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The Primary Benefactor of Tim Michels’ Flat Tax Proposal? Himself.

Oct 05, 2022

The Primary Benefactor of Tim Michels’ Flat Tax Proposal? Himself.

MADISON, Wis. — At a campaign event in Baraboo yesterday, Tim Michels voiced his support for a flat tax rate. This would primarily benefit the wealthiest Wisconsinites, including Michels and his family, while hurting the middle class and those who make the least.

The Wisconsin Budget Project, previously wrote of a flat tax in Wisconsin, “In dollar terms, the biggest tax cuts by far would go to the taxpayers with the highest incomes. Taxpayers with incomes of $1 million and up would receive an average annual tax cut of $75,584 […] Some taxpayers with the lowest incomes would actually pay more in income taxes under this proposal.”

A similar proposal in Iowa was also expected to “benefit higher earners” and would shift the tax burden to middle and low-income taxpayers.

This is not the first time that Michels has proposed a policy that would benefit his personal financial standing in Wisconsin.

Michels also backed attempting to resurrect the failed Foxconn deal that his company earned millions from, and would’ve cost Wisconsin taxpayers $3 billion. Michels previously said that he hoped that Michels Corporation will continue to bid on state contracts. Michels has been scant on specifics of how he would avoid conflicts of interest and how he would separate himself from financial gains the company made during his time as governor.

If Michels becomes governor, he’ll be in a position to further enrich himself and his family. He’s not even trying to hide his blatant conflict of interest and what he would gain from his tenure as governor if he is elected.

By contrast, in his first term, Governor Evers cut taxes for most Wisconsinites by 15%, cut taxes for small businesses by nearly half a billion, and wants to cut taxes another 10% for the middle class in his second term.

“Tim Michels has long made clear he is running for governor to enrich himself – and now the icing on the cake is a radical tax policy that doesn’t help all Wisconsinites, just the richest like himself,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Rapid Response Director Hannah Menchhoff. “Governor Evers has been able to cut taxes for most Wisconsinites, small businesses, and is working for the benefit of our state. Michels is radical and wrong for Wisconsin.”

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