Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I wanted to provide an update on several of the initiatives I’m working on for you in 2024, including: broad-based tax relief for Wisconsin families, protecting our children from sex traffickers, empowering our disabled citizens, and keeping our families safe.
It is truly an honor for me to be your voice in the Wisconsin State Senate. I look forward to seeing you at community meetings, listening sessions, events, and parades throughout our beautiful 1st Senate District. These opportunities are invaluable to me; your input is vital for me to represent our area as effectively as possible.
I feel very fortunate to represent such great neighbors throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Together, we will continue moving Wisconsin forward in 2024!
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Making Wisconsin Less Taxing
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This broad-based plan would cut taxes by over $2 billion for middle class Wisconsin individuals and families coping with the skyrocketing cost of expenses like food, housing, and child care.
It would also provide much-needed relief to retired seniors 65 years of age and over - many who are on fixed incomes and have been hit especially hard by Bidenflation.
The package includes:
- Middle-Class Tax Cut: The plan reduces income tax rates for married joint filers earning up to $150,000 and for single filers earning up to $112,500, resulting in an average tax reduction of $454.
- Updating the Married Couple Credit: Adjusting this credit for inflation for the first time in over 20 years results in an average tax cut of $338.
- Expanding the Child & Dependent Tax Credit: Matching the federal credit and increasing allowable expenses raises the maximum credit from $480 to $870.
- Retirement Should Not Be Taxing: Single Wisconsin residents aged 65 and over will pay no state income taxes on their first $75,000 of earnings; married filers could earn up to $150,000 free of state income taxes, for an average tax cut of $1,582. Ninety-three percent of retirees would pay no state income tax.
Thirteen years of prudent GOP fiscal management has handed Gov. Evers a state budget surplus of over $3 billion. Unfortunately, the Governor is on the verge of striking out after vetoing two previous plans to cut taxes for Wisconsin’s middle class families. This is your money, and I have always believed it should be returned to you.
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2024 Legislative Session Off and Running!
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The 2024 Legislative Session is off and running! Here is the status of several initiatives I've been working on since my last E-Update:
ABLE Accounts Head to Governor (Senate Bills 668, 122)
My legislation to empower individuals with disabilities is heading to the Governor’s desk! The State Assembly last month gave final approval to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) tax-exempt savings accounts, which help cover the cost of services that help those with physical and cognitive challenges live full, independent lives.
The 'Keep the Polls Open' Act Heads to Governor (Assembly Bill 298)
Bipartisan legislation protecting our right to vote by preventing local officials from closing polling places at the last minute with little to no public notice is also headed to the Governor’s desk. This measure would guard against stealth municipal closures of polling sites, which make it difficult for voters, and in some cases prevents them from casting their ballots. In the 2020 Spring Primary, the City of Green Bay closed all but two polling places at the eleventh hour. Unprecedented long lines and the lack of efficient public notice kept many waiting to vote past midnight, while others were unable to turn in a ballot or could not make it to their proper polling location on time.
Combatting Human Trafficking (Assembly Bills 977, 979)
Bills I co-authored to fight human trafficking with prevention education in our schools and grants to help victims passed the State Assembly and are the on the way the Senate. Sex trafficking, and sexual exploitation of minors especially, is among the most heinous forms of abuse. These initiatives will foster awareness and increase our efforts to stop sex trafficking before it begins, and help victims get their lives back. Wisconsin serves as a hub for the entire Midwest due to its interstate corridors, and studies show that over 70 percent of sex trafficking begins while the victim is a minor.
Protecting Victims of 'Deep Fake' Pornography (Senate Bill 553)
Victims whose images are unknowingly twisted into synthetic “deep fake” pornography for display on social media or other distribution would receive stronger legal protections under bipartisan legislation that recently passed the Senate unanimously. As the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) become more and more advanced, bad actors are increasingly using artificially generated sexually explicit images to harass and intimidate innocent people online.
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Aiden Kamenick from Kaukauna High School represented the 1st Senate District during the January session of the 2024 Senate Scholar program, a leading educational initiative designed to challenge Wisconsin’s best high school juniors and seniors who are interested in the state legislative process. Scholars have the opportunity to put all they have learned into action after staffing the Senate Floor during session and watching debate on legislation. They draft their own bills and amendments, form their own committee, and elect committee leadership.
One student from each of Wisconsin’s 33 Senate Districts participates in this intensive, week-long program at the State Capitol. I was pleased to nominate Aiden, son of Theresa and Lance Kamenick, for the program.
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2023-24 Bluebooks are Here!
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Published in the autumn of every odd-numbered year, the Wisconsin Blue Book provides detailed information about our state government, as well as fascinating statistical data and stories about our rich Wisconsin history. If you would like a copy, feel free to contact my office. You can also access the publication online.
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