Entire Wisconsin Republican Congressional Delegation Leads Call for Governor to End Opposition to Scholarship Program

WAUSAU, WI – Today, the entire Wisconsin Republican congressional delegation, including Tom Tiffany (WI-07), sent a letter to Governor Tony Evers urging him to end his opposition to the new Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Wisconsin families need approval from Governor Evers to participate in the new program, and Evers thus far refused to grant that approval.

In the letter, the members of Congress write, "Low- and middle-income families deserve access to the same quality educational opportunities as those who are more fortunate. Denying Wisconsin families educational opportunities for the sake of partisan politics is irresponsible, unfair, and counterproductive to our shared goal of improving educational outcomes for Wisconsin students."

These funds can be used for a variety of vital educational needs, including tuition, school supplies, support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and transportation. Opting out will mean denying Wisconsin families access to this assistance.

The letter was also signed by Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Representatives Bryan Steil (WI-01), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), and Tony Wied (WI-08).  

You can read the full letter here.

Background:

• On July 4, the Working Families Tax Cut, H.R. 1, was signed into law.
• This legislation, among other provisions, establishes a new federal tax credit scholarship program.
• The program provides a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 per taxpayer.
• This new educational tax credit incentivizes charitable donations to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) for families earning up to 300% of their county’s median gross income.
• While H.R.1 allows any taxpayer to donate and receive the tax credit, it requires states to opt into the program for families to be eligible for these scholarships.
• In September, Governor Evers announced he would not allow Wisconsin families to take advantage of these scholarships.
• Scholarships may be used for a variety of educational needs including tuition, tutoring, school supplies, support services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and transportation. Opting out will mean denying Wisconsin families access to this assistance.
• The program includes accountability metrics and requires SGOs to verify income eligibility.

For more information on the federal tax credit scholarship program, click here.

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