The Democrats running for governor this year have several ideas for how to rewrite the state’s tax laws, with an emphasis on higher taxes for the rich, and lower taxes for the working and middle class. They largely support more state revenues to pay for things like better roads and schools, expansion of BadgerCare and free technical college tuition.
Madison Mayor Paul Soglin wants to lower homeowner property taxes statewide by up to 25 percent while raising income taxes on the top 3 percent of earners.
Former Wisconsin Democracy Campaign executive director Mike McCabe is calling for a reduction in the sales tax from 5 percent to 4.5 percent, and also applying it to currently exempt goods and services such as airplane parts, health club fees and professional services.
Former Rep. Kelda Roys would repeal a recently adopted fee on hybrid and electric vehicles, but would be willing to slap a new fee on certain heavy trucks to help pay for road repairs.