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(The Center Square) – Wisconsin taxpayers are growing in their concern over property taxes, as witnessed by a recent Marquette poll showing that 60% of voters are more concerned about reducing property taxes than increasing spending on public schools.
That opinion has shifted over time as 61% of voters were more concerned about funding for schools in Aug. 2018 and polling shifted from favoring funding for schools to being more concerned about property taxes in between late 2022 and mid-2023, according to the poll.
The most recent poll asked questions of 818 Wisconsin registered voters between Feb. 11-19.
The shift comes as state lawmakers continue to debate what the best policy is to spend an expected $2.5 billion surplus at the end of the fiscal year.
Legislative Republicans sent a plan to Gov. Tony Evers that includes $1.5 billion in income tax rebates, $500 million in money for the state's school tax levy credit and $200 million included for special education funding.
Evers said during his State of the State speech that the plan for property tax relief and education spending must balance the two "a heck of a lot better.”
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos acknowledged during a press conference that Evers won’t negotiate on the school funding he approved with a partial veto that Republicans refer to as Evers’ 400-year property tax increase.
Evers used a partial veto and erased numbers and a hyphen to change “2024-25” to “2425” in the budget bill, locking in a $325 per student per year funding increase for 400 years.
That veto was the subject of a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling approving the move and then legislation and a constitutional amendment proposal to change the governor’s partial veto power since.
The U.S. House Oversight Committee is requesting that the Department of Justice investigate whether the Somali welfare fraud and anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minnesota are connected.
In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Republican lawmakers suggested the possibility that there exists “organized efforts to obstruct law enforcement with foreign influences and criminal activities, including fraud.”
“The Committee believes it is imperative to assess whether foreign-sourced funding and/or proceeds of financial crimes, particularly those involving federal funds, may be contributing to, or otherwise exacerbating unrest and efforts to obstruct law enforcement,” the lawmakers, led by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., wrote Monday.
Their request for a DOJ briefing on the matter follows President Donald Trump’s previous comments that the Minnesota Somali fraud scandal "is at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.”
The estimated $9 billion in welfare fraud was uncovered in October, and by December nearly 100 people – including 85 Somali immigrants – faced criminal charges, with dozens pleading guilty.
Among other schemes, fraudsters had falsely claimed children had autism to obtain benefits and enrolled ineligible individuals in food assistance programs.
On Jan. 7, protests in the Twin Cities region erupted after a federal immigration enforcement officer fatally shot a Minnesota resident and American citizen who authorities say attempted to hit agents with her car.
The committee believes the incidents “suggest coordinated or systemic activity” and is urging the DOJ to investigate “whether large-scale financial crimes involving federal funds may contribute to broader public safety or civil order challenges” related to immigration.
“The scale and duration of these schemes have raised concerns regarding whether fraud proceeds are being laundered or otherwise routed through nonprofit or organizational entities in ways that evade oversight,” lawmakers wrote. “As much of this fraud has disproportionally involved Minnesota’s immigrant community, targeted enforcement operations by ICE play a key role in stopping this systemic corruption.”
Fraudsters have taken advantage of Medicaid-funded services through Minnesota Department of Human Services programs for years, particularly targeting COVID-19 era programs, The Center Square reported.
In light of the newest revelations, Republicans have accused state officials of suppressing fraud reports and punishing whistleblowers, which Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has denied.
Gov. Tim Walz recently unveiled his “comprehensive anti-fraud package,” but only after the Trump administration halted nearly $260 million in Medicaid funds to the state.
