Republican lawmakers reject Gov. Tony Evers' plan to give every Wisconsin resident $150

MADISON - Republican lawmakers who control the state Legislature on Tuesday ignored the Democratic governor's call to convene a special legislative session to take up legislation that would have given each Wisconsin resident $150.

Senate President Chris Kapenga, a Republican from Delafield, and Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Tyler August quickly gaveled in and gaveled out of the session Evers ordered to begin Tuesday. 

Gov. Tony Evers, who is campaigning for re-election, offered a plan in January to give every resident a $150 tax rebate regardless of age or income and funnel $750 million into education — ideas Republicans in the Legislature quickly rebuffed. 

Evers signed an order calling lawmakers in Tuesday to make plans to take up the proposal, but Republicans planned all along to ignore it. 

“Wisconsinites are feeling the pressure of rising costs, and they need action now—today— not months from now or a year from now,” Evers said in a statement following Republcians' rejection of his call to convene.

“Republicans are selfishly playing politics by sitting on a projected $3.8 billion surplus until next year while the people of this state watch prices on everyday items go up and gas is almost $4 a gallon. This is the people’s money. We should be doing the right thing and getting it back to them.”

Evers' plan for tax rebates echoes one his predecessor, Republican Scott Walker, offered as he headed into reelection in 2018. Democrats panned Walker's proposal at the time, but Evers said rebates make sense now because the state is in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and inflation is high. 

Evers put forward his $1.7 billion legislative package two days after officials learned the state will take in $2.9 billion more than expected through the middle of next year.

Republican lawmakers have said they want to wait on cutting taxes until after the election for governor this fall. Evers said there is no reason to delay tax breaks.

Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.