Yet asked the other day about whether he’d wave his hand to let Wisconsin taxpayers use a new federal tax credit for education-related donations, the governor slammed the door. He told a reporter it would be “catastrophic” for public schools, even though the new program allows donations to go to public school students for, say, tutoring, technology, books or other extra help.
Yet Evers said no. Why?
Evers’ rejection is early: Only four other governors have weighed in. A Republican in Tennessee and a Democrat in North Carolina opted their states into the program, and Democrats in Oregon and New Mexico opted out. Everyone else is still making up their mind.
“We have 15 months to discuss this before you absolutely have to make a decision,” said Dale Kooyenga, head of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, a nonpartisan group that frequently weighs in on school reform. The tax credit — a dollar-for-dollar reduction in a taxpayer’s liability up to $1,700 — only starts in the 2026 tax year, meaning Wisconsin wouldn’t have to send Washington a list of approved “scholarship granting organizations,” through which Wisconsinites could send donations, until the start of 2027.
Kooyenga pointed out that while the program’s outlinesin law are known, some details are hazy. How would families get scholarship money? Unknown. Can Wisconsinites get a credit for donating to organizations in states where governors said yes? Probably. Can an organization from another state set up an office in Wisconsin? Unclear, say Kooyenga and others.
That’s because while the law is passed, not a line of regulations to implement it has been written.
“It’s unfortunate a decision was made prior to getting all the details,” said Jim Bender, the Badger Institute’s education consultant.