Robin “Boss” Vos to Wisconsin Middle Class: ‘Pay For Your Own Tax Savings’

MADISON, Wis. — Assembly Republican Speaker Robin Vos is suggesting cutting funds available for priorities like education, health care and roads instead of closing a tax loophole exploited by the wealthiest Wisconsinites, according to media reports. Vos has previously said he opposes any changes to a state tax loophole for owners of manufacturing businesses, that overwhelmingly benefits a very limited number of high income earners, to help offset the cost of a middle class tax cut proposed by Gov. Tony Evers.

“Robin Vos has drawn a line in the sand, saying he won’t even consider asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share so Wisconsin’s middle class can get a tax cut,” said One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Analiese Eicher. “Vos would rather cut funds for schools, roads and health care.”

As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Vos continues to rule out closing tax loopholes to pay for middle class tax relief. Instead, “He said he would consider funding the cut through general purpose revenue.”

General purpose revenue is the primary source of state funding for K-12 public schools and helps pay for numerous other programs including health care, transportation, public safety, job creation and more.

Eicher noted One Wisconsin Now previously raised the question if the wealthy Vos’ staunch defense of the tax break was for personal reasons. Vos’ financial disclosures reveal his personal wealth includes businesses with millions in real estate holdings and manufacturing interests. Entities for which he claims ownership include Robin J. Vos Enterprises, Inc. and Romata LLP. Romata owns property assessed as manufacturing that houses popcorn manufacturing and packing operations under the corporate umbrella of Robin J. Vos Enterprises.

Tax records obtained by One Wisconsin Now show Romata reported $0 in net state tax liability in 2017 and Robin J. Vos Enterprises reported $0 net state tax liability for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, nearly 80 percent of the tax break Vos is fighting tooth and nail to preserve will go to individuals with adjusted gross incomes of over $1 million for tax year 2019.

“It’s bad enough Robin Vos won’t ask the top income earners in Wisconsin to pay their fair share. Now he’s telling middle class taxpayers to pay for their own tax savings,” concluded Eicher.