Few expectations for 2018 Wisconsin Legislature

The headline in U.S. News and World Report says it all. “Wisconsin Legislature Not Expected to Do Much in 2018.” Isn’t that great news? We probably shouldn’t expect much in the way of accomplishments, given the legislative schedule. Our state lawmakers will return to work next month for a brief session that ends in the spring so they can hit the campaign trail and start collecting all those campaign donations. You know, the stuff they really care about. Granted, our lawmakers had a busy 2017, by their standards, approving that huge Foxconn deal, ending a ban on hemp farming, extending the UW tuition freeze and providing a modest property tax cut. But there is still plenty to do, even if those we send to Madison don’t seem inclined to do it. Still on the plate is a debate over removing the so called “dark store” tax loophole to force mega-retailers like Menards to pay more in local property taxes. Also up for debate is what to do about the troubled youth prison and criminal justice reform overall and a major reform of the state’s tax code. We have grown used to seeing our elected officials in Madison accomplish very little. But when they openly admit they won’t get much done in 2018, it makes us again wonder just why we even have a full-time legislature.