Hi, this is State Senator Rob Hutton.
This time of year brings a great deal of discussion around government spending priorities at both a state and national level. I recently had the opportunity of spending part of my afternoon hearing citizens share their concerns and ideas at the Joint Finance Committee’s listening session at State Fair Park in West Allis. That input is important as spending decisions are being determined. While those priorities will continue to be evaluated, I believe T.H.E.S.E. issues align and complement many of the ideas I heard that afternoon.
“T” is for our state’s tax structure that needs to be reformed to reduce the tax burden on all Wisconsinites. Our neighboring states are outpacing us with similar reforms.
“H” is for the need for significant health care reform to ensure we are making access to affordable, quality care, a reality for all citizens in our state.
“E” is for the need for Wisconsin to continue to offer a strong and a diverse educational opportunity, from K-12 through higher ed, to ensure our students are best prepared for their future chosen career.
“S” means safe communities, schools, businesses, and places of worship for Wisconsinites to prosper and raise their family. We need to continue to support law enforcement and the critical role they play to ensure the public is safe.
And “E” is for growing Wisconsin’s economy and encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs and business. leaders. We heard from some of our young entrepreneurs at State Fair Park. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know some of those students in the robotics teams and my Senate district, and I’m always impressed with their competitive spirit, innovation and leadership abilities. That is why I’m working on legislation to make it free for high school students to register a business with the state. The typical LLC startup fee is already waived for college students. Extending that to high schoolers will make it a little easier to start and run a business from ideas they’ve generated. In the middle of a sometimes-contentious legislative session, helping our young people use their talents to explore and expand their horizons is something both parties can agree on.
