559
plan, AB 1B, and I give

134
00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:20,200
the serve reading. Represent.

135
00:05:20,201 --> 00:05:21,909
Represent from the 31st session and

136
00:05:21,910 --> 00:05:23,149
consent that the rules be suspended

137
00:05:23,150 --> 00:05:24,829
in May 2026.

138
00:05:24,830 --> 00:05:26,429
Special session assembly bill 1 be

139
00:05:26,430 --> 00:05:27,329
given a third reading.

140
00:05:27,330 --> 00:05:28,229
Misery objection?

141
00:05:28,230 --> 00:05:29,269
Hearing none, the clerk read the

142
00:05:29,270 --> 00:05:30,379
title of the bill.

143
00:05:30,380 --> 00:05:32,419
May 2026 Special Session Assembly

144
00:05:32,420 --> 00:05:34,039
Bill 1 relating to income tax

145
00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:35,899
subtraction for qualified tips and

146
00:05:35,900 --> 00:05:37,839
for qualified overtime compensation.

147
00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:39,239
State aid for school districts,

148
00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:40,819
surplus refund payments, increasing

149
00:05:40,820 --> 00:05:42,679
funding for special education and

150
00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,259
school age parent programs.

151
00:05:44,260 --> 00:05:45,699
State aid to technical colleges and

152
00:05:45,700 --> 00:05:46,939
the technical college district

153
00:05:46,940 --> 00:05:48,059
revenue limit to make an

154
00:05:48,060 --> 00:05:49,060
appropriation.

155
00:05:49,580 --> 00:05:51,579
The question is May 2026

156
00:05:51,580 --> 00:05:53,259
special session assembly bill one

157
00:05:53,260 --> 00:05:55,219
have been read three times she'll be

158
00:05:55,220 --> 00:05:56,939
passed. There's three and a half

159
00:05:56,940 --> 00:05:58,859
hours to debate on this bill,

160
00:05:58,860 --> 00:06:00,699
representative from the 33rd.

161
00:06:04,850 --> 00:06:06,589
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members.

162
00:06:06,590 --> 00:06:08,009
Good morning.

163
00:06:08,010 --> 00:06:10,289
I thought when we left

164
00:06:10,290 --> 00:06:12,229
last, that would be our final

165
00:06:12,230 --> 00:06:14,409
session today, and I am extremely

166
00:06:14,410 --> 00:06:16,289
excited to say that we are here to

167
00:06:16,290 --> 00:06:18,349
do more good business today.

168
00:06:18,350 --> 00:06:19,350
You know, it's interesting,

169
00:06:20,330 --> 00:06:22,309
it took some time as

170
00:06:22,310 --> 00:06:24,869
I was leaving my

171
00:06:24,870 --> 00:06:26,469
post and kind of thinking about what

172
00:06:26,470 --> 00:06:28,069
the next chapter is going to be.

173
00:06:28,070 --> 00:06:29,989
And the thing that gets me the

174
00:06:29,990 --> 00:06:31,829
most is we

175
00:06:31,830 --> 00:06:34,209
think about the things that we did.

176
00:06:34,210 --> 00:06:37,069
The positive impacts that we made,

177
00:06:37,070 --> 00:06:38,829
and what did we run for in the first

178
00:06:38,830 --> 00:06:40,109
place.

179
00:06:40,110 --> 00:06:42,389
The reason we are here is to do all

180
00:06:42,390 --> 00:06:44,589
of those things one more time,

181
00:06:44,590 --> 00:06:46,289
and that is to say we have good

182
00:06:46,290 --> 00:06:48,149
things that we can do, we can

183
00:06:48,150 --> 00:06:49,829
show people that we listen and that

184
00:06:49,830 --> 00:06:52,069
we are willing to act, and

185
00:06:52,070 --> 00:06:54,289
most importantly that compromise

186
00:06:54,290 --> 00:06:56,189
in Wisconsin is not a dead

187
00:06:56,190 --> 00:06:57,239
word.

188
00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,399
Compromise is defined as getting

189
00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,319
something that you want by giving

190
00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,359
up something that your partner

191
00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:04,959
or your opponent wants.

192
00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:06,519
That is really what we did here.

193
00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:07,719
We sat down with the governor in

194
00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:09,300
good faith for months.

195
00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,359
He started at a different place, so

196
00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:13,699
did we.

197
00:07:13,700 --> 00:07:15,299
Things that we wanted, he clearly

198
00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:16,539
couldn't accept.

199
00:07:16,540 --> 00:07:18,139
Things that he wanted, we clearly

200
00:07:18,140 --> 00:07:19,059
couldn't t accept. You know what

201
00:07:19,060 --> 00:07:21,239
that is? That is compromise.

202
00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:22,659
That is saying, let's put aside the

203
00:07:22,660 --> 00:07:24,199
things that can never happen to

204
00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,289
focus on the things we can't.

205
00:07:26,290 --> 00:07:27,879
That's where we are today.

206
00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:29,699
I think it's unanimous,

207
00:07:29,700 --> 00:07:30,739
or you would hope it would be

208
00:07:30,740 --> 00:07:32,819
unanimous that when we have a bill

209
00:07:32,820 --> 00:07:34,679
where 80% of the

210
00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:36,659
money that we are appropriating

211
00:07:36,660 --> 00:07:38,539
goes back in relief to people who

212
00:07:38,540 --> 00:07:39,939
need it the most.

213
00:07:39,940 --> 00:07:41,299
It goes back to people that own

214
00:07:41,300 --> 00:07:42,219
property.

215
00:07:42,220 --> 00:07:44,359
It goes to people are renters.

216
00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,179
It goes it back to rich

217
00:07:46,180 --> 00:07:48,279
and poor, people who are old

218
00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,819
and young, urban and rural.

219
00:07:50,820 --> 00:07:52,859
Everyone in Wisconsin is

220
00:07:52,860 --> 00:07:55,039
going to stand to get benefit from

221
00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,819
the deal that we put together today.

222
00:07:56,820 --> 00:07:58,719
How did we get here?

223
00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,459
Prudent, good budgeting.

224
00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:02,819
Wisconsin's economy is in a good

225
00:08:02,820 --> 00:08:04,519
spot for most people.

226
00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,199
Now some are suffering as we deal

227
00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:07,519
with rising costs.

228
00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:08,859
No doubt about that.

229
00:08:08,860 --> 00:08:10,499
But the good news for Wisconsin is

230
00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:12,679
that our surplus is strong

231
00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,139
and it's growing.

232
00:08:14,140 --> 00:08:15,839
Now we have a couple options of what

233
00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,059
to do with that surplus.

234
00:08:17,060 --> 00:08:18,939
Option one, keep it in the check

235
00:08:18,940 --> 00:08:20,899
and save it to spend it later.

236
00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:23,149
Option two.

237
00:08:23,150 --> 00:08:24,769
Use it to grow the size of

238
00:08:24,770 --> 00:08:26,469
government because we need more

239
00:08:26,470 --> 00:08:28,789
government programs, not less.

240
00:08:28,790 --> 00:08:30,649
Option three, give all of

241
00:08:30,650 --> 00:08:31,449
it back.

242
00:08:31,450 --> 00:08:33,229
I would have chosen option three,

243
00:08:33,230 --> 00:08:34,889
right, if I got to have a compromise

244
00:08:34,890 --> 00:08:36,749
that was literally with myself, but

245
00:08:36,750 --> 00:08:38,369
that's not the way of the world.

246
00:08:38,370 --> 00:08:40,109
I think all of the surplus should go

247
00:08:40,110 --> 00:08:41,709
back to be able to deal with the

248
00:08:41,710 --> 00:08:43,288
rising costs in our society.

249
00:08:43,289 --> 00:08:45,129
But in a world where the voters of

250
00:08:45,130 --> 00:08:46,949
Wisconsin have said no one

251
00:08:46,950 --> 00:08:49,169
side gets to make all the decisions,

252
00:08:49,170 --> 00:08:50,769
the side that says it should be all

253
00:08:50,770 --> 00:08:52,469
spent on growing government, they

254
00:08:52,470 --> 00:08:53,799
don't get their way either.

255
00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:55,799
And that's why this compromise says

256
00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:56,939
we're going to give it back to

257
00:08:56,940 --> 00:08:59,539
people who work overtime.

258
00:08:59,540 --> 00:09:00,659
That to me is one of the most

259
00:09:00,660 --> 00:09:01,619
important.

260
00:09:01,620 --> 00:09:03,479
We have got a workforce crisis

261
00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,159
in America where we need more people

262
00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:06,999
pulling the wagon to be able to

263
00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:08,819
make our country the place that

264
00:09:08,820 --> 00:09:11,219
we all know it has been and it

265
00:09:11,220 --> 00:09:12,639
needs to continue to be.

266
00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:13,839
But what that means is we need

267
00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:15,239
everybody working harder.

268
00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,659
And when the idea of giving relief

269
00:09:17,660 --> 00:09:19,239
for people who are in overtime came

270
00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:20,779
up, right away I thought, what a

271
00:09:20,780 --> 00:09:22,559
great idea. Because what do we want

272
00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:23,679
to do in Wisconsin?

273
00:09:23,680 --> 00:09:25,679
Incentivize people to work hard

274
00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:27,579
and give them a reward for

275
00:09:27,580 --> 00:09:28,559
doing so.

276
00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:29,859
This bill finally does it.

277
00:09:29,860 --> 00:09:31,319
We passed it before.

278
00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:32,339
Unfortunately, I think all my

279
00:09:32,340 --> 00:09:33,619
Democratic colleagues in the past

280
00:09:33,620 --> 00:09:34,399
voted no.

281
00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:35,719
But they have a chance to write the

282
00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:37,559
record. Because here we are,

283
00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:39,479
standing up for working people who

284
00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:40,799
work by the hour.

285
00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,688
They need the help.

286
00:09:42,689 --> 00:09:44,929
How about waitresses and waiters?

287
00:09:44,930 --> 00:09:47,129
People who literally work in

288
00:09:47,130 --> 00:09:49,529
service to others.

289
00:09:49,530 --> 00:09:51,109
They deserve a break that we're

290
00:09:51,110 --> 00:09:52,609
giving them today. So if you are a

291
00:09:52,610 --> 00:09:54,309
waiter or waitress, you work on a

292
00:09:54,310 --> 00:09:55,769
tip, you're not going to have to pay

293
00:09:55,770 --> 00:09:57,169
income tax on that, just like the

294
00:09:57,170 --> 00:09:58,229
feds. You're not gonna have to worry

295
00:09:58,230 --> 00:09:59,689
about getting a federal red

296
00:09:59,690 --> 00:10:01,289
deduction, but not getting one for

297
00:10:01,290 --> 00:10:03,869
the state. And last I knew,

298
00:10:03,870 --> 00:10:06,269
rich people aren't waiters,

299
00:10:06,270 --> 00:10:08,189
and rich people don't work by the

300
00:10:08,190 --> 00:10:09,949
hour. So this is not something

301
00:10:09,950 --> 00:10:11,749
geared toward the rich, which is

302
00:10:11,750 --> 00:10:13,249
what my Democratic colleagues

303
00:10:13,250 --> 00:10:14,629
normally have a problem with.

304
00:10:14,630 --> 00:10:15,869
So we have listened to their

305
00:10:15,870 --> 00:10:17,949
concerns, and we are targeting

306
00:10:17,950 --> 00:10:19,009
our work.

307
00:10:19,010 --> 00:10:20,869
The second thing that we did was to

308
00:10:20,870 --> 00:10:22,709
say, look, Governor Evers' four-year

309
00:10:22,710 --> 00:10:24,389
veto is a trap.

310
00:10:24,390 --> 00:10:25,909
It should never have happened.

311
00:10:25,910 --> 00:10:27,329
We have done everything that we

312
00:10:27,330 --> 00:10:29,429
possibly can to overturn it.

313
00:10:29,430 --> 00:10:31,129
And God willing, in November,

314
00:10:31,130 --> 00:10:32,649
there's a referendum on the ballot,

315
00:10:32,650 --> 00:10:33,709
and the voters are going to get a

316
00:10:33,710 --> 00:10:35,309
chance to say we're going to do it

317
00:10:35,310 --> 00:10:37,149
ourselves around the political

318
00:10:37,150 --> 00:10:38,169
bureaucracy.

319
00:10:38,170 --> 00:10:40,409
That's on the Ballot in November.

320
00:10:40,410 --> 00:10:42,069
So we have the ability to overturn

321
00:10:42,070 --> 00:10:44,129
that and never let it happen again.

322
00:10:44,130 --> 00:10:46,289
That's important to occur.

323
00:10:46,290 --> 00:10:47,849
We also need to elect a new governor

324
00:10:47,850 --> 00:10:49,909
to make sure that this priority

325
00:10:49,910 --> 00:10:51,889
happens for the state of Wisconsin.

326
00:10:51,890 --> 00:10:53,729
But in the meantime, for

327
00:10:53,730 --> 00:10:55,269
the people who are here suffering

328
00:10:55,270 --> 00:10:57,049
with the consequences of that

329
00:10:57,050 --> 00:10:59,109
four-year veto and the inaction

330
00:10:59,110 --> 00:11:00,829
of my Democratic colleagues to give

331
00:11:00,830 --> 00:11:03,339
a dime about property taxes...

332
00:11:03,340 --> 00:11:04,619
We're going to take the matter into

333
00:11:04,620 --> 00:11:05,959
our own hands because we had a

334
00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:07,059
governor who was willing to

335
00:11:07,060 --> 00:11:09,039
compromise and work with us

336
00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:10,439
to find a better answer.

337
00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,039
So here we are for one year.

338
00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:13,219
It's not permanent.

339
00:11:13,220 --> 00:11:14,219
It is not going to be every one of

340
00:11:14,220 --> 00:11:16,039
the 399 years, but

341
00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:17,959
the one year relief this year is

342
00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,079
permanent forever.

343
00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:21,739
That property tax will help every

344
00:11:21,740 --> 00:11:23,419
single Wisconsin homeowner and

345
00:11:23,420 --> 00:11:25,279
property to be able to afford

346
00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:26,539
their property tax bill when they

347
00:11:26,540 --> 00:11:27,540
get it in December.

348
00:11:28,660 --> 00:11:30,719
Lastly, we focused on making

349
00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,499
sure that in an area where we made a

350
00:11:32,500 --> 00:11:34,359
promise, now I know very few

351
00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,219
Democrats voted for the budget

352
00:11:36,220 --> 00:11:38,079
when it passed, even though it was a

353
00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:39,659
record investment in education, we

354
00:11:39,660 --> 00:11:41,479
got income tax cuts, we did record

355
00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,279
investments in a lot of priorities,

356
00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,219
there was a promise that was made to

357
00:11:45,220 --> 00:11:46,479
make sure that we funded special

358
00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,159
education going forward.

359
00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,099
Now it was an estimate, a good faith

360
00:11:50,100 --> 00:11:51,379
effort from the Governor's office

361
00:11:51,380 --> 00:11:52,819
and the fiscal bureau, again a

362
00:11:52,820 --> 00:11:54,359
compromise, to say what does that

363
00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,019
number need to be to be able to meet

364
00:11:56,020 --> 00:11:57,839
a certain freshman. It came in

365
00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:58,999
higher than we anticipated.

366
00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:00,319
No one's fault, it wasn't done

367
00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:01,399
intentionally.

368
00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,399
So here we are back to fix a

369
00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,239
problem that was actually

370
00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,039
no one's' fault, but the people who

371
00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:08,219
would ultimately pay the price.

372
00:12:08,220 --> 00:12:09,419
And that's local school districts

373
00:12:09,420 --> 00:12:11,199
and property taxpayers at the local

374
00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:11,999
level.

375
00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:13,979
Easy answer to say, why

376
00:12:13,980 --> 00:12:15,239
wouldn't we use some of the surplus

377
00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,319
to not only help keep property

378
00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:19,239
taxes down in local areas, but to

379
00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:20,839
make sure that if you're a child

380
00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,039
with special needs or the parent or

381
00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:24,799
a loved one, we're gonna get more

382
00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:26,539
services those kids get what they

383
00:12:26,540 --> 00:12:28,799
need should be easy because

384
00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,619
this bill today is

385
00:12:30,620 --> 00:12:32,879
a record investment in

386
00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:34,699
special ed. The highest level

387
00:12:34,700 --> 00:12:35,739
ever.

388
00:12:35,740 --> 00:12:37,099
It not only keeps our promise from

389
00:12:37,100 --> 00:12:39,299
the budget but it actually increases

390
00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:40,899
the spending because we have that

391
00:12:40,900 --> 00:12:41,849
surplus coming in.

392
00:12:41,850 --> 00:12:43,209
Now, you're going to hear from my

393
00:12:43,210 --> 00:12:44,549
Democratic colleagues that they want

394
00:12:44,550 --> 00:12:46,489
to save the money because they want

395
00:12:46,490 --> 00:12:47,969
it invested in growing the size of

396
00:12:47,970 --> 00:12:48,869
government. That's what they're

397
00:12:48,870 --> 00:12:50,609
going say even though they might not

398
00:12:50,610 --> 00:12:51,889
use those words.

399
00:12:51,890 --> 00:12:53,489
We know the truth.

400
00:12:53,490 --> 00:12:55,129
We want to give it back.

401
00:12:55,130 --> 00:12:56,449
Some Democrats want to keep it.

402
00:12:56,450 --> 00:12:58,089
Luckily, Tony Evers isn't one of

403
00:12:58,090 --> 00:12:58,869
those.

404
00:12:58,870 --> 00:13:00,689
He actually had the ability to say,

405
00:13:00,690 --> 00:13:02,709
let's compromise, let each give,

406
00:13:02,710 --> 00:13:04,729
let find a consensus because the

407
00:13:04,730 --> 00:13:06,549
people of Wisconsin expect us to do

408
00:13:06,550 --> 00:13:08,529
better than to just stand up and

409
00:13:08,530 --> 00:13:10,689
shake our fist. Maybe today

410
00:13:10,690 --> 00:13:12,149
some of them will be persuaded by

411
00:13:12,150 --> 00:13:13,689
their own government believe it or

412
00:13:13,690 --> 00:13:15,629
not. I actually was And

413
00:13:15,630 --> 00:13:17,009
I feel like I'm probably a more

414
00:13:17,010 --> 00:13:18,369
harsh critic than the people on the

415
00:13:18,370 --> 00:13:20,289
left So if people on

416
00:13:20,290 --> 00:13:21,909
our side are willing to listen and

417
00:13:21,910 --> 00:13:24,429
can compromise why can't you?

418
00:13:24,430 --> 00:13:26,629
Why can't people have left just one

419
00:13:26,630 --> 00:13:27,419
time?

420
00:13:27,420 --> 00:13:29,879
Put aside politics and

421
00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:31,299
say let's do the right thing.

422
00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:33,199
Money for schools, money for

423
00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,059
people who are at the normal income

424
00:13:35,060 --> 00:13:36,999
wage, people who work hard,

425
00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,019
all with a surplus, and we have

426
00:13:39,020 --> 00:13:40,959
plenty of money left in the till.

427
00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:42,219
Don't forget we have two billion

428
00:13:42,220 --> 00:13:44,519
dollars in our surplus still,

429
00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:45,739
even after this.

430
00:13:45,740 --> 00:13:47,479
On Monday it kind of got lost in the

431
00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,319
news, but we also had a three

432
00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:51,159
hundred million dollar increase,

433
00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,419
or almost a fifteen percent increase

434
00:13:53,420 --> 00:13:54,879
in the amount of money in our

435
00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,919
surpluse, because the economy in

436
00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:58,320
Wisconsin is so strong.

437
00:13:59,460 --> 00:14:01,319
So, we didn't choose to spend that.

438
00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:02,179
That's still going to be in the

439
00:14:02,180 --> 00:14:03,579
state's checkbook, so a record

440
00:14:03,580 --> 00:14:05,619
amount in the rainy day fund,

441
00:14:05,620 --> 00:14:06,879
a bunch of money still in our

442
00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:08,719
checkbook and we get to make good

443
00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:10,839
investments. This is the easiest

444
00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,059
green vote I have probably ever

445
00:14:13,060 --> 00:14:14,839
taken in my service in the

446
00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:15,619
legislature.

447
00:14:15,620 --> 00:14:17,199
We're spending money making sure

448
00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,039
that it goes back to people, we're

449
00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:20,579
spending that some of it's

450
00:14:20,580 --> 00:14:22,059
permanent, the funding for schools

451
00:14:22,060 --> 00:14:23,899
is permanent, so are some of the tax

452
00:14:23,900 --> 00:14:25,539
cuts, and we're using the balance

453
00:14:25,540 --> 00:14:26,479
for a one-time rebate.

454
00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,299
It is a win-win-win.

455
00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:30,859
So for the people of Wisconsin have

456
00:14:30,860 --> 00:14:32,359
confidence, your state government

457
00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,339
works, Republicans and Democrats

458
00:14:34,340 --> 00:14:36,239
hold to our principles, but in the

459
00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,039
end we find a way to get to yes

460
00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,099
because that's the Wisconsin way.

461
00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:42,179
I urge all my colleagues to vote yes

462
00:14:42,180 --> 00:14:43,499
and have hopefully a good long

463
00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:45,539
debate where we can agree that

464
00:14:45,540 --> 00:14:47,079
getting the money back is way better

465
00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:48,899
than keeping it here for some other

466
00:14:48,900 --> 00:14:49,900
person to suspect.

467
00:14:54,020 --> 00:14:56,239
The question is, May 2026,

468
00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:57,819
special session Assembly Bill 1,

469
00:14:57,820 --> 00:14:59,279
having been read three times, so the

470
00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:00,859
bill be passed, representative for

471
00:15:00,860 --> 00:15:01,860
the 73rd.

472
00:15:03,910 --> 00:15:04,910
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

473
00:15:06,490 --> 00:15:07,689
I'm rising in opposition to this

474
00:15:07,690 --> 00:15:09,249
bill because I cannot support a

475
00:15:09,250 --> 00:15:11,669
piece of legislation that spends so

476
00:15:11,670 --> 00:15:13,589
much state money and does so

477
00:15:13,590 --> 00:15:15,009
little in terms of solving big

478
00:15:15,010 --> 00:15:16,489
problems.

479
00:15:16,490 --> 00:15:18,029
I find the so-called tax rebate

480
00:15:18,030 --> 00:15:19,029
provision particularly

481
00:15:19,030 --> 00:15:20,729
objectionable.

482
00:15:20,730 --> 00:15:22,309
At a time when our president and his

483
00:15:22,310 --> 00:15:24,029
party are taking away healthcare

484
00:15:24,030 --> 00:15:26,009
subsidies, slashing funding to

485
00:15:26,010 --> 00:15:27,869
address food insecurity,

486
00:15:27,870 --> 00:15:30,009
and actively harming all of us

487
00:15:30,010 --> 00:15:32,529
with a reckless war of choice, with

488
00:15:32,530 --> 00:15:33,979
no plan.

489
00:15:33,980 --> 00:15:36,039
That is driving up gas prices,

490
00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,019
this bill fails to help

491
00:15:38,020 --> 00:15:39,939
the people who need it most.

492
00:15:39,940 --> 00:15:41,459
But to understand why, we have to

493
00:15:41,460 --> 00:15:42,619
get past those talking points that

494
00:15:42,620 --> 00:15:43,939
were just shared, and we need to

495
00:15:43,940 --> 00:15:45,480
look at actual substance.

496
00:15:46,580 --> 00:15:47,979
This bill is promoted as giving

497
00:15:47,980 --> 00:15:49,919
single people $300 rebate checks

498
00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,239
and married couples $600.

499
00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,519
But everyone should know that

500
00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,059
1.36 million Wisconsinites

501
00:15:57,060 --> 00:15:59,369
won't be getting a check at all.

502
00:15:59,370 --> 00:16:01,169
Maybe they don't file taxes, either

503
00:16:01,170 --> 00:16:02,189
because they don't make enough to

504
00:16:02,190 --> 00:16:03,729
feel that it's worth it, or because

505
00:16:03,730 --> 00:16:06,009
they live on social security.

506
00:16:06,010 --> 00:16:07,749
Or maybe, like what's true of me

507
00:16:07,750 --> 00:16:09,049
when my kids were young and I was a

508
00:16:09,050 --> 00:16:11,049
very broke graduate student,

509
00:16:11,050 --> 00:16:12,609
they do file taxes but they have so

510
00:16:12,610 --> 00:16:14,649
many deductions, and they make so

511
00:16:14,650 --> 00:16:15,789
little that they actually have a

512
00:16:15,790 --> 00:16:17,649
negative tax rate, and don't have

513
00:16:17,650 --> 00:16:18,789
a tax liability.

514
00:16:18,790 --> 00:16:20,629
So if you have kids, and

515
00:16:20,630 --> 00:16:22,489
don't t make much money, just know

516
00:16:22,490 --> 00:16:23,569
that you might not be getting any

517
00:16:23,570 --> 00:16:24,969
help at all.

518
00:16:24,970 --> 00:16:26,829
Not $300, maybe not even

519
00:16:26,830 --> 00:16:28,649
$50, maybe you'll get a check

520
00:16:28,650 --> 00:16:30,089
for five bucks.

521
00:16:30,090 --> 00:16:31,090
Time will tell.

522
00:16:32,450 --> 00:16:33,989
The argument that people in that

523
00:16:33,990 --> 00:16:35,689
position don't pay taxes so they

524
00:16:35,690 --> 00:16:37,429
don't deserve any part of this is

525
00:16:37,430 --> 00:16:38,829
wrong.

526
00:16:38,830 --> 00:16:40,769
Everyone pays taxes, whether

527
00:16:40,770 --> 00:16:42,289
it's sales tax on buying school

528
00:16:42,290 --> 00:16:43,969
supplies, property taxes on your

529
00:16:43,970 --> 00:16:45,249
mortgage or factored into your

530
00:16:45,250 --> 00:16:47,759
rents, or the gas tax.

531
00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:49,619
To fill up your car to go

532
00:16:49,620 --> 00:16:51,580
to work, we all contribute.

533
00:16:52,660 --> 00:16:54,559
To only consider income tax is

534
00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:56,479
patently regressive and

535
00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:57,480
morally wrong.

536
00:16:58,460 --> 00:17:00,099
In this bill, a significant portion

537
00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:01,459
of the people who need our help the

538
00:17:01,460 --> 00:17:02,859
most are being left out.

539
00:17:02,860 --> 00:17:04,000
This is bad policy.

540
00:17:05,260 --> 00:17:07,118
On the other hand, households

541
00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,959
that make $300,000 a month,

542
00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:11,879
nearly all of them are going

543
00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,029
to get checks for the full amount.

544
00:17:14,030 --> 00:17:15,868
In this bill, joint filers who make

545
00:17:15,869 --> 00:17:18,828
$300,000 or more would get $600.

546
00:17:18,829 --> 00:17:20,649
If you ask all the people who make

547
00:17:20,650 --> 00:17:22,549
300,000 or more in the state, this

548
00:17:22,550 --> 00:17:24,529
bill is costing us $47.5

549
00:17:24,530 --> 00:17:25,530
million.

550
00:17:26,310 --> 00:17:28,309
I do not understand

551
00:17:28,310 --> 00:17:30,149
how the people negotiating this

552
00:17:30,150 --> 00:17:31,809
bill could so callously duck their

553
00:17:31,810 --> 00:17:32,810
responsibility.

554
00:17:33,770 --> 00:17:35,549
How is it okay to give the nearly

555
00:17:35,550 --> 00:17:37,829
9,000 households that

556
00:17:37,830 --> 00:17:40,049
make $1 million or more $600

557
00:17:40,050 --> 00:17:41,050
each?

558
00:17:41,570 --> 00:17:43,049
But we can't figure out how to help

559
00:17:43,050 --> 00:17:44,249
someone who's trying to get by on

560
00:17:44,250 --> 00:17:45,290
social security alone.

561
00:17:46,910 --> 00:17:48,769
This is not how to stabilize a

562
00:17:48,770 --> 00:17:50,449
society at a time of economic

563
00:17:50,450 --> 00:17:51,450
strain.

564
00:17:51,850 --> 00:17:53,149
And what about the property tax

565
00:17:53,150 --> 00:17:55,029
relief we heard about?

566
00:17:55,030 --> 00:17:56,749
If your home value is at the state

567
00:17:56,750 --> 00:17:58,769
median, which is $312,000,

568
00:17:58,770 --> 00:18:01,269
you'll be saving $107,

569
00:18:01,270 --> 00:18:03,409
not per month,

570
00:18:03,410 --> 00:18:05,249
for the entirety of

571
00:18:05,250 --> 00:18:06,589
the year.

572
00:18:06,590 --> 00:18:08,609
And not this year,

573
00:18:08,610 --> 00:18:10,149
next year.

574
00:18:10,150 --> 00:18:11,609
If you pay your taxes through an

575
00:18:11,610 --> 00:18:13,949
escrow account, like most do,

576
00:18:13,950 --> 00:18:15,829
starting in January of 2027, you'll

577
00:18:15,830 --> 00:18:17,689
save $8.91 per

578
00:18:17,690 --> 00:18:18,809
month.

579
00:18:18,810 --> 00:18:20,669
That's less than two gallons

580
00:18:20,670 --> 00:18:22,539
of gas today.

581
00:18:22,540 --> 00:18:24,499
Who knows how much gas

582
00:18:24,500 --> 00:18:26,020
will cost by then?

583
00:18:27,300 --> 00:18:28,659
But what's most depressing about

584
00:18:28,660 --> 00:18:29,959
this bill is the treatment of our

585
00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:31,059
public schools.

586
00:18:31,060 --> 00:18:33,199
In my district, I have two schools,

587
00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:34,659
two school districts, where the

588
00:18:34,660 --> 00:18:36,539
per-pupil revenue limit is at the

589
00:18:36,540 --> 00:18:38,279
floor for the state.

590
00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,079
One of my districts is so broke, my

591
00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:41,379
home district, where my son

592
00:18:41,380 --> 00:18:43,519
graduated, is so broken that

593
00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:44,799
they are constantly having to cut

594
00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:45,699
services.

595
00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:46,919
So you might think, well then, yeah,

596
00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:48,019
vote for this bill. Don't they need

597
00:18:48,020 --> 00:18:49,419
the money? Yeah, they do.

598
00:18:49,420 --> 00:18:51,239
That's what makes this no vote

599
00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:52,240
hard.

600
00:18:52,850 --> 00:18:54,649
They desperately need the money,

601
00:18:54,650 --> 00:18:55,729
thanks to the actions of the

602
00:18:55,730 --> 00:18:57,269
majority party over the last 16

603
00:18:57,270 --> 00:18:58,429
years.

604
00:18:58,430 --> 00:18:59,909
But our job in this building is to

605
00:18:59,910 --> 00:19:01,749
see the bigger picture.

606
00:19:01,750 --> 00:19:03,089
And I see the big play that

607
00:19:03,090 --> 00:19:04,649
Republicans are making.

608
00:19:04,650 --> 00:19:06,309
Give wealthy families in our state

609
00:19:06,310 --> 00:19:08,249
what's left of the surplus, so that

610
00:19:08,250 --> 00:19:10,029
next year we are left with crumbs to

611
00:19:10,030 --> 00:19:11,449
fix what the majority have broken.

612
00:19:12,510 --> 00:19:14,549
This deal puts us in a significant

613
00:19:14,550 --> 00:19:16,409
structural deficit in years three

614
00:19:16,410 --> 00:19:17,410
and four.

615
00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,199
This fiscal burden says,

616
00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:21,399
I mean, the fiscal bureau says that

617
00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,159
we will need to grow by 4% to make

618
00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:24,160
up for that.

619
00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:26,739
At a time where we're seeing

620
00:19:26,740 --> 00:19:27,999
projections that we're going to see

621
00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,080
retrenchment economically.

622
00:19:30,340 --> 00:19:31,760
This is irresponsible.

623
00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:34,919
Even more than the flood of

624
00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:36,399
Republican retirements, drained

625
00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:38,199
state coffers shows that Republicans

626
00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,879
know that the voters will not want

627
00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:41,019
them back in the majority next

628
00:19:41,020 --> 00:19:42,020
session.

629
00:19:42,360 --> 00:19:43,819
They've been defunding essential

630
00:19:43,820 --> 00:19:45,439
public institutions for years, and

631
00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:46,519
on the way out the door, they want

632
00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:48,279
to try to make it harder for us to

633
00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:49,319
clean up the mess that they have

634
00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:50,320
made.

635
00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:52,099
I know Governor Evers is desperate

636
00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:53,100
to help public schools.

637
00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:55,239
No one wants to help them more than

638
00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:56,739
our party.

639
00:19:56,740 --> 00:19:58,799
But not like this.

640
00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:00,219
Not recklessly.

641
00:20:00,220 --> 00:20:01,439
Not in a way that makes real

642
00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,399
solutions, long-term solutions,

643
00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:04,400
harder.

644
00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,159
This is irresponsible policy.

645
00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:07,160
The vote is red.

646
00:20:08,300 --> 00:20:09,760
It's represented from the 30th.

647
00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:14,039
Thank you Mr. Speaker.

648
00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:15,539
It's wonderful to see so many

649
00:20:15,540 --> 00:20:16,779
youngsters from the gallery here

650
00:20:16,780 --> 00:20:18,439
today and welcome to the state

651
00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:19,499
capitol.

652
00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:21,159
And I want to say something to all

653
00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:22,239
of you.

654
00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,199
What you're witnessing here today is

655
00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:25,459
going to look nothing like the real

656
00:20:25,460 --> 00:20:27,779
world when you enter it later on.

657
00:20:27,780 --> 00:20:30,059
Where compromise is actually common.

658
00:20:30,060 --> 00:20:31,799
That happens and it's effective and

659
00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:33,059
it works.

660
00:20:33,060 --> 00:20:34,879
So the speaker I think did a great

661
00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:36,759
job in framing this initially.

662
00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,279
It is about compromise.

663
00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,259
It IS about balance, right?

664
00:20:40,260 --> 00:20:42,079
This is balanced governing

665
00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,439
that we're witnessing here today.

666
00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:46,419
I applaud Governor Reavers for

667
00:20:46,420 --> 00:20:48,959
working with us to advance this.

668
00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:51,219
And what you're hearing is,

669
00:20:51,220 --> 00:20:52,539
but it's not great.

670
00:20:52,540 --> 00:20:53,659
It's not good.

671
00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:54,879
Today I'll take good.

672
00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:56,599
I will take good for Hudson,

673
00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:57,919
Wisconsin, for River Falls,

674
00:20:57,920 --> 00:20:58,920
Wisconsin.

675
00:20:59,870 --> 00:21:01,629
The service industry is an industry

676
00:21:01,630 --> 00:21:04,309
where these individuals rely

677
00:21:04,310 --> 00:21:05,449
upon those tips.

678
00:21:05,450 --> 00:21:07,409
That is their primary income.

679
00:21:07,410 --> 00:21:09,409
I worked at a dishwasher, went to

680
00:21:09,410 --> 00:21:10,669
bus boy in advance.

681
00:21:10,670 --> 00:21:12,109
It's a great journey.

682
00:21:12,110 --> 00:21:13,589
Today is a great day for them

683
00:21:13,590 --> 00:21:14,649
because more of their money is going

684
00:21:14,650 --> 00:21:15,569
to be theirs.

685
00:21:15,570 --> 00:21:16,729
That is impactful.

686
00:21:16,730 --> 00:21:18,649
That is not trivial and that

687
00:21:18,650 --> 00:21:20,009
is something that we should all

688
00:21:20,010 --> 00:21:21,010
support.

689
00:21:21,990 --> 00:21:23,389
When I first was elected, I spent a

690
00:21:23,390 --> 00:21:24,349
lot of time in one of my local

691
00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:25,169
schools.

692
00:21:25,170 --> 00:21:27,269
And I saw firsthand the challenges

693
00:21:27,270 --> 00:21:28,929
with special education, the

694
00:21:28,930 --> 00:21:30,249
implications to those school

695
00:21:30,250 --> 00:21:31,609
districts.

696
00:21:31,610 --> 00:21:33,449
Today, we have an opportunity also

697
00:21:33,450 --> 00:21:35,889
to do something special for

698
00:21:35,890 --> 00:21:38,109
those individuals, for the kids,

699
00:21:38,110 --> 00:21:40,009
for the faculty, for staff, for our

700
00:21:40,010 --> 00:21:41,010
communities as well.

701
00:21:42,090 --> 00:21:43,589
We talked about, you know, on joint

702
00:21:43,590 --> 00:21:45,409
findings yesterday, it was suggested

703
00:21:45,410 --> 00:21:47,249
that we robbed education

704
00:21:47,250 --> 00:21:49,029
over the past number of years.

705
00:21:49,030 --> 00:21:50,430
Rob education?

706
00:21:51,570 --> 00:21:53,149
We put more money in education than

707
00:21:53,150 --> 00:21:54,509
we ever have before.

708
00:21:55,550 --> 00:21:57,089
It was also noted in the Joint

709
00:21:57,090 --> 00:21:59,529
Finance Committee that we've got to

710
00:21:59,530 --> 00:22:00,349
spend more.

711
00:22:00,350 --> 00:22:02,269
And these schools need to know that

712
00:22:02,270 --> 00:22:03,249
this money is going to be there.

713
00:22:03,250 --> 00:22:05,349
They need predictability.

714
00:22:05,350 --> 00:22:06,689
Here's the issue.

715
00:22:06,690 --> 00:22:07,929
You want to talk about structure.

716
00:22:07,930 --> 00:22:09,229
You want talk about the root cause

717
00:22:09,230 --> 00:22:10,029
in education.

718
00:22:10,030 --> 00:22:11,099
Then let's do it.

719
00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:13,119
Let's talk about the fact that we

720
00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:15,099
have, in our demographics,

721
00:22:15,100 --> 00:22:16,699
declining student population.

722
00:22:16,700 --> 00:22:18,039
That's just a thing.

723
00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:19,299
It's not a bad thing, it's just a

724
00:22:19,300 --> 00:22:21,599
real thing that we had to take on.

725
00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,559
So setting more money, or

726
00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:24,979
guaranteeing it and continuing to

727
00:22:24,980 --> 00:22:26,739
increase it, is not the answer.

728
00:22:26,740 --> 00:22:28,759
We have to look at alternatives to

729
00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:29,760
the model.

730
00:22:30,490 --> 00:22:32,589
4% growth, it was suggesting,

731
00:22:32,590 --> 00:22:34,509
boy, I can be relying on that.

732
00:22:34,510 --> 00:22:36,209
Well, I look back over the past 10,

733
00:22:36,210 --> 00:22:37,829
12, 15 years, it's always been

734
00:22:37,830 --> 00:22:39,609
there. But what we don't talk about

735
00:22:39,610 --> 00:22:41,569
is there's a delta

736
00:22:41,570 --> 00:22:42,549
in that 4%.

737
00:22:42,550 --> 00:22:44,569
What if we actually saved some money

738
00:22:44,570 --> 00:22:46,889
somewhere within the state budget?

739
00:22:46,890 --> 00:22:48,529
Not the kind of stuff sometimes in

740
00:22:48,530 --> 00:22:49,889
government, but we do in the private

741
00:22:49,890 --> 00:22:51,329
sector all the time.

742
00:22:51,330 --> 00:22:53,369
Today is a wonderful example for

743
00:22:53,370 --> 00:22:55,529
all of you watching of compromise

744
00:22:55,530 --> 00:22:57,549
with a split government and

745
00:22:57,550 --> 00:22:58,649
we're getting something done that

746
00:22:58,650 --> 00:23:00,509
will be impactful for those in

747
00:23:00,510 --> 00:23:01,909
our communities.

748
00:23:01,910 --> 00:23:03,249
The vote is absolutely agreed, Mr.

749
00:23:03,250 --> 00:23:04,250
Speaker.

750
00:23:05,409 --> 00:23:06,829
Represented from the 93rd.

751
00:23:12,260 --> 00:23:13,740
Mr. Speaker,

752
00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:17,599
I'm trying to wrap my head around

753
00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:19,439
the distinction between what

754
00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:21,619
we are talking about today and

755
00:23:21,620 --> 00:23:23,359
what we're actually hearing back

756
00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:24,360
home in our communities,

757
00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,579
because Wisconsinites are demanding

758
00:23:27,580 --> 00:23:29,499
structural and responsible

759
00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:31,179
solutions to the structural

760
00:23:31,180 --> 00:23:33,129
challenges that they're facing.

761
00:23:33,130 --> 00:23:34,949
They are not

762
00:23:34,950 --> 00:23:37,049
new to the economic

763
00:23:37,050 --> 00:23:38,449
pain that they're feeling right now.

764
00:23:38,450 --> 00:23:40,329
They have lived in Wisconsin

765
00:23:40,330 --> 00:23:41,549
that has been governed by

766
00:23:41,550 --> 00:23:43,069
Republicans in the legislature for

767
00:23:43,070 --> 00:23:44,789
15 years, and they're felling the

768
00:23:44,790 --> 00:23:46,469
structural impacts of the pain

769
00:23:46,470 --> 00:23:47,829
that's been inflicted on the economy

770
00:23:47,830 --> 00:23:48,830
over that time.

771
00:23:49,610 --> 00:23:51,449
The proposal that we're discussing

772
00:23:51,450 --> 00:23:53,609
right now, instead, is at

773
00:23:53,610 --> 00:23:55,489
best a short-term

774
00:23:55,490 --> 00:23:57,509
band-aid and does not offer

775
00:23:57,510 --> 00:23:59,389
enough and does not offer

776
00:23:59,390 --> 00:24:01,069
the structural solutions that people

777
00:24:01,070 --> 00:24:02,070
are demanding.

778
00:24:02,990 --> 00:24:04,569
And worse yet, it continues a

779
00:24:04,570 --> 00:24:06,689
pattern of Republican bills that

780
00:24:06,690 --> 00:24:08,709
make empty promises that will not be

781
00:24:08,710 --> 00:24:09,710
kept.

782
00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,419
In the last budget,

783
00:24:12,420 --> 00:24:14,439
the Republican-led Joint

784
00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:15,819
Finance Committee and legislature

785
00:24:15,820 --> 00:24:18,119
promised public school students

786
00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:20,479
and districts 42%

787
00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:22,999
of their special education costs.

788
00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:24,940
But that promise was broken,

789
00:24:26,980 --> 00:24:28,559
and legislative Democrats introduced

790
00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,159
legislation to compel the

791
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:31,939
legislature to keep its promises on

792
00:24:31,940 --> 00:24:33,379
special education.

793
00:24:33,380 --> 00:24:35,239
That proposal was not taken up or

794
00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:36,240
even given a hearing.

795
00:24:37,230 --> 00:24:39,789
Now this proposal promises

796
00:24:39,790 --> 00:24:41,909
50% next year,

797
00:24:41,910 --> 00:24:44,049
but does not make the structural

798
00:24:44,050 --> 00:24:46,089
change to the law

799
00:24:46,090 --> 00:24:47,509
or the way that special ed is

800
00:24:47,510 --> 00:24:49,489
administered to guarantee that that

801
00:24:49,490 --> 00:24:50,829
money will hit school districts.

802
00:24:50,830 --> 00:24:52,829
So it will once again be a

803
00:24:52,830 --> 00:24:53,830
broken promise.

804
00:24:54,690 --> 00:24:56,949
And the bulk of this legislation

805
00:24:56,950 --> 00:24:59,249
spent on one-time expenditures

806
00:24:59,250 --> 00:25:01,149
in the form of so-called rebate

807
00:25:01,150 --> 00:25:02,489
checks will be another broken

808
00:25:02,490 --> 00:25:03,749
promise, we've already heard about

809
00:25:03,750 --> 00:25:04,739
that.

810
00:25:04,740 --> 00:25:06,559
The narrative created by

811
00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:08,399
the majority around $300 per

812
00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,179
person, well that's going to be

813
00:25:10,180 --> 00:25:12,119
awfully difficult to defend when so

814
00:25:12,120 --> 00:25:13,919
many people open their mailboxes and

815
00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,179
find a check for $10,

816
00:25:16,180 --> 00:25:18,439
$40, $0,

817
00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:19,799
as so many will.

818
00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:20,800
Another broken promise.

819
00:25:21,940 --> 00:25:23,159
And so in addition to those

820
00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:24,759
disappointments, just imagine my

821
00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:26,659
disappointment when I

822
00:25:26,660 --> 00:25:28,239
saw on Monday the proposal put

823
00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:29,659
forward by three outgoing

824
00:25:29,660 --> 00:25:31,679
politicians that

825
00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,739
looks like this, when there was

826
00:25:33,740 --> 00:25:35,619
already an affordable and

827
00:25:35,620 --> 00:25:37,579
structural proposal on

828
00:25:37,580 --> 00:25:38,819
the table for weeks.

829
00:25:40,140 --> 00:25:42,259
Assembly Bill 1176

830
00:25:42,260 --> 00:25:44,299
was written with

831
00:25:44,300 --> 00:25:46,159
the current surplus projections

832
00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,279
in mind, and it was introduced by

833
00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:49,639
every single assembly done craft

834
00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:50,519
weeks ago.

835
00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,559
It would offer structural,

836
00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:54,539
sustainable support to people

837
00:25:54,540 --> 00:25:56,099
struggling with the cost of housing

838
00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:58,079
through property taxes and

839
00:25:58,080 --> 00:25:59,559
to kids and families in public

840
00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:00,859
schools.

841
00:26:00,860 --> 00:26:02,439
It would also offer enough funding

842
00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:04,659
in general aid to public schools to

843
00:26:04,660 --> 00:26:06,199
buy down property taxes for

844
00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:07,480
education this year.

845
00:26:08,580 --> 00:26:10,559
And it would offer 60% of

846
00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:12,399
special education costs in a

847
00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:14,239
self-sufficient way,

848
00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,039
meaning the promise would be kept.

849
00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:17,839
Districts would be offered 60%, they

850
00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:19,619
could budget for 60%, and then they

851
00:26:19,620 --> 00:26:20,900
would actually receive it.

852
00:26:22,620 --> 00:26:24,519
And the plan that we

853
00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:26,759
put forward would save

854
00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:28,719
$500 million more

855
00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:30,919
than the reckless spending

856
00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:32,779
bill that was proposed

857
00:26:32,780 --> 00:26:34,699
this week by the outgoing speaker,

858
00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:35,939
the outgoing Senate Republican

859
00:26:35,940 --> 00:26:38,179
leader, and the outgoing governor.

860
00:26:38,180 --> 00:26:39,839
This one would instead drain the

861
00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,679
piggy bank and

862
00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:43,919
reward wealthier school districts

863
00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:45,739
through some new funding

864
00:26:45,740 --> 00:26:47,659
model at the expense of

865
00:26:47,660 --> 00:26:49,179
poorer districts.

866
00:26:49,180 --> 00:26:51,139
And it's just not lost on

867
00:26:51,140 --> 00:26:52,979
me that there was already a

868
00:26:52,980 --> 00:26:55,099
good proposal on the table that was

869
00:26:55,100 --> 00:26:57,379
ignored in favor of

870
00:26:57,380 --> 00:26:58,819
this one.

871
00:26:58,820 --> 00:27:00,519
And working class Wisconsinites that

872
00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:02,279
we all represent, all of us

873
00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:04,259
represent, are the people

874
00:27:04,260 --> 00:27:05,819
who have to live with the decisions

875
00:27:05,820 --> 00:27:07,419
that we make today.

876
00:27:07,420 --> 00:27:09,959
So they deserve honest

877
00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:11,879
decisions that will make promises

878
00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:12,779
and keep them.

879
00:27:12,780 --> 00:27:14,679
Responsible decisions that would

880
00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:16,679
be good stewards of

881
00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:18,859
public funds, directing resources

882
00:27:18,860 --> 00:27:20,959
to make structural change,

883
00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,599
to fix the structural problems

884
00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,419
causing people structural

885
00:27:24,420 --> 00:27:25,879
economic pain.

886
00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:27,319
And that's why I'm opposed to this

887
00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:28,320
bill today.

888
00:27:31,490 --> 00:27:33,789
The question is, May 2026,

889
00:27:33,790 --> 00:27:35,369
special session, Assembly Bill 1,

890
00:27:35,370 --> 00:27:36,569
and then read three times.

891
00:27:36,570 --> 00:27:37,789
Shall the bill be passed,

892
00:27:37,790 --> 00:27:39,190
represented on the 8th?

893
00:27:42,170 --> 00:27:44,609
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

894
00:27:44,610 --> 00:27:45,610
Wow.

895
00:27:46,540 --> 00:27:48,739
I keep thinking to myself,

896
00:27:48,740 --> 00:27:50,379
this bill that was put forward was a

897
00:27:50,380 --> 00:27:52,619
compromise, and our

898
00:27:52,620 --> 00:27:53,879
last speaker, I was thinking to

899
00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:55,739
myself, if it was such a great

900
00:27:55,740 --> 00:27:57,619
bill that the Democrats put

901
00:27:57,620 --> 00:27:58,979
out, why didn't the governor start

902
00:27:58,980 --> 00:28:00,199
with that?

903
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:01,759
Why didn't he start negotiating with

904
00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:03,499
that, he didn't.

905
00:28:03,500 --> 00:28:05,359
Because he realized it wasn't going

906
00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:06,859
to make it, and it wasn't t a

907
00:28:06,860 --> 00:28:08,799
compromise. I don't mind, in

908
00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:10,799
my district, when people talk to me

909
00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:12,619
and say, can you just work

910
00:28:12,620 --> 00:28:14,379
together? That's what I hear.

911
00:28:14,380 --> 00:28:16,739
Can you just work together?

912
00:28:16,740 --> 00:28:19,259
All that seems to be partisan.

913
00:28:19,260 --> 00:28:20,959
So now we put this bill out, which

914
00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,099
is, I think, a tremendous bill.

915
00:28:23,100 --> 00:28:24,879
Sure, there's things in here that I

916
00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:26,979
wasn't totally fond of,

917
00:28:26,980 --> 00:28:28,759
but in the essence of getting things

918
00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:30,719
done, you go forward with

919
00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:31,819
that.

920
00:28:31,820 --> 00:28:33,859
But we're hearing on both sides

921
00:28:33,860 --> 00:28:36,199
of the extreme miles that

922
00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:37,840
we're somehow wrong, that we are

923
00:28:37,841 --> 00:28:38,839
terrible. And we've got

924
00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:40,419
gubernatorial candidates, will you

925
00:28:40,420 --> 00:28:42,779
know this, who have no impact,

926
00:28:42,780 --> 00:28:44,219
because whoever wins won't be here

927
00:28:44,220 --> 00:28:46,039
until next January, just

928
00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,668
like us. So this surplus is now.

929
00:28:48,669 --> 00:28:50,929
CESA 9 and my two school districts

930
00:28:50,930 --> 00:28:53,129
told me they need special

931
00:28:53,130 --> 00:28:54,649
ed funding.

932
00:28:54,650 --> 00:28:56,269
That's the number one thing, coming

933
00:28:56,270 --> 00:28:57,989
out of their Fund 10, out of the

934
00:28:57,990 --> 00:28:59,589
General Fund.

935
00:28:59,590 --> 00:29:01,289
They never brought up, when I am at

936
00:29:01,290 --> 00:29:03,129
our last CESTA meeting,

937
00:29:03,130 --> 00:29:04,569
and I know the gentleman from the

938
00:29:04,570 --> 00:29:06,269
35th was with me, they never brought

939
00:29:06,270 --> 00:29:08,169
anything about, hey, there's a great

940
00:29:08,170 --> 00:29:10,069
Democrat bill that you should look

941
00:29:10,070 --> 00:29:10,909
at that's going to fund it.

942
00:29:10,910 --> 00:29:11,689
They didn't.

943
00:29:11,690 --> 00:29:13,509
They said, what can you do to

944
00:29:13,510 --> 00:29:14,689
help us with special ed?

945
00:29:14,690 --> 00:29:16,529
Because that is where we need

946
00:29:16,530 --> 00:29:17,329
them.

947
00:29:17,330 --> 00:29:19,029
This does it.

948
00:29:19,030 --> 00:29:21,409
D.C. Everest, this finishing up 25,

949
00:29:21,410 --> 00:29:23,349
26, over a half

950
00:29:23,350 --> 00:29:24,869
million dollars.

951
00:29:24,870 --> 00:29:27,069
In the 26, 27,

952
00:29:27,070 --> 00:29:29,029
1.36 million

953
00:29:29,030 --> 00:29:31,329
dollars for special ed.

954
00:29:31,330 --> 00:29:33,849
I mean, in Wausau,

955
00:29:33,850 --> 00:29:35,709
over three quarters of a million

956
00:29:35,710 --> 00:29:38,169
dollars for this first year and

957
00:29:38,170 --> 00:29:40,529
2.1 million

958
00:29:40,530 --> 00:29:41,809
in the next year.

959
00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:44,979
So, it's interesting,

960
00:29:44,980 --> 00:29:46,619
as this bill comes together, because

961
00:29:46,620 --> 00:29:48,639
it doesn't fit everything you want,

962
00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:49,859
you're going to be a no.

963
00:29:49,860 --> 00:29:51,779
And I keep thinking to myself,

964
00:29:51,780 --> 00:29:53,720
if I was a no on this bill,

965
00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:56,379
my colleagues on the other side

966
00:29:56,380 --> 00:29:57,639
would hammer me.

967
00:29:57,640 --> 00:29:59,099
He hates education.

968
00:29:59,100 --> 00:30:00,579
He didn't vote for special ed

969
00:30:00,580 --> 00:30:01,419
increase.

970
00:30:01,420 --> 00:30:03,499
But now, since you weren't invited

971
00:30:03,500 --> 00:30:06,419
to the party of negotiations,

972
00:30:06,420 --> 00:30:07,799
you're upset.

973
00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:10,059
Well, I think about the people.

974
00:30:10,060 --> 00:30:11,599
I've said it countless numbers of

975
00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:13,039
times in some of the bills that I

976
00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:14,959
passed this session.

977
00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:16,639
It's about the People.

978
00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:18,579
It's not about me, it's not my

979
00:30:18,580 --> 00:30:19,939
own agenda.

980
00:30:19,940 --> 00:30:21,599
When you're a legislator, you

981
00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:23,479
legislate for the people, and too

982
00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:25,379
many representatives take their

983
00:30:25,380 --> 00:30:28,679
small, loud minorities,

984
00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:29,979
making them think that they're the

985
00:30:29,980 --> 00:30:31,899
majority. What I want to hear from

986
00:30:31,900 --> 00:30:33,739
both sides and actually

987
00:30:33,740 --> 00:30:36,399
have some property tax relief,

988
00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:37,879
surplus relief, and especially

989
00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:39,659
special ed relief.

990
00:30:39,660 --> 00:30:41,819
So I am a yes on this,

991
00:30:41,820 --> 00:30:43,799
and I tell you, anyone who votes no

992
00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:45,599
on either side or you're pressured

993
00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:47,419
by the media, which I'm going

994
00:30:47,420 --> 00:30:48,860
to start listening to music now, the

995
00:30:48,861 --> 00:30:50,879
heck with talk radio in general,

996
00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:52,140
but in any case,

997
00:30:53,980 --> 00:30:54,939
let's move forward.

998
00:30:54,940 --> 00:30:56,039
The vote's yes. Thank you.

999
00:30:58,490 --> 00:30:59,909
Represent number 19.

1000
00:31:05,190 --> 00:31:06,190
Thank you.

1001
00:31:09,700 --> 00:31:12,799
Speaker, half of this $862

1002
00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:14,719
million set out by this bill

1003
00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:16,559
will go to people making $6 million.

1004
00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:18,979
And most people across Wisconsin

1005
00:31:18,980 --> 00:31:21,119
will not be getting, regardless

1006
00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:23,059
of what you're hearing, bison media,

1007
00:31:23,060 --> 00:31:25,079
bison press releases, $300

1008
00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:27,659
or $600 in tax.

1009
00:31:27,660 --> 00:31:29,619
In fact, 1.36

1010
00:31:29,620 --> 00:31:31,699
million Wisconsin residents

1011
00:31:31,700 --> 00:31:33,579
will not get a check at all

1012
00:31:33,580 --> 00:31:35,079
under this plan.

1013
00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:36,539
Many people in poverty will get

1014
00:31:36,540 --> 00:31:37,539
zero.

1015
00:31:37,540 --> 00:31:39,879
Many older adults will get 0.

1016
00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:41,439
When you factor those folks in,

1017
00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:42,799
here's what the numbers look like.

1018
00:31:43,850 --> 00:31:46,449
If you're making more than $150,000

1019
00:31:46,450 --> 00:31:48,129
a year and you need assistance to

1020
00:31:48,130 --> 00:31:49,949
lease, your joint filing

1021
00:31:49,950 --> 00:31:51,949
household is going to get a check on

1022
00:31:51,950 --> 00:31:56,049
average of $547.01.

1023
00:31:56,050 --> 00:31:58,069
That's very close to the $600

1024
00:31:58,070 --> 00:31:59,929
distribution in Maine, I don't

1025
00:31:59,930 --> 00:32:00,930
think that they're there.

1026
00:32:01,930 --> 00:32:03,349
But if you're in the greatest need,

1027
00:32:03,350 --> 00:32:05,889
if you are making less than $30,000

1028
00:32:05,890 --> 00:32:08,209
in Wisconsin,

1029
00:32:08,210 --> 00:32:09,949
your average distribution is just

1030
00:32:09,950 --> 00:32:12,390
$45.24.

1031
00:32:14,110 --> 00:32:15,949
But worse, if your household is

1032
00:32:15,950 --> 00:32:19,049
in extreme poverty and

1033
00:32:19,050 --> 00:32:21,249
you're making less than $15,000

1034
00:32:21,250 --> 00:32:23,429
a year and a $600 check

1035
00:32:23,430 --> 00:32:25,549
might make a real difference,

1036
00:32:25,550 --> 00:32:27,249
the average amount that you would

1037
00:32:27,250 --> 00:32:29,329
get is going to be 74

1038
00:32:29,330 --> 00:32:30,369
cents.

1039
00:32:32,090 --> 00:32:33,129
And I want to say that one more

1040
00:32:33,130 --> 00:32:34,130
time.

1041
00:32:35,270 --> 00:32:36,449
Including the people who would get

1042
00:32:36,450 --> 00:32:39,219
nothing, that is many, many people.

1043
00:32:39,220 --> 00:32:41,379
People making under $15,000

1044
00:32:41,380 --> 00:32:43,379
a year would get an average payment

1045
00:32:43,380 --> 00:32:45,479
from this plan of 74

1046
00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:46,839
pennies.

1047
00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:48,599
That's less than the cost of a stamp

1048
00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:49,600
in Illinois.

1049
00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:51,959
So if you're sending out press

1050
00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:53,419
releases noting how this will

1051
00:32:53,420 --> 00:32:55,279
somehow do anything to help the

1052
00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:57,279
affordability crisis that you

1053
00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,179
and federal Republicans have

1054
00:32:59,180 --> 00:33:01,259
created to make worse,

1055
00:33:01,260 --> 00:33:02,260
save the ink.

1056
00:33:02,980 --> 00:33:04,779
This is another redistribution of

1057
00:33:04,780 --> 00:33:06,099
wealth to folks who need it the

1058
00:33:06,100 --> 00:33:08,339
least, and does nothing sufficient

1059
00:33:08,340 --> 00:33:10,200
or sustainable for our schools.

1060
00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:13,659
AB 1176, on the other hand,

1061
00:33:13,660 --> 00:33:15,419
offered by our own reps, fellows,

1062
00:33:15,420 --> 00:33:17,379
and crews, is half the cost

1063
00:33:17,380 --> 00:33:19,399
and has twice the benefit of

1064
00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:20,559
public schools.

1065
00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:22,059
If you were serious about investing

1066
00:33:22,060 --> 00:33:24,179
in Wisconsin, we'd pass that

1067
00:33:24,180 --> 00:33:25,319
instead.

1068
00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,279
This bill, authored by

1069
00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:29,099
three people who will not thankfully

1070
00:33:29,100 --> 00:33:30,999
be here next year, just rips

1071
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:32,559
the copper out of the walls on the

1072
00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:34,659
way out and heads us to a structural

1073
00:33:34,660 --> 00:33:35,679
deficit.

1074
00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:37,479
We deserve better than phony, isn't

1075
00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:38,480
it?

1076
00:33:40,980 --> 00:33:42,519
Represented from the 38th.

1077
00:33:45,940 --> 00:33:48,019
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

1078
00:33:48,020 --> 00:33:49,839
It's time to return the

1079
00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:51,999
surplus to the taxpayers.

1080
00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:55,479
I know that many of my Democratic

1081
00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:57,579
colleagues in this room don't

1082
00:33:57,580 --> 00:33:58,799
want to do that.

1083
00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:00,719
Be very, very clear about

1084
00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:01,720
that.

1085
00:34:02,420 --> 00:34:03,739
But that's not what the people of

1086
00:34:03,740 --> 00:34:04,740
Wisconsin want.

1087
00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:07,739
Wisconsinites want their money

1088
00:34:07,740 --> 00:34:09,779
returned to them.

1089
00:34:09,780 --> 00:34:12,419
And that, at the core of this bill,

1090
00:34:12,420 --> 00:34:13,420
is what it's about.

1091
00:34:15,090 --> 00:34:17,229
This bill provides single-tax

1092
00:34:17,230 --> 00:34:19,689
filers a $300 rebate

1093
00:34:19,690 --> 00:34:21,529
and married couples filing

1094
00:34:21,530 --> 00:34:24,769
jointly with a $600 rebate.

1095
00:34:24,770 --> 00:34:26,869
Now whether you're one of those rich

1096
00:34:26,870 --> 00:34:28,849
teachers, those rich

1097
00:34:28,850 --> 00:34:30,749
plumbers, those rich

1098
00:34:30,750 --> 00:34:32,349
construction workers that we keep

1099
00:34:32,350 --> 00:34:33,448
hearing about that the rebate is

1100
00:34:33,449 --> 00:34:36,089
going to reach people somehow...

1101
00:34:36,090 --> 00:34:37,729
Or one of those rich

1102
00:34:37,730 --> 00:34:39,589
paraprofessionals or window

1103
00:34:39,590 --> 00:34:41,408
and door installers,

1104
00:34:41,409 --> 00:34:43,269
to me they're not rich.

1105
00:34:43,270 --> 00:34:45,369
They're the people who make

1106
00:34:45,370 --> 00:34:47,829
our economy work well.

1107
00:34:47,830 --> 00:34:49,468
They're a backbone of this state,

1108
00:34:49,469 --> 00:34:51,329
they work hard, and it's

1109
00:34:51,330 --> 00:34:52,829
their money.

1110
00:34:52,830 --> 00:34:54,789
We're getting them that tax

1111
00:34:54,790 --> 00:34:55,809
relief here today.

1112
00:34:57,310 --> 00:34:59,009
This bill also buys down property

1113
00:34:59,010 --> 00:34:59,939
taxes.

1114
00:34:59,940 --> 00:35:01,759
By providing over $300 million

1115
00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:03,899
in relief through

1116
00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:05,899
the school funding formula.

1117
00:35:05,900 --> 00:35:08,219
That's real property tax relief.

1118
00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:10,619
This bill also does other great

1119
00:35:10,620 --> 00:35:12,439
things that we already

1120
00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:13,679
did.

1121
00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:15,579
It eliminates the tax

1122
00:35:15,580 --> 00:35:16,580
on tips.

1123
00:35:17,580 --> 00:35:19,139
It eliminates state income tax on

1124
00:35:19,140 --> 00:35:20,140
overtime.

1125
00:35:21,100 --> 00:35:23,119
What great provisions!

1126
00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:24,959
We already passed that and

1127
00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:25,769
now...

1128
00:35:25,770 --> 00:35:27,449
We can do it again and actually get

1129
00:35:27,450 --> 00:35:28,529
it done.

1130
00:35:28,530 --> 00:35:29,729
The governor said he's going to sign

1131
00:35:29,730 --> 00:35:31,669
it. In fact, for those of

1132
00:35:31,670 --> 00:35:33,489
you who may be on social media, if

1133
00:35:33,490 --> 00:35:34,849
you head over to Governor Tony

1134
00:35:34,850 --> 00:35:36,729
Evers' Facebook page right now,

1135
00:35:36,730 --> 00:35:38,729
he calls this deal a

1136
00:35:38,730 --> 00:35:39,909
no-brainer.

1137
00:35:41,010 --> 00:35:42,389
That's the current governor.

1138
00:35:42,390 --> 00:35:43,829
I don't see eye to eye with the

1139
00:35:43,830 --> 00:35:45,389
governor on most issues.

1140
00:35:45,390 --> 00:35:46,749
I really don't.

1141
00:35:46,750 --> 00:35:48,489
But the governor calls this a no

1142
00:35:48,490 --> 00:35:49,490
brainer.

1143
00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:54,899
Additionally, this bill is a record

1144
00:35:54,900 --> 00:35:56,719
investment in special

1145
00:35:56,720 --> 00:35:57,720
education.

1146
00:35:58,820 --> 00:36:00,299
Those are great things.

1147
00:36:00,300 --> 00:36:01,719
As a part-time substitute teacher in

1148
00:36:01,720 --> 00:36:04,039
my district, I know the challenges

1149
00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:06,459
around special education,

1150
00:36:06,460 --> 00:36:07,419
I do.

1151
00:36:07,420 --> 00:36:08,919
And this bill provides relief.

1152
00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:11,059
Now, there's some in this room who

1153
00:36:11,060 --> 00:36:12,139
are going to claim that this bill

1154
00:36:12,140 --> 00:36:13,959
doesn't go far enough.

1155
00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:15,879
But then in the next breath, they're

1156
00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:17,199
going to say it's fiscally

1157
00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:18,200
irresponsible.

1158
00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:21,859
Mr. Speaker, we're in special

1159
00:36:21,860 --> 00:36:22,839
session.

1160
00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:24,340
This isn't a budget.

1161
00:36:25,620 --> 00:36:27,859
This is about the surplus,

1162
00:36:27,860 --> 00:36:30,789
a projected $2.4 billion surplus

1163
00:36:30,790 --> 00:36:32,659
that this bill only spends

1164
00:36:32,660 --> 00:36:34,619
$1.8 billion on.

1165
00:36:34,620 --> 00:36:36,100
It's not even the whole thing.

1166
00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:39,719
The will of the people is the law of

1167
00:36:39,720 --> 00:36:40,619
the land.

1168
00:36:40,620 --> 00:36:42,519
And I'm confident that the

1169
00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,439
people in my district and the

1170
00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:46,819
entire state want property

1171
00:36:46,820 --> 00:36:48,779
tax relief. They want to

1172
00:36:48,780 --> 00:36:49,999
keep more of their hard-earned

1173
00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:51,000
money.

1174
00:36:51,260 --> 00:36:53,179
And they want great schools and

1175
00:36:53,180 --> 00:36:55,320
a great education for their kids.

1176
00:36:56,500 --> 00:36:58,699
Today, Republicans in this body

1177
00:36:58,700 --> 00:37:00,259
have once again shown that we're

1178
00:37:00,260 --> 00:37:01,380
listening to the people

1179
00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:05,019
and that we are working to

1180
00:37:05,020 --> 00:37:06,639
get things done and make a

1181
00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:07,640
difference.

1182
00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:10,059
My vote for the people on behalf

1183
00:37:10,060 --> 00:37:11,899
of the great people of Dodge and

1184
00:37:11,900 --> 00:37:14,239
Jefferson Counties is a definite

1185
00:37:14,240 --> 00:37:15,240
yes.

1186
00:37:18,430 --> 00:37:20,589
The question is, May 2026,

1187
00:37:20,590 --> 00:37:22,049
special session of Assembly Bill 1.

1188
00:37:22,050 --> 00:37:23,589
I haven't read three times, so the

1189
00:37:23,590 --> 00:37:25,129
bill will be passed.

1190
00:37:25,130 --> 00:37:26,510
Representative of the 23rd.

1191
00:37:29,540 --> 00:37:31,039
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

1192
00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:32,839
Let's talk about compromise.

1193
00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:34,839
I've heard that so often

1194
00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:36,879
here today in

1195
00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:38,779
the media cover leading up

1196
00:37:38,780 --> 00:37:40,079
to this vote.

1197
00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:41,679
And I really wish the students who

1198
00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:43,459
were in the gallery were back,

1199
00:37:43,460 --> 00:37:45,119
because I know they're studying

1200
00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:47,339
about the legislative process.

1201
00:37:47,340 --> 00:37:49,059
And in the legislative process, they

1202
00:37:49,060 --> 00:37:50,839
probably learn that you introduce a

1203
00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:53,239
bill, that bill goes to committee,

1204
00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:54,059
and they'll learn that

1205
00:37:54,060 --> 00:37:56,199
representatives get together and

1206
00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:57,879
make fashion compromises.

1207
00:37:57,880 --> 00:37:59,759
They offer amendments so that the

1208
00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:01,619
bill in the end can be

1209
00:38:01,620 --> 00:38:03,399
signed by a governor and signed into

1210
00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:04,459
law.

1211
00:38:04,460 --> 00:38:06,399
Well, that doesn't work this way

1212
00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:07,759
in this building.

1213
00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:09,979
Let's talk about compromise.

1214
00:38:09,980 --> 00:38:12,199
Democrats introduced more than

1215
00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:14,399
500 bills this session.

1216
00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:16,279
I think more than,

1217
00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:17,579
probably more than in the past

1218
00:38:17,580 --> 00:38:18,899
decade.

1219
00:38:18,900 --> 00:38:20,799
3% of those bills got

1220
00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:22,139
a public hearing.

1221
00:38:22,140 --> 00:38:24,259
I'm not even talking passage.

1222
00:38:24,260 --> 00:38:25,999
I'm talking a public hear.

1223
00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:28,039
So all of those bill had an

1224
00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:29,999
opportunity for compromise.

1225
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,179
And 3% percent of them had

1226
00:38:32,180 --> 00:38:33,219
that opportunity.

1227
00:38:34,260 --> 00:38:36,159
I am not going to stand here and be

1228
00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:38,299
lectured about compromise for

1229
00:38:38,300 --> 00:38:40,279
people who won't even listen to

1230
00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:42,279
us or give our bills

1231
00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:43,799
the light of day.

1232
00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:45,679
Okay, so now

1233
00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:47,599
let's talk about the proposal in

1234
00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:48,849
front of us.

1235
00:38:48,850 --> 00:38:50,769
Um, we all want

1236
00:38:50,770 --> 00:38:51,609
to fund schools.

1237
00:38:51,610 --> 00:38:53,509
We have offered plenty of

1238
00:38:53,510 --> 00:38:55,549
bills to fund schools.

1239
00:38:55,550 --> 00:38:58,069
We're talking about the

1240
00:38:58,070 --> 00:39:00,349
ability to fix structurally

1241
00:39:00,350 --> 00:39:02,489
the underfunding of

1242
00:39:02,490 --> 00:39:04,509
the past decade of our public

1243
00:39:04,510 --> 00:39:06,069
schools. And I know you're all

1244
00:39:06,070 --> 00:39:07,369
standing up and congratulating

1245
00:39:07,370 --> 00:39:08,969
yourselves on giving more money to

1246
00:39:08,970 --> 00:39:10,869
schools. And yes, that

1247
00:39:10,870 --> 00:39:12,809
is good, but you don't get

1248
00:39:12,810 --> 00:39:14,729
a prize for boarding up

1249
00:39:14,730 --> 00:39:16,629
a window that you broke in the first

1250
00:39:16,630 --> 00:39:17,630
place.

1251
00:39:19,780 --> 00:39:21,799
So I had the opportunity,

1252
00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:23,299
I should say, another opportunity,

1253
00:39:23,300 --> 00:39:24,779
was fortunate of living in Texas for

1254
00:39:24,780 --> 00:39:26,699
a few years, about 25 years ago.

1255
00:39:27,980 --> 00:39:29,199
And, this has a point.

1256
00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,339
And Texas has some great Tex-Mex

1257
00:39:31,340 --> 00:39:33,279
food, but one of the things that

1258
00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:34,639
they have there was something very

1259
00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:35,519
odd.

1260
00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:37,259
And it's called a turducken, which

1261
00:39:37,260 --> 00:39:39,159
is a turkey, and it's stuffed

1262
00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:41,999
with a chicken and a duck.

1263
00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:44,349
In this film today, Okay.

1264
00:39:44,350 --> 00:39:47,169
This proposal isn't your docket,

1265
00:39:47,170 --> 00:39:49,529
because it's a turkey that

1266
00:39:49,530 --> 00:39:51,409
was put together by a

1267
00:39:51,410 --> 00:39:53,569
bunch of lame ducks by

1268
00:39:53,570 --> 00:39:55,449
a Republican legislature that

1269
00:39:55,450 --> 00:39:57,309
is too chicken to

1270
00:39:57,310 --> 00:39:59,469
confront the structural,

1271
00:39:59,470 --> 00:40:01,769
affordability, and education issues

1272
00:40:01,770 --> 00:40:03,210
facing this state.

1273
00:40:04,250 --> 00:40:06,489
Now, I am all

1274
00:40:06,490 --> 00:40:08,389
here, I'm here to say yes

1275
00:40:08,390 --> 00:40:10,249
to schools and yes to school

1276
00:40:10,250 --> 00:40:12,049
funding. And we are willing to

1277
00:40:12,050 --> 00:40:14,329
compromise on structural change.

1278
00:40:14,330 --> 00:40:15,769
We have been all session, we were

1279
00:40:15,770 --> 00:40:17,329
the session before that and the

1280
00:40:17,330 --> 00:40:19,069
session that I was here.

1281
00:40:19,070 --> 00:40:21,569
And you've ignored every single one.

1282
00:40:21,570 --> 00:40:23,089
We will compromise.

1283
00:40:24,120 --> 00:40:25,479
We're here for it.

1284
00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:27,099
We want to talk to you.

1285
00:40:27,100 --> 00:40:28,839
I carry the Blue Ribbon Report

1286
00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:29,819
around.

1287
00:40:29,820 --> 00:40:31,719
You know I talk to so many

1288
00:40:31,720 --> 00:40:33,299
of you. We have a lot of the

1289
00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:34,219
solutions.

1290
00:40:34,220 --> 00:40:35,559
I'm being sued right now.

1291
00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:37,259
A lot of my colleagues on the Joint

1292
00:40:37,260 --> 00:40:39,239
Finance Committee, it shouldn't

1293
00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:41,139
have to come to this.

1294
00:40:41,140 --> 00:40:42,599
Every one of us here will talk to

1295
00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:44,099
you about fixing the school funding

1296
00:40:44,100 --> 00:40:45,799
formula. Every single one of we'll

1297
00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:47,859
talk all day, all night, but don't

1298
00:40:47,860 --> 00:40:48,860
tell us we won't.

1299
00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:52,059
When you have spent a decade

1300
00:40:52,060 --> 00:40:54,159
ignoring us and

1301
00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:56,239
ignoring the will of our voters and

1302
00:40:56,240 --> 00:40:58,019
ignoring the schools in your home

1303
00:40:58,020 --> 00:40:59,499
district.

1304
00:40:59,500 --> 00:41:00,500
The vote on this is no.

1305
00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:04,840
Represented from the 51st.

1306
00:41:10,700 --> 00:41:12,619
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

1307
00:41:12,620 --> 00:41:13,799
I actually was going to ask the way

1308
00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:15,179
to speak because I'm actually

1309
00:41:15,180 --> 00:41:16,619
enjoying my colleagues on the other

1310
00:41:16,620 --> 00:41:18,399
side have a meltdown.

1311
00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:19,759
And why are they having a melt down?

1312
00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:21,299
Because we are giving more money to

1313
00:41:21,300 --> 00:41:22,579
schools.

1314
00:41:22,580 --> 00:41:24,539
We are giving money back to the

1315
00:41:24,540 --> 00:41:26,759
taxpayers who actually pay

1316
00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:28,139
taxes.

1317
00:41:28,140 --> 00:41:30,259
We are getting money for

1318
00:41:30,260 --> 00:41:32,559
property tax relief because

1319
00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:34,559
we had a 400-year veto

1320
00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:37,279
that ruined a

1321
00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:38,880
lot of schools.

1322
00:41:40,370 --> 00:41:42,189
And we worked with

1323
00:41:42,190 --> 00:41:44,249
a governor that's Democrat,

1324
00:41:44,250 --> 00:41:46,149
we were bipartisan,

1325
00:41:46,150 --> 00:41:47,629
and they're having a meltdown.

1326
00:41:48,750 --> 00:41:51,009
What's missing with this picture?

1327
00:41:51,010 --> 00:41:52,949
So I'm a little confused because

1328
00:41:52,950 --> 00:41:54,789
I've sat here all session

1329
00:41:54,790 --> 00:41:55,909
and I've said there are many

1330
00:41:55,910 --> 00:41:57,749
sessions and it's always getting

1331
00:41:57,750 --> 00:41:59,949
pounded for schools,

1332
00:41:59,950 --> 00:42:02,089
more money for schools.

1333
00:42:02,090 --> 00:42:03,289
Here we go.

1334
00:42:03,290 --> 00:42:04,389
We are.

1335
00:42:04,390 --> 00:42:06,510
I have talked to my superintendents.

1336
00:42:08,020 --> 00:42:10,139
I'm confused too about

1337
00:42:10,140 --> 00:42:12,499
these three retired men,

1338
00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:13,899
which I'm glad they're all retiring

1339
00:42:13,900 --> 00:42:15,699
by the way, but anyhow.

1340
00:42:17,170 --> 00:42:18,170
Oh

1341
00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:21,299
I'm kidding, Mr.

1342
00:42:21,300 --> 00:42:22,259
Speaker.

1343
00:42:22,260 --> 00:42:23,419
You're sitting there so I can't hear

1344
00:42:23,420 --> 00:42:25,499
you. But anyway,

1345
00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:26,779
we have, I don't know about you

1346
00:42:26,780 --> 00:42:28,879
guys, but the 54 of us

1347
00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:30,679
have been in caucus since January

1348
00:42:30,680 --> 00:42:33,239
when the surplus was announced,

1349
00:42:33,240 --> 00:42:34,959
as they were negotiating.

1350
00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:36,299
The Speaker and the leadership team

1351
00:42:36,300 --> 00:42:37,919
kept us in the loop in where we were

1352
00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:39,539
at, hitting the parameters where we

1353
00:42:39,540 --> 00:42:41,399
thought we wanted to be.

1354
00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,439
And it was not a deal done

1355
00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:44,799
by three people.

1356
00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:46,659
I believe the Senate leader too was

1357
00:42:46,660 --> 00:42:48,219
in touch with his caucus.

1358
00:42:48,220 --> 00:42:50,379
So this all was just behind

1359
00:42:50,380 --> 00:42:52,619
the curtain is just ridiculous.

1360
00:42:52,620 --> 00:42:55,299
I have talked to my superintendents.

1361
00:42:55,300 --> 00:42:57,199
They're very happy.

1362
00:42:57,200 --> 00:42:59,899
And I will go back and

1363
00:42:59,900 --> 00:43:02,239
tell them what happened here today.

1364
00:43:02,240 --> 00:43:04,119
I'm assuming some of my friends on

1365
00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:05,319
the other side will vote for this.

1366
00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:06,799
I would hope they would.

1367
00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:08,539
But this is a win win for the people

1368
00:43:08,540 --> 00:43:10,278
of the state of Wisconsin.

1369
00:43:10,279 --> 00:43:12,159
This idea that we need to

1370
00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:14,859
give all this money back to

1371
00:43:14,860 --> 00:43:16,699
people that don't even pay taxes

1372
00:43:16,700 --> 00:43:18,539
I don't I'm

1373
00:43:18,540 --> 00:43:20,439
scratching my head and if you're

1374
00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:21,459
talking to the people in your

1375
00:43:21,460 --> 00:43:22,659
district and that's what they say

1376
00:43:22,660 --> 00:43:23,899
they're a lot different from my

1377
00:43:23,900 --> 00:43:25,919
district I'm all for

1378
00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:27,659
helping those in need and we have

1379
00:43:27,660 --> 00:43:29,439
programs for that and I'm more than

1380
00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:30,919
willing to look at giving more money

1381
00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:32,799
for those programs but

1382
00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:33,959
I think we're getting a little

1383
00:43:35,390 --> 00:43:37,769
out there with some of

1384
00:43:37,770 --> 00:43:39,609
this rhetoric today about

1385
00:43:39,610 --> 00:43:41,549
the sky is falling because oh

1386
00:43:41,550 --> 00:43:43,709
my god we did a bipartisan deal

1387
00:43:43,710 --> 00:43:44,929
we're giving more money to schools

1388
00:43:44,930 --> 00:43:45,989
we're given more money than

1389
00:43:45,990 --> 00:43:46,990
taxpayers

1390
00:43:48,390 --> 00:43:50,409
and it's just i'm actually

1391
00:43:50,410 --> 00:43:52,369
enjoying this so thank you very

1392
00:43:52,370 --> 00:43:53,370
much Mr. Speaker

1393
00:43:54,490 --> 00:43:55,730
Represent from the 20th.

1394
00:43:58,620 --> 00:44:00,479
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

1395
00:44:01,600 --> 00:44:02,879
You know, there's been a lot of talk

1396
00:44:02,880 --> 00:44:04,219
about legacy

1397
00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:07,999
when talking about this bill.

1398
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:10,099
I want you all to think about this.

1399
00:44:10,100 --> 00:44:11,899
Many of the people in this room will

1400
00:44:11,900 --> 00:44:13,739
not be coming back next session,

1401
00:44:13,740 --> 00:44:16,459
either by choice or not by choice.

1402
00:44:16,460 --> 00:44:17,600
You want this?

1403
00:44:20,320 --> 00:44:22,559
Vote to be your legacy,

1404
00:44:23,780 --> 00:44:24,780
Mr. Speaker,

1405
00:44:26,480 --> 00:44:29,239
I'm not having a meltdown.

1406
00:44:29,240 --> 00:44:30,780
I'm perfectly calm.

1407
00:44:32,040 --> 00:44:33,040
For now.

1408
00:44:35,640 --> 00:44:37,339
But, you know, when we really

1409
00:44:37,340 --> 00:44:39,279
started to look at this bill and

1410
00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:41,399
realized what the

1411
00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:43,119
impact is going to do, is going to

1412
00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:44,120
be on the people of the state of

1413
00:44:44,121 --> 00:44:46,019
Wisconsin, you're

1414
00:44:46,020 --> 00:44:48,199
not talking about The 4%

1415
00:44:48,200 --> 00:44:49,200
tax increase.

1416
00:44:50,210 --> 00:44:52,050
That they're going to be looking at,

1417
00:44:53,350 --> 00:44:55,769
session after session after session.

1418
00:44:55,770 --> 00:44:56,889
You're not talking about the fact

1419
00:44:56,890 --> 00:44:58,689
that you are going to leave the

1420
00:44:58,690 --> 00:45:01,649
state in a structural deficit.

1421
00:45:01,650 --> 00:45:03,629
Now, Mr. Speaker, I would be more

1422
00:45:03,630 --> 00:45:05,589
than happy to vote

1423
00:45:05,590 --> 00:45:07,149
on a couple little things in this

1424
00:45:07,150 --> 00:45:08,649
budget. Like, well, maybe one big

1425
00:45:08,650 --> 00:45:10,429
thing, special ed funding, which we

1426
00:45:10,430 --> 00:45:11,969
have been talking about for years.

1427
00:45:16,310 --> 00:45:17,989
That's probably about the only good

1428
00:45:17,990 --> 00:45:20,130
thing in this particular bill.

1429
00:45:21,650 --> 00:45:23,809
I have constituents who

1430
00:45:23,810 --> 00:45:25,549
believe that they're going to get a

1431
00:45:25,550 --> 00:45:28,149
$300 or $600 check.

1432
00:45:28,150 --> 00:45:30,109
Chances are most of my constituents

1433
00:45:30,110 --> 00:45:32,189
are going to get less than

1434
00:45:32,190 --> 00:45:35,969
$100, some maybe $7.50.

1435
00:45:35,970 --> 00:45:37,409
I don't know, that might buy them a

1436
00:45:37,410 --> 00:45:39,129
gallon of gas these days.

1437
00:45:39,130 --> 00:45:42,089
People are, and

1438
00:45:42,090 --> 00:45:44,010
we're not helping them in this bill.

1439
00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:49,199
Mr. Speaker, compromise means

1440
00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:51,059
we are all talking about

1441
00:45:51,060 --> 00:45:52,600
what needs to be done.

1442
00:45:54,160 --> 00:45:55,599
Nobody on this side of the aisle had

1443
00:45:55,600 --> 00:45:57,279
any input into this.

1444
00:45:57,280 --> 00:46:00,879
We heard rumors, but

1445
00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:02,739
we were actually slapped with this

1446
00:46:02,740 --> 00:46:03,740
on a Monday morning.

1447
00:46:04,740 --> 00:46:06,879
This huge bill that spends, what

1448
00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:09,619
is it, over a billion dollars?

1449
00:46:09,620 --> 00:46:12,179
And we've had two days to actually

1450
00:46:12,180 --> 00:46:14,039
look at it and figure it out.

1451
00:46:15,820 --> 00:46:17,399
Mr. Speaker, I'm not going to vote

1452
00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:19,459
for this bill, because it's nothing

1453
00:46:19,460 --> 00:46:21,499
but smoke and mirrors during

1454
00:46:21,500 --> 00:46:22,699
campaign season.

1455
00:46:22,700 --> 00:46:24,180
Thank you.

1456
00:46:25,240 --> 00:46:26,760
Representative from the 22nd.

1457
00:46:37,430 --> 00:46:39,249
I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker,

1458
00:46:39,250 --> 00:46:42,009
I thought you said 27th.

1459
00:46:42,010 --> 00:46:43,789
I rise today, I'd like this bill,

1460
00:46:43,790 --> 00:46:45,689
and I'd like to first thank

1461
00:46:45,690 --> 00:46:47,510
leadership for bringing it to us,

1462
00:46:48,710 --> 00:46:49,769
especially represented from the

1463
00:46:49,770 --> 00:46:50,889
33rd.

1464
00:46:52,270 --> 00:46:54,189
I, unlike some, will miss him

1465
00:46:54,190 --> 00:46:55,190
being here.

1466
00:46:56,210 --> 00:46:58,489
This is a bipartisan deal.

1467
00:46:58,490 --> 00:47:00,529
The governor, obviously we know it's

1468
00:47:00,530 --> 00:47:02,289
bipartisan. So I don't know why it's

1469
00:47:02,290 --> 00:47:04,129
so hard to get $1.8

1470
00:47:04,130 --> 00:47:06,089
billion Oh, it's back.

1471
00:47:06,090 --> 00:47:08,109
To our taxpayers,

1472
00:47:08,110 --> 00:47:09,829
to our voters, to our constituents.

1473
00:47:11,550 --> 00:47:13,569
This place kind of amazes me

1474
00:47:13,570 --> 00:47:15,009
that there could be that big of a

1475
00:47:15,010 --> 00:47:16,010
problem.

1476
00:47:16,670 --> 00:47:17,789
One thing I'd like to bring up

1477
00:47:17,790 --> 00:47:20,129
though is that I'd like to

1478
00:47:20,130 --> 00:47:22,229
compliment my colleague from

1479
00:47:22,230 --> 00:47:24,569
my senate district from

1480
00:47:24,570 --> 00:47:26,849
the 22nd, or 20th,

1481
00:47:26,850 --> 00:47:29,929
yes from the 23rd

1482
00:47:29,930 --> 00:47:31,449
for bringing up Turducken.

1483
00:47:31,450 --> 00:47:33,569
I like that one that's football on

1484
00:47:33,570 --> 00:47:35,169
Thanksgiving and it's John Madden

1485
00:47:35,170 --> 00:47:37,049
and good memory but

1486
00:47:37,050 --> 00:47:38,649
so I like Turduckens.

1487
00:47:40,500 --> 00:47:42,379
As far as the bill goes, I'd just

1488
00:47:42,380 --> 00:47:44,499
like to quickly say a

1489
00:47:44,500 --> 00:47:45,939
couple of things I like the most are

1490
00:47:45,940 --> 00:47:47,839
the no tax on overtime and the

1491
00:47:47,840 --> 00:47:50,079
no tax on tips.

1492
00:47:50,080 --> 00:47:52,559
We've passed those in

1493
00:47:52,560 --> 00:47:54,959
our assembly and in the Senate and

1494
00:47:54,960 --> 00:47:56,619
I'm happy today that the governor

1495
00:47:56,620 --> 00:47:58,199
looks like he's going to get on

1496
00:47:58,200 --> 00:48:00,359
board with that and

1497
00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:03,319
prove that if we get this through.

1498
00:48:03,320 --> 00:48:04,979
It's a middle class tax cut.

1499
00:48:04,980 --> 00:48:07,099
It is for people, I

1500
00:48:07,100 --> 00:48:08,319
I was in the bar restaurant business

1501
00:48:08,320 --> 00:48:09,839
for a long, long time.

1502
00:48:09,840 --> 00:48:11,779
People work for tips.

1503
00:48:11,780 --> 00:48:13,279
And this is important to give them a

1504
00:48:13,280 --> 00:48:14,499
tax cut on those tips.

1505
00:48:14,500 --> 00:48:16,059
I think it's going to be beneficial

1506
00:48:16,060 --> 00:48:17,060
to a lot of folks.

1507
00:48:18,340 --> 00:48:20,399
And as far as no tax

1508
00:48:20,400 --> 00:48:21,400
in overtime.

1509
00:48:22,580 --> 00:48:24,139
You know, we're talking about

1510
00:48:24,140 --> 00:48:25,140
nurses,

1511
00:48:26,240 --> 00:48:28,219
9-1-1 operators, working class

1512
00:48:28,220 --> 00:48:30,099
folks, factory workers, they

1513
00:48:30,100 --> 00:48:31,999
work overtime, and I think it's

1514
00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:33,059
a great thing that they're going to

1515
00:48:33,060 --> 00:48:34,839
get a break also.

1516
00:48:34,840 --> 00:48:36,539
And on top of that, these bills,

1517
00:48:36,540 --> 00:48:38,279
they match the federal law that we

1518
00:48:38,280 --> 00:48:39,299
have today.

1519
00:48:39,300 --> 00:48:41,119
So this will be more

1520
00:48:41,120 --> 00:48:42,939
specifically for tax

1521
00:48:42,940 --> 00:48:45,299
taxpayers when

1522
00:48:45,300 --> 00:48:46,460
they go to pay their taxes.

1523
00:48:47,960 --> 00:48:50,859
So, I'm happy that we're

1524
00:48:50,860 --> 00:48:54,599
doing this bill today, and one

1525
00:48:54,600 --> 00:48:56,459
last part, too, I've

1526
00:48:56,460 --> 00:48:57,699
been remiss my wife would be mad at

1527
00:48:57,700 --> 00:48:59,679
me because she's about special

1528
00:48:59,680 --> 00:49:00,539
ed.

1529
00:49:00,540 --> 00:49:02,299
I'm that we are doing more special

1530
00:49:02,300 --> 00:49:04,099
ed in my school district, so I've

1531
00:49:04,100 --> 00:49:04,899
talked to them.

1532
00:49:04,900 --> 00:49:06,159
They're very excited about the

1533
00:49:06,160 --> 00:49:07,199
possibility of getting more

1534
00:49:07,200 --> 00:49:08,279
special-ed funding.

1535
00:49:08,280 --> 00:49:10,199
So, very much in

1536
00:49:10,200 --> 00:49:11,200
favor of that also.

1537
00:49:12,180 --> 00:49:13,699
So, the vote for me is green.

1538
00:49:13,700 --> 00:49:14,700
Thank you.

1539
00:49:16,600 --> 00:49:18,679
Question is, May 2026,

1540
00:49:18,680 --> 00:49:20,499
Special Session Assembly Bill 1M had

1541
00:49:20,500 --> 00:49:21,819
been read three times should the

1542
00:49:21,820 --> 00:49:23,619
bill be passed, represented from the

1543
00:49:23,620 --> 00:49:24,620
48th.

1544
00:49:26,990 --> 00:49:28,729
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

1545
00:49:28,730 --> 00:49:31,649
I rise in opposition to this bill.

1546
00:49:31,650 --> 00:49:33,589
I talked to constituents of the

1547
00:49:33,590 --> 00:49:35,649
doors, my district, which includes

1548
00:49:35,650 --> 00:49:37,629
Park Madison and some prairie,

1549
00:49:37,630 --> 00:49:39,489
and I constantly hear about

1550
00:49:39,490 --> 00:49:41,389
the burden that people, homeowners

1551
00:49:41,390 --> 00:49:43,369
are facing due to their property

1552
00:49:43,370 --> 00:49:44,869
taxes.

1553
00:49:44,870 --> 00:49:46,689
Mr. Speaker, this bill will not

1554
00:49:46,690 --> 00:49:48,729
fix Wisconsin's property tax

1555
00:49:48,730 --> 00:49:49,730
problem.

1556
00:49:50,380 --> 00:49:53,159
Over the past 16 years,

1557
00:49:53,160 --> 00:49:55,099
it's been Republican fiscal policy

1558
00:49:55,100 --> 00:49:56,919
that has led to our crazy

1559
00:49:56,920 --> 00:49:58,839
high property taxes.

1560
00:49:58,840 --> 00:50:00,259
Because of decisions made by the

1561
00:50:00,260 --> 00:50:02,139
majority of this body,

1562
00:50:02,140 --> 00:50:04,039
schools today are

1563
00:50:04,040 --> 00:50:06,139
receiving $3,400 less

1564
00:50:06,140 --> 00:50:08,279
per pupil in inflation-adjusted

1565
00:50:08,280 --> 00:50:09,280
dollars.

1566
00:50:09,960 --> 00:50:11,699
Multiply that by the kids in your

1567
00:50:11,700 --> 00:50:13,859
school, and it's really clear

1568
00:50:13,860 --> 00:50:16,219
why Wisconsin is in the top 10

1569
00:50:16,220 --> 00:50:18,179
states for property tax.

1570
00:50:19,360 --> 00:50:22,059
This is a structural problem,

1571
00:50:22,060 --> 00:50:23,839
it's a structural problem created by

1572
00:50:23,840 --> 00:50:26,179
Republican fiscal policy.

1573
00:50:26,180 --> 00:50:27,859
They have taken your income and your

1574
00:50:27,860 --> 00:50:29,739
sales tax for years and they've

1575
00:50:29,740 --> 00:50:31,399
not given it back.

1576
00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:33,159
Instead, they've kept the money and

1577
00:50:33,160 --> 00:50:34,519
forced you to raise your local

1578
00:50:34,520 --> 00:50:36,359
property taxes like my constituents

1579
00:50:36,360 --> 00:50:38,239
have had to do year after

1580
00:50:38,240 --> 00:50:39,379
year.

1581
00:50:39,380 --> 00:50:40,679
And so now we have this election

1582
00:50:40,680 --> 00:50:42,619
year political gift.

1583
00:50:42,620 --> 00:50:44,519
We'll give you, or at least

1584
00:50:44,520 --> 00:50:47,249
some of you, a $300 check.

1585
00:50:47,250 --> 00:50:48,909
For example, if you're a senior on

1586
00:50:48,910 --> 00:50:50,309
social security, sorry.

1587
00:50:51,790 --> 00:50:53,949
And now, due to Trump's illegal

1588
00:50:53,950 --> 00:50:55,829
tariff taxes, and now

1589
00:50:55,830 --> 00:50:58,129
his Iran gas

1590
00:50:58,130 --> 00:51:00,089
tax and gas price

1591
00:51:00,090 --> 00:51:02,169
increases, we're dealing with

1592
00:51:02,170 --> 00:51:03,609
record costs.

1593
00:51:03,610 --> 00:51:05,329
People in my district are getting

1594
00:51:05,330 --> 00:51:07,169
crushed just for

1595
00:51:07,170 --> 00:51:08,789
the luxury of going to work or

1596
00:51:08,790 --> 00:51:09,790
buying groceries.

1597
00:51:10,870 --> 00:51:13,249
So 300 bucks simply isn't enough,

1598
00:51:13,250 --> 00:51:14,969
because it doesn't fix the

1599
00:51:14,970 --> 00:51:15,970
structural problem.

1600
00:51:17,090 --> 00:51:19,009
And you guessed it, you're going to

1601
00:51:19,010 --> 00:51:20,829
pay thousands more in property taxes

1602
00:51:20,830 --> 00:51:22,289
in the years ahead.

1603
00:51:22,290 --> 00:51:24,309
So instead of political tricks,

1604
00:51:24,310 --> 00:51:26,389
let's index state school

1605
00:51:26,390 --> 00:51:28,249
funding to inflation.

1606
00:51:28,250 --> 00:51:30,169
It's so simple.

1607
00:51:30,170 --> 00:51:32,089
Why come out here and play act that

1608
00:51:32,090 --> 00:51:34,069
you care about schools and

1609
00:51:34,070 --> 00:51:35,969
ignore what we all know and put an

1610
00:51:35,970 --> 00:51:37,810
end to our property tax nightmare?

1611
00:51:39,450 --> 00:51:41,769
Today, in this situation,

1612
00:51:41,770 --> 00:51:43,589
when politicians promise you a tax

1613
00:51:43,590 --> 00:51:45,409
cut, we will all end up paying

1614
00:51:45,410 --> 00:51:46,410
more.

1615
00:51:48,030 --> 00:51:49,489
Here's after the 92nd.

1616
00:51:52,710 --> 00:51:54,520
Thank you Mr. Speaker,

1617
00:51:56,330 --> 00:51:57,389
you know what I'm not a hundred

1618
00:51:57,390 --> 00:51:59,209
percent happy with this bill.

1619
00:51:59,210 --> 00:52:01,589
I don't think anyone in here is,

1620
00:52:01,590 --> 00:52:03,509
but that's what compromise looks at,

1621
00:52:03,510 --> 00:52:04,889
it looks like.

1622
00:52:04,890 --> 00:52:06,189
First, I'm going to start out with

1623
00:52:06,190 --> 00:52:07,549
the special ed funding.

1624
00:52:07,550 --> 00:52:09,369
The special ed fund, I am happy

1625
00:52:09,370 --> 00:52:10,729
that we are honoring and actually

1626
00:52:10,730 --> 00:52:12,569
exceeding what was promised in the

1627
00:52:12,570 --> 00:52:14,909
budget. Next year, 50%

1628
00:52:14,910 --> 00:52:17,209
funding and that's

1629
00:52:17,210 --> 00:52:19,309
more than double of what it was

1630
00:52:19,310 --> 00:52:21,289
in 2019 prior to

1631
00:52:21,290 --> 00:52:23,329
when I was in the legislature for

1632
00:52:23,330 --> 00:52:25,089
funding going to special ed.

1633
00:52:25,090 --> 00:52:26,589
You know, obviously all of us are

1634
00:52:26,590 --> 00:52:27,709
getting out and talking to a lot of

1635
00:52:27,710 --> 00:52:29,649
people this time of year and going

1636
00:52:29,650 --> 00:52:31,529
forward through November and

1637
00:52:31,530 --> 00:52:33,089
that is one of the top things I'm

1638
00:52:33,090 --> 00:52:34,669
hearing. What are you doing for

1639
00:52:34,670 --> 00:52:35,749
special ed?

1640
00:52:35,750 --> 00:52:37,069
You promised this in the budget.

1641
00:52:37,070 --> 00:52:38,009
Why isn't it this?

1642
00:52:38,010 --> 00:52:39,369
And I got to explain that

1643
00:52:39,370 --> 00:52:41,169
calculation with the fiscal bureau,

1644
00:52:41,170 --> 00:52:42,869
which people don't care about that

1645
00:52:42,870 --> 00:52:44,829
They just want to know why

1646
00:52:44,830 --> 00:52:45,849
don't you follow through?

1647
00:52:45,850 --> 00:52:47,689
Well, we are following through and

1648
00:52:47,690 --> 00:52:49,449
exceeding what we have promised

1649
00:52:49,450 --> 00:52:51,429
actually the budget on that and

1650
00:52:51,430 --> 00:52:52,809
I'll tell you what it means locally

1651
00:52:52,810 --> 00:52:54,929
I have primarily three

1652
00:52:54,930 --> 00:52:56,889
districts that reside directly in

1653
00:52:56,890 --> 00:52:59,189
my district The largest

1654
00:52:59,190 --> 00:53:01,049
benefactor, Chippewa Falls High

1655
00:53:01,050 --> 00:53:02,989
School or Chippow Falls Unified,

1656
00:53:02,990 --> 00:53:04,909
is going to be getting $1.5 million

1657
00:53:04,910 --> 00:53:07,049
just in the special ed additional

1658
00:53:07,050 --> 00:53:08,369
funding.

1659
00:53:08,370 --> 00:53:10,189
Elk Mound, which is my smallest,

1660
00:53:10,190 --> 00:53:11,849
is gonna be getting just over

1661
00:53:11,850 --> 00:53:13,169
$300,000.

1662
00:53:13,170 --> 00:53:14,909
And the best one, because I'm the

1663
00:53:14,910 --> 00:53:16,409
alma mater from there, is the

1664
00:53:16,410 --> 00:53:17,789
Monopoly Mustangs are going to

1665
00:53:17,790 --> 00:53:20,249
getting$ 1.1 billion.

1666
00:53:20,250 --> 00:53:22,569
So it does make an impact

1667
00:53:22,570 --> 00:53:23,949
right now.

1668
00:53:23,950 --> 00:53:25,549
This is not something that can wait

1669
00:53:25,550 --> 00:53:26,789
sitting in the state checking

1670
00:53:26,790 --> 00:53:28,769
account, so

1671
00:53:28,770 --> 00:53:30,129
we need to get it out there.

1672
00:53:30,130 --> 00:53:32,769
And then property tax relief,

1673
00:53:32,770 --> 00:53:34,969
you know, people have been

1674
00:53:34,970 --> 00:53:36,469
obviously complaining as they open

1675
00:53:36,470 --> 00:53:38,769
up their tax bills and they see

1676
00:53:38,770 --> 00:53:40,409
what our taxes are in the state of

1677
00:53:40,410 --> 00:53:41,189
Wisconsin.

1678
00:53:41,190 --> 00:53:43,049
And I find it very ironic that we've

1679
00:53:43,050 --> 00:53:44,370
got people on the other side of the

1680
00:53:44,371 --> 00:53:46,229
aisle that are complaining about,

1681
00:53:46,230 --> 00:53:47,829
you don't know, not doing enough for

1682
00:53:47,830 --> 00:53:49,329
property tax release.

1683
00:53:49,330 --> 00:53:50,889
I doubt that many of them have even

1684
00:53:50,890 --> 00:53:52,789
received a property tax bill or

1685
00:53:52,790 --> 00:53:54,649
even opened it, let alone actually

1686
00:53:54,650 --> 00:53:56,189
see what the numbers are inside

1687
00:53:56,190 --> 00:53:58,269
there. But this does help with

1688
00:53:58,270 --> 00:54:00,289
that. Then we've got tips and

1689
00:54:00,290 --> 00:54:02,169
overtime. Now, personally

1690
00:54:02,170 --> 00:54:03,989
I'm not super happy about the

1691
00:54:03,990 --> 00:54:05,849
tips portion of it because I don't

1692
00:54:05,850 --> 00:54:08,029
receive very many tips personally.

1693
00:54:08,030 --> 00:54:09,449
But I know a lot of people that are

1694
00:54:09,450 --> 00:54:10,589
happy about it.

1695
00:54:10,590 --> 00:54:12,629
The servers, the wait staff,

1696
00:54:12,630 --> 00:54:14,689
the workers, the massage

1697
00:54:14,690 --> 00:54:16,089
therapists, the people that are

1698
00:54:16,090 --> 00:54:18,029
doing a really good job and deserve

1699
00:54:18,030 --> 00:54:20,129
to receive that tip as an actual

1700
00:54:20,130 --> 00:54:22,029
bonus as it was originally intended

1701
00:54:22,030 --> 00:54:25,109
for. And then no

1702
00:54:25,110 --> 00:54:26,989
tax on overtime, that

1703
00:54:26,990 --> 00:54:28,809
is a big deal because I think

1704
00:54:28,810 --> 00:54:30,109
it's important that we encourage

1705
00:54:30,110 --> 00:54:32,129
people that want to actually work

1706
00:54:32,130 --> 00:54:33,969
a little extra, maybe save up

1707
00:54:33,970 --> 00:54:35,949
a little bit more money, maybe pay

1708
00:54:35,950 --> 00:54:36,950
some bills,

1709
00:54:37,770 --> 00:54:39,409
and not penalize them.

1710
00:54:39,410 --> 00:54:41,769
And as stated before,

1711
00:54:41,770 --> 00:54:43,609
this just echoes basically what the

1712
00:54:43,610 --> 00:54:45,549
federal government has done, only it

1713
00:54:45,550 --> 00:54:47,629
doesn't end in 2028.

1714
00:54:47,630 --> 00:54:49,759
This is going to be ongoing.

1715
00:54:49,760 --> 00:54:51,839
And then, rebate checks.

1716
00:54:51,840 --> 00:54:53,459
I think it's important that the

1717
00:54:53,460 --> 00:54:55,399
people that receive rebate checks

1718
00:54:55,400 --> 00:54:57,759
are those that actually help create

1719
00:54:57,760 --> 00:54:59,379
the state surplus.

1720
00:54:59,380 --> 00:55:01,779
So if you paid in, yes,

1721
00:55:01,780 --> 00:55:03,719
you're going to get that money back.

1722
00:55:03,720 --> 00:55:05,319
You're going get $300 if you're an

1723
00:55:05,320 --> 00:55:07,259
individual, $600 if you are a

1724
00:55:07,260 --> 00:55:08,979
married couple filing jointly.

1725
00:55:08,980 --> 00:55:10,339
So I do think that is important

1726
00:55:10,340 --> 00:55:12,759
because I think its unethical

1727
00:55:12,760 --> 00:55:14,939
to maybe give money to people back

1728
00:55:14,940 --> 00:55:15,979
as a tax rebate.

1729
00:55:15,980 --> 00:55:17,139
It's kind of like me going into a

1730
00:55:17,140 --> 00:55:19,019
store and asking for a rebate

1731
00:55:19,020 --> 00:55:20,139
for something that I didn't even

1732
00:55:20,140 --> 00:55:21,140
buy.

1733
00:55:21,799 --> 00:55:23,619
And then the bipartisan

1734
00:55:23,620 --> 00:55:25,479
work, obviously, I was

1735
00:55:25,480 --> 00:55:26,459
hoping this would have been done

1736
00:55:26,460 --> 00:55:28,399
like a month ago, but this is how

1737
00:55:28,400 --> 00:55:29,759
these negotiations go.

1738
00:55:29,760 --> 00:55:31,508
It takes time.

1739
00:55:31,509 --> 00:55:32,749
You're not always going to get

1740
00:55:32,750 --> 00:55:34,629
everything you want, that's

1741
00:55:34,630 --> 00:55:36,269
kind of how governance works.

1742
00:55:36,270 --> 00:55:37,409
And the number one thing I'm hearing

1743
00:55:37,410 --> 00:55:39,289
at the door is work

1744
00:55:39,290 --> 00:55:40,109
for us.

1745
00:55:40,110 --> 00:55:42,049
We don't care about what's going

1746
00:55:42,050 --> 00:55:44,029
on in Washington, we don't even

1747
00:55:44,030 --> 00:55:45,089
care about what's goin' on in

1748
00:55:45,090 --> 00:55:46,969
Madison, and all they ever see in

1749
00:55:46,970 --> 00:55:48,449
the news is the bickering back and

1750
00:55:48,450 --> 00:55:50,369
forth. Well, we have a deal with the

1751
00:55:50,370 --> 00:55:51,329
governor on this.

1752
00:55:51,330 --> 00:55:53,409
And I'm glad that Governor Evers,

1753
00:55:53,410 --> 00:55:55,429
on his way out, along with our

1754
00:55:55,430 --> 00:55:57,569
speaker, have come to a compromise

1755
00:55:57,570 --> 00:55:58,749
that we can vote for.

1756
00:55:58,750 --> 00:56:00,629
Yeah, I don't like every single

1757
00:56:00,630 --> 00:56:02,529
piece of this, but I think it's

1758
00:56:02,530 --> 00:56:04,109
a win for Wisconsinites.

1759
00:56:04,110 --> 00:56:05,809
And that's what they elect us to do,

1760
00:56:05,810 --> 00:56:07,269
is to come down here and work.

1761
00:56:07,270 --> 00:56:09,209
Not sit and play political theater

1762
00:56:09,210 --> 00:56:11,029
and go back and forth about

1763
00:56:11,030 --> 00:56:12,709
picking apart the bad parts of a

1764
00:56:12,710 --> 00:56:14,549
bill. Because quite frankly, you

1765
00:56:14,550 --> 00:56:15,989
can do that with every piece of

1766
00:56:15,990 --> 00:56:17,569
legislation in this building.

1767
00:56:17,570 --> 00:56:19,489
And I will say this session, I've

1768
00:56:19,490 --> 00:56:21,369
been proud to author 15

1769
00:56:21,370 --> 00:56:22,889
bills that have passed this floor.

1770
00:56:22,890 --> 00:56:24,909
13 of those 15

1771
00:56:24,910 --> 00:56:27,109
have passed with bipartisan support

1772
00:56:27,110 --> 00:56:28,789
and I look forward to doing the same

1773
00:56:28,790 --> 00:56:29,989
thing next session.

1774
00:56:29,990 --> 00:56:31,829
So with that, the speaker,

1775
00:56:31,830 --> 00:56:33,349
Mr. Speaker, the vote is green.

1776
00:56:36,600 --> 00:56:37,940
Represented from the 60th.

1777
00:56:41,090 --> 00:56:43,109
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my fellow

1778
00:56:43,110 --> 00:56:44,489
colleagues.

1779
00:56:44,490 --> 00:56:46,169
Let me preface my comments.

1780
00:56:46,170 --> 00:56:47,929
This is the last time I'll speak on

1781
00:56:47,930 --> 00:56:49,729
the floor of the assembly.

1782
00:56:49,730 --> 00:56:51,349
And I want to thank you for a

1783
00:56:51,350 --> 00:56:53,849
collection of memories that go from,

1784
00:56:53,850 --> 00:56:55,449
this was exciting, this was

1785
00:56:55,450 --> 00:56:56,869
educational, to this was

1786
00:56:56,870 --> 00:56:58,829
frustrating, and I can't believe

1787
00:56:58,830 --> 00:57:00,449
this is the way we make decisions.

1788
00:57:01,620 --> 00:57:03,879
I said here today, I'm listening to

1789
00:57:03,880 --> 00:57:05,959
arguments on the other side.

1790
00:57:05,960 --> 00:57:07,599
Somehow they think we are dealing

1791
00:57:07,600 --> 00:57:09,259
with the state budget.

1792
00:57:09,260 --> 00:57:10,739
We're looking for structural

1793
00:57:10,740 --> 00:57:12,619
adjustments if you do it at that

1794
00:57:12,620 --> 00:57:14,039
time. Let me know.

1795
00:57:14,040 --> 00:57:15,979
In this last budget,

1796
00:57:15,980 --> 00:57:18,599
we increased state spending by 12.4

1797
00:57:18,600 --> 00:57:20,079
percent.

1798
00:57:20,080 --> 00:57:22,600
It was $12.3 billion.

1799
00:57:23,840 --> 00:57:25,859
It's not like we're not spending

1800
00:57:25,860 --> 00:57:27,819
money in addressing the needs that

1801
00:57:27,820 --> 00:57:29,689
we have around this.

1802
00:57:29,690 --> 00:57:31,629
With regard to the bill we're

1803
00:57:31,630 --> 00:57:33,169
looking at today.

1804
00:57:33,170 --> 00:57:35,289
Let me start with this

1805
00:57:35,290 --> 00:57:37,769
note. We have good news.

1806
00:57:37,770 --> 00:57:39,909
The state's coffers are

1807
00:57:39,910 --> 00:57:41,689
flush with cash.

1808
00:57:41,690 --> 00:57:43,009
Here's the bad news.

1809
00:57:43,010 --> 00:57:44,749
You put it there.

1810
00:57:44,750 --> 00:57:46,669
You were overcharged for the goods

1811
00:57:46,670 --> 00:57:49,269
and services that you paid for.

1812
00:57:49,270 --> 00:57:50,629
Let's compare that.

1813
00:57:50,630 --> 00:57:52,609
If you walk into a store

1814
00:57:52,610 --> 00:57:54,329
in your community and you buy an

1815
00:57:54,330 --> 00:57:56,389
item for $17, you walk

1816
00:57:56,390 --> 00:57:57,649
up to the counter, where you give

1817
00:57:57,650 --> 00:57:59,989
the clerk a $20 bill.

1818
00:57:59,990 --> 00:58:02,109
And the clerk says nothing.

1819
00:58:02,110 --> 00:58:03,329
And the Clerk gives you back

1820
00:58:03,330 --> 00:58:04,529
nothing.

1821
00:58:04,530 --> 00:58:06,449
And when you ask, what did you do

1822
00:58:06,450 --> 00:58:07,809
with my money?

1823
00:58:07,810 --> 00:58:08,949
And the clerks says, well we've

1824
00:58:08,950 --> 00:58:10,889
decided in our organization, we are

1825
00:58:10,890 --> 00:58:12,649
better prepared to deal with your

1826
00:58:12,650 --> 00:58:14,689
excess funds, so we're going to

1827
00:58:14,690 --> 00:58:15,509
keep it.

1828
00:58:15,510 --> 00:58:17,469
That is not acceptable to you in

1829
00:58:17,470 --> 00:58:19,369
your local store, and it should not

1830
00:58:19,370 --> 00:58:21,749
be an acceptable outcome when

1831
00:58:21,750 --> 00:58:23,529
we look at our state budget.

1832
00:58:23,530 --> 00:58:24,929
We have a two and a half billion

1833
00:58:24,930 --> 00:58:26,969
dollar surplus, we are willing to

1834
00:58:26,970 --> 00:58:28,889
spend $1.8 billion

1835
00:58:28,890 --> 00:58:30,889
and return it in

1836
00:58:30,890 --> 00:58:32,749
different forms back to

1837
00:58:32,750 --> 00:58:33,750
you the taxpayers.

1838
00:58:35,430 --> 00:58:37,889
We look at special ed,

1839
00:58:37,890 --> 00:58:39,709
we have a problem that we

1840
00:58:39,710 --> 00:58:41,329
have an increasing number of

1841
00:58:41,330 --> 00:58:43,309
students in our

1842
00:58:43,310 --> 00:58:45,009
public schools that are dealing with

1843
00:58:45,010 --> 00:58:47,069
special ed issues.

1844
00:58:47,070 --> 00:58:49,009
We are stepping up to help

1845
00:58:49,010 --> 00:58:50,929
fund that issue and I'm

1846
00:58:50,930 --> 00:58:52,199
happy about that.

1847
00:58:52,200 --> 00:58:54,119
But everyone that ever came into my

1848
00:58:54,120 --> 00:58:55,459
office and said, I need more money

1849
00:58:55,460 --> 00:58:57,359
for special ed, I would always

1850
00:58:57,360 --> 00:58:59,259
ask this question.

1851
00:58:59,260 --> 00:59:01,219
Have you questioned why

1852
00:59:01,220 --> 00:59:03,379
the number of special ed

1853
00:59:03,380 --> 00:59:05,679
students have increased

1854
00:59:05,680 --> 00:59:08,019
at a dramatic level going

1855
00:59:08,020 --> 00:59:09,879
back to 2012?

1856
00:59:09,880 --> 00:59:11,619
Yeah, back to the time that we came

1857
00:59:11,620 --> 00:59:13,659
up with a smart phone, back to time

1858
00:59:13,660 --> 00:59:15,259
that social media started shaping

1859
00:59:15,260 --> 00:59:16,859
our public.

1860
00:59:16,860 --> 00:59:19,169
If we don't address that problem,

1861
00:59:19,170 --> 00:59:20,769
You're just going to keep spending

1862
00:59:20,770 --> 00:59:21,609
more money.

1863
00:59:21,610 --> 00:59:23,249
The answer is not to spend more

1864
00:59:23,250 --> 00:59:24,989
money, it's to figure out how to

1865
00:59:24,990 --> 00:59:26,609
reduce the number of kids that are

1866
00:59:26,610 --> 00:59:29,029
designated as special ed.

1867
00:59:29,030 --> 00:59:31,109
Then we look at providing property

1868
00:59:31,110 --> 00:59:32,249
tax relief.

1869
00:59:32,250 --> 00:59:33,929
I think it's the number one issue

1870
00:59:33,930 --> 00:59:35,949
all of us have heard from with

1871
00:59:35,950 --> 00:59:36,950
our constituents.

1872
00:59:38,260 --> 00:59:40,179
Between the general school

1873
00:59:40,180 --> 00:59:42,219
aid and the tax schools, it's over

1874
00:59:42,220 --> 00:59:44,759
$350 million that

1875
00:59:44,760 --> 00:59:46,399
we're going to send back.

1876
00:59:46,400 --> 00:59:48,619
So we'll help reduce the increases

1877
00:59:48,620 --> 00:59:50,479
in your property taxes that are

1878
00:59:50,480 --> 00:59:52,499
otherwise going to take place,

1879
00:59:52,500 --> 00:59:54,300
especially under the 400-year veto.

1880
01:00:00,051 --> 01:00:01,770
With property taxpayers, their

1881
01:00:01,771 --> 01:00:03,630
payments, that makes no sense to

1882
01:00:03,631 --> 01:00:04,870
me.

1883
01:00:04,871 --> 01:00:06,270
No tax on tips.

1884
01:00:06,271 --> 01:00:08,370
We have all kinds of people in the

1885
01:00:08,371 --> 01:00:10,150
service industry, they are lower

1886
01:00:10,151 --> 01:00:11,870
income people, and we are gonna give

1887
01:00:11,871 --> 01:00:13,710
them the advantage of not having to

1888
01:00:13,711 --> 01:00:15,810
pay a state income tax that will

1889
01:00:15,811 --> 01:00:16,990
match the fact that they won't have

1890
01:00:16,991 --> 01:00:19,250
to pay federal income tax.

1891
01:00:19,251 --> 01:00:21,170
The one that I am most excited

1892
01:00:21,171 --> 01:00:23,030
about in this sense is the no tax

1893
01:00:23,031 --> 01:00:24,670
on overtime. I live in a district

1894
01:00:24,671 --> 01:00:26,810
that's primarily manufacturing and

1895
01:00:26,811 --> 01:00:27,730
construction.

1896
01:00:27,731 --> 01:00:29,730
And then medical-related

1897
01:00:29,731 --> 01:00:31,610
services, we have a lot of

1898
01:00:31,611 --> 01:00:32,430
overtime.

1899
01:00:32,431 --> 01:00:34,410
And I have super respect

1900
01:00:34,411 --> 01:00:36,330
for those people that are working

1901
01:00:36,331 --> 01:00:38,290
for their families, and they're out

1902
01:00:38,291 --> 01:00:40,770
there 50, 60 hours a week.

1903
01:00:40,771 --> 01:00:43,530
This is a relief valve that

1904
01:00:43,531 --> 01:00:44,930
I think is one of the most

1905
01:00:44,931 --> 01:00:46,590
beneficial things we can do for the

1906
01:00:46,591 --> 01:00:48,670
hard workers of Wisconsin.

1907
01:00:48,671 --> 01:00:49,910
Finally, we come to the remake

1908
01:00:49,911 --> 01:00:50,911
checks.

1909
01:00:51,381 --> 01:00:53,300
Remember not getting change

1910
01:00:53,301 --> 01:00:54,760
when you went to the store and you

1911
01:00:54,761 --> 01:00:56,480
didn't get your three dollars back?

1912
01:00:56,481 --> 01:00:58,540
Well, this is a way of doing that.

1913
01:00:58,541 --> 01:01:00,260
This can provide up to three hundred

1914
01:01:00,261 --> 01:01:02,540
dollars for an individual who, what,

1915
01:01:02,541 --> 01:01:04,880
pays income taxes.

1916
01:01:04,881 --> 01:01:06,260
And it's a full-year residence of

1917
01:01:06,261 --> 01:01:07,261
Wisconsin.

1918
01:01:07,861 --> 01:01:09,900
That, if you made a payment,

1919
01:01:09,901 --> 01:01:11,560
you're the one that will fight for a

1920
01:01:11,561 --> 01:01:12,360
rebate.

1921
01:01:12,361 --> 01:01:14,040
That's the way it works at Menards.

1922
01:01:14,041 --> 01:01:15,040
And I don't think Menards can

1923
01:01:15,041 --> 01:01:16,840
operate without it.

1924
01:01:16,841 --> 01:01:18,920
You also look at six hundred dollars

1925
01:01:18,921 --> 01:01:20,610
per joint filers.

1926
01:01:20,611 --> 01:01:22,350
Some people say, well that's really

1927
01:01:22,351 --> 01:01:23,970
not a lot of money, that's not going

1928
01:01:23,971 --> 01:01:24,910
to make a difference.

1929
01:01:24,911 --> 01:01:27,091
It's $862 million!

1930
01:01:28,351 --> 01:01:30,570
This is real money!

1931
01:01:30,571 --> 01:01:32,430
And we're sending it back to the

1932
01:01:32,431 --> 01:01:33,990
people that overpaid for the

1933
01:01:33,991 --> 01:01:35,930
products and services provided by

1934
01:01:35,931 --> 01:01:37,770
the state of Wisconsin.

1935
01:01:37,771 --> 01:01:39,710
So today, it's a good day for

1936
01:01:39,711 --> 01:01:40,760
Wisconsin.

1937
01:01:40,761 --> 01:01:42,640
What we're doing is we're taking the

1938
01:01:42,641 --> 01:01:44,680
bad news about you paying in

1939
01:01:44,681 --> 01:01:46,500
too much money and turning it

1940
01:01:46,501 --> 01:01:48,520
into good news by creating

1941
01:01:48,521 --> 01:01:51,540
credits back to you, the taxpayers.

1942
01:01:51,541 --> 01:01:53,980
And this is a very easy green.

1943
01:01:53,981 --> 01:01:55,400
Thank you.

1944
01:01:55,401 --> 01:01:57,631
Represented from the 56th.

1945
01:02:01,911 --> 01:02:03,271
Thank you Mr. Speaker.

1946
01:02:04,471 --> 01:02:06,970
As a retiring legislator,

1947
01:02:06,971 --> 01:02:09,010
I just want to say that I'm proud

1948
01:02:09,011 --> 01:02:10,830
to be able to vote for this

1949
01:02:10,831 --> 01:02:12,830
bill as maybe the last act that

1950
01:02:12,831 --> 01:02:14,671
I will have in this chamber.

1951
01:02:17,841 --> 01:02:19,980
I have to say that I'm really glad

1952
01:02:19,981 --> 01:02:21,960
that the person

1953
01:02:21,961 --> 01:02:23,740
that's running to follow me in this

1954
01:02:23,741 --> 01:02:24,741
seat is a doctor.

1955
01:02:26,281 --> 01:02:28,480
Because we may need a doctor

1956
01:02:28,481 --> 01:02:30,480
here to remove the knife

1957
01:02:30,481 --> 01:02:32,580
from Tony Evers back that's

1958
01:02:32,581 --> 01:02:33,881
been placed there by Democrats.

1959
01:02:35,381 --> 01:02:37,040
This is unbelievable to me.

1960
01:02:39,721 --> 01:02:42,260
I feel like it

1961
01:02:42,261 --> 01:02:44,160
reminds me of a Seinfeld episode

1962
01:02:44,161 --> 01:02:45,520
in which they talked about the

1963
01:02:45,521 --> 01:02:47,180
Bazaar world where everything was

1964
01:02:47,181 --> 01:02:48,181
backwards.

1965
01:02:50,001 --> 01:02:51,660
We're trying to pass a bill here

1966
01:02:51,661 --> 01:02:53,660
that gives a

1967
01:02:53,661 --> 01:02:57,080
large increase in

1968
01:02:57,081 --> 01:02:58,700
special education funding to our

1969
01:02:58,701 --> 01:02:59,701
local schools,

1970
01:03:00,801 --> 01:03:02,260
and Democrats want to vote against

1971
01:03:02,261 --> 01:03:03,261
it.

1972
01:03:04,301 --> 01:03:06,300
And I look at that and think,

1973
01:03:06,301 --> 01:03:07,240
why?

1974
01:03:07,241 --> 01:03:09,120
Why would that be?

1975
01:03:09,121 --> 01:03:10,321
How can that be.

1976
01:03:12,001 --> 01:03:13,900
Well, then I look at

1977
01:03:13,901 --> 01:03:15,800
the fact that there's

1978
01:03:15,801 --> 01:03:17,100
no tax on tips.

1979
01:03:18,651 --> 01:03:22,210
And they'll tax on overtime and

1980
01:03:22,211 --> 01:03:23,630
I think this is the stumbling block

1981
01:03:23,631 --> 01:03:24,631
for them.

1982
01:03:26,041 --> 01:03:28,260
These are proposals

1983
01:03:28,261 --> 01:03:30,340
that came from

1984
01:03:30,341 --> 01:03:32,401
Donald Trump in Washington.

1985
01:03:34,121 --> 01:03:35,780
And they have Trump Arrangement

1986
01:03:35,781 --> 01:03:36,660
Syndrome.

1987
01:03:36,661 --> 01:03:37,900
So they're not going to vote for

1988
01:03:37,901 --> 01:03:40,560
anything that

1989
01:03:40,561 --> 01:03:41,880
looks like they might support

1990
01:03:41,881 --> 01:03:43,220
something that Donald Trump would

1991
01:03:43,221 --> 01:03:45,420
do. Even

1992
01:03:45,421 --> 01:03:46,421
though...

1993
01:03:47,271 --> 01:03:49,230
When I have gone out in the public

1994
01:03:49,231 --> 01:03:51,050
in the last week and

1995
01:03:51,051 --> 01:03:53,030
I talk to people, I talk to people

1996
01:03:53,031 --> 01:03:54,950
in my Lions Club and there

1997
01:03:54,951 --> 01:03:56,830
are a lot of workers in there

1998
01:03:56,831 --> 01:03:59,110
that aren't trades and

1999
01:03:59,111 --> 01:04:01,511
they talked about the fact that

2000
01:04:03,451 --> 01:04:05,410
Not having tax on their

2001
01:04:05,411 --> 01:04:07,270
overtime is a really big deal

2002
01:04:07,271 --> 01:04:09,850
to them, and they really like that.

2003
01:04:09,851 --> 01:04:12,230
I also talk to some waitresses

2004
01:04:12,231 --> 01:04:14,630
in the restaurants that I frequent,

2005
01:04:14,631 --> 01:04:16,550
and they would love to

2006
01:04:16,551 --> 01:04:18,410
have no tax on your

2007
01:04:18,411 --> 01:04:19,411
tips.

2008
01:04:23,051 --> 01:04:24,770
Some of my colleagues over here are

2009
01:04:24,771 --> 01:04:27,250
trying to make out like we

2010
01:04:27,251 --> 01:04:28,970
heard we heard one of them talk

2011
01:04:28,971 --> 01:04:31,390
about 74 cents

2012
01:04:31,391 --> 01:04:32,591
That's how many would be up

2013
01:04:34,831 --> 01:04:36,850
We're giving $1.2 billion

2014
01:04:36,851 --> 01:04:38,790
in tax relief

2015
01:04:38,791 --> 01:04:40,710
at

2016
01:04:40,711 --> 01:04:42,730
$0.74, it

2017
01:04:42,731 --> 01:04:44,850
would take 1.6 billion people

2018
01:04:44,851 --> 01:04:46,690
to get rid of that

2019
01:04:46,691 --> 01:04:48,030
money.

2020
01:04:48,031 --> 01:04:49,270
And we know that's not the case

2021
01:04:49,271 --> 01:04:50,790
here. We only have 6 million people

2022
01:04:50,791 --> 01:04:51,791
in Wisconsin.

2023
01:04:52,671 --> 01:04:54,550
So obviously people

2024
01:04:54,551 --> 01:04:57,150
are going to get reasonably

2025
01:04:57,151 --> 01:04:59,030
good tax

2026
01:04:59,031 --> 01:05:00,551
relief from this bill.

2027
01:05:06,591 --> 01:05:08,210
As a legislator,

2028
01:05:09,491 --> 01:05:11,310
there are three really important

2029
01:05:11,311 --> 01:05:12,311
things

2030
01:05:13,191 --> 01:05:15,070
that I've always tried

2031
01:05:15,071 --> 01:05:16,930
to keep in mind and I

2032
01:05:16,931 --> 01:05:18,950
would like to accomplish whenever

2033
01:05:18,951 --> 01:05:19,951
I'm doing my work.

2034
01:05:22,041 --> 01:05:23,880
Number one is

2035
01:05:23,881 --> 01:05:26,820
public safety for

2036
01:05:26,821 --> 01:05:28,180
our citizens in Wisconsin.

2037
01:05:29,241 --> 01:05:31,760
Number two is providing

2038
01:05:31,761 --> 01:05:33,820
a good education

2039
01:05:33,821 --> 01:05:35,081
for our young people.

2040
01:05:36,241 --> 01:05:38,340
And number three is making

2041
01:05:38,341 --> 01:05:40,560
sure that we do those things

2042
01:05:40,561 --> 01:05:42,740
without overburdening

2043
01:05:42,741 --> 01:05:43,741
the taxpayers.

2044
01:05:45,801 --> 01:05:47,880
We've had a surplus here for

2045
01:05:47,881 --> 01:05:49,650
a long time.

2046
01:05:49,651 --> 01:05:51,790
And the people back home are

2047
01:05:51,791 --> 01:05:53,890
telling me it's time

2048
01:05:53,891 --> 01:05:55,830
that we get some of the

2049
01:05:55,831 --> 01:05:58,510
money that we paid in,

2050
01:05:58,511 --> 01:05:59,551
in excess,

2051
01:06:00,891 --> 01:06:01,891
that we'll get that back.

2052
01:06:04,161 --> 01:06:06,040
And we have a surplus here

2053
01:06:06,041 --> 01:06:08,340
at the same time

2054
01:06:08,341 --> 01:06:10,260
back home, their property

2055
01:06:10,261 --> 01:06:11,700
taxes are going through the roof.

2056
01:06:15,321 --> 01:06:17,180
That's why we need to

2057
01:06:17,181 --> 01:06:18,181
pass this bill.

2058
01:06:20,481 --> 01:06:22,440
A bipartisan piece

2059
01:06:22,441 --> 01:06:25,320
of legislation negotiated

2060
01:06:25,321 --> 01:06:27,680
with a Democratic governor

2061
01:06:27,681 --> 01:06:30,980
and a Republican legislator.

2062
01:06:30,981 --> 01:06:32,880
This is how the people want us

2063
01:06:32,881 --> 01:06:34,061
to do our work.

2064
01:06:35,101 --> 01:06:36,980
And this is why this

2065
01:06:36,981 --> 01:06:39,000
bill needs to pass and

2066
01:06:39,001 --> 01:06:40,001
the vote is green.

2067
01:06:42,571 --> 01:06:44,710
The question is, May 2026,

2068
01:06:44,711 --> 01:06:45,711
special...