Gov. Walker pitches income tax cut

APPLETON - Governor Scott Walker hit the road Thursday morning, promoting his $68 billion two-year budget proposal.

Part of the plan calls for an income tax cut that would total $343 million. The proposal is gaining support, and criticism.

The governor highlighted his budget plan in front of about 500 workers at Miller Electric in Appleton.

"That goes directly to the taxpayers of this state in income tax cuts, for individual income tax payers," said Governor Walker.

His plan would target those in the lower tax brackets. A family of four making $80,000 a year would save about $106 dollars a year, or about $2 a week.

"That's more money in the hands of the consumers. Consumers can then spend that money on the economy. That ultimately will lead to more production, more demand. And the more production, and ultimately you have more people being hired," said Walker.

But critics say the money might be better spent elsewhere.

"What's the goal of this? To destroy public programs in the state of Wisconsin that government provides or is there actually something that's going to be designed to stimulate the economy and provide true middle class relief," said State Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, in a phone interview.

Richard Parins is the president of the Brown County Taxpayers Association. He says lower taxes keep money in the hands of the consumers. He says high gas prices and federal taxes have already stretched many household budgets.

"The people that really watch their pennies, that have to watch their pennies. They're shopping at Walmart. And when you see spending down, there's a reason because they have less," said Richard Parins, Brown County Taxpayers Association president.

It's a debate that will shift to the legislature.

"At the end of the day, what amounts to a couple of bucks a month, is unlikely to spur economic growth," said Hintz.

Governor Walker is confident his plan will pass.

"I think in large part, you're going to see largely in the framework of what I announced last night, will be approved in the final version," said Walker.