Urban Milwaukee Columnist Urges Wisconsin Democrats to Raise New Revenue
In Urban Milwaukee's "Murphy's Law" column, the author argues that Gov.-elect David Crowley and Democratic legislators should pair spending plans, including school funding, child care, shared revenue to Milwaukee, and possibly overturning Act 10, with new revenue sources rather than relying solely on an estimated $3 billion surplus. The column proposes several funding options, including ending the sales tax exemption on data centers, repealing the Manufacturing and Agricultural Tax Credit, raising income tax rates on top earners, a per-mile truck fee, legalizing marijuana, ending the private school tuition tax deduction, and accepting federal funding to expand Medicaid. The author warns that without new revenue, Democrats risk having to raise taxes broadly and lose their legislative majority in 2028, as predicted by Republican legislator Robin Vos.