Oct 22, 2022 1:41 p.m
Posted Oct 22, 2022 1:41 pm
MADISON, Wisconsin — Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels says he has big plans to shake up state agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, which he wants to split into two agencies.
In an exclusive one-on-one interview with News 3 Now, Michels discussed his plans to overhaul other state agencies and how he hopes it would affect Wisconsin’s economy.
“Everything is on the table,” Michels said. “I’m not the type to say it’s okay if people answer me, ‘That’s how we’ve always done it. That’s not a good answer.”
He did not communicate specific changes he wanted to make to other government agencies like he did with the DNR. But he said he wanted to treat the state government like he was doing his business.
“We have 16 business areas at Michels. Every month we do a formal review of every department, and every quarter we do a deep dive into every operational department — I don’t think anyone here in Madison has done that in our state agencies for a long time,” he said.
“I hope that when I’m done, the people of Wisconsin will feel confident that their tax dollars are being used wisely, sparingly, and effectively, and that the state government is operating as efficiently as possible,” added Michels.
The GOP candidate extends this business metaphor to the people of Wisconsin as well. He said during a campaign stop in Madison on Wednesday that Wisconsin’s people and businesses are the state government’s “customers” and its government has a duty to give them the best return on their investment.
“We will get a better return on people’s tax dollars for themselves, their children and their communities, and that will transform Wisconsin for generations to come,” Michels said.
He also said tax cuts in future households will be key to attracting and retaining workers in Wisconsin.
“We’re also going to make Wisconsin more attractive to young people graduating … and veterans, when they come out of the service, they’re probably more likely to come back to Wisconsin, or other veterans will be like, ‘I’m going to go to Wisconsin because that’s where it is It has a cheap tax rate and it’s a great place to start a family,'” he said.
Michels did not specify what that favorable tax environment would look like, but said he would commit to lowering the state’s income tax and eliminating the personal wealth tax.
“We’re going to put everything on the table, everything on the whiteboard,” he said. “There is a surplus of $5.8 billion. Tony Evers, he thinks that’s a good thing. I think it’s a bad thing because people in Wisconsin are overwhelmed.”
You can watch the full interview on Sunday October 23rd on For the Record.
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