Republicans ignore need for job creation, positioned to increase deficit and raise fees
By State Representative Tamara Grigsby
Tamara Grigsby
This week, the Republicancontrolled Assembly passed legislation related to Governor Walker’s convened special session, although the approved bills had nothing to do with immediate job creation in Wisconsin. State Representative Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee) expressed concern over the bills voted upon today, reflecting on the detrimental impact they will have on Wisconsin families.
“With just over three weeks into the new legislative session, Assembly Republicans have added more than $142 million to the state’s structural deficit yet created no jobs,” said Rep. Grigsby. “Today, we not only saw neglect toward job creation, but legislative gimmicks that will harm taxpayers.”
Special Session Assembly Bill 7, a small tax credit for businesses, passed today after being highlighted last week by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau as an initiative that will, at best, provide businesses with approximately $250 per employee hired. This small sum is less money than would be required to pay a minimum wage worker for one full week of work. In addition, the proposal remains prone to fraud and abuse, a result of Republicans’ refusal to accept Democratic amendments that would have increased accountability and transparency within the proposed program.
Assembly Republicans also passed Special Session Assembly Bill 5, a bill that will place prohibitions on revenue modifications by the Legislature at the cost of placing additional burdens on average Wisconsin families. Seeking to address this concern, Rep. Grigsby introduced an amendment to the bill that would prevent an increase in fees on middle class and working families. Grigsby’s amendment failed on a 57 to 37 vote.
“We need to be serious about putting people back to work,” said Rep. Grigsby. “We can’t afford the gimmicks witnessed today, nor can we afford fee increases on everyday people for the purpose of tax cuts for the wealthy and financing Republican promises made to special interests.”