State republicans vow tax reform

Property, income taxes especially targeted for reform

A tax overhaul appears on the way in Wisconsin.

A key legislative committee restructuring, announced Wednesday, comes with plans to redo the state’s tax code making it “low, simple and fair,” according to Republican assemblyman John Macco from Green Bay. And every tax is on the table.

“We’re doing a deep dive on everything,” Macco said. “When we look at the two things that are disproportionate and that are causing negative effect on our economy, it’s income tax and property tax.

“I don’t know what that will look like but I can tell you from a purely economic standpoint, those two are grinding us down.”

It’s not clear whether the effort has the support of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. There is also no definitive timeline for restructuring the state’s tax code. Or what state tax reform will even look like. Questions still without answers, according to Macco.

“Prescription without diagnosis is malpractice,” Macco said. “So I want to take whatever time it takes to make sure we do a deep dive into it.”

Macco also wants those changes to come regardless of what Congress does with the federal tax code.

“But, if they do act, then it becomes critical that we do this,” Macco noted.