MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Latest on Wisconsin’s governor’s race (all times local):
1:20 p.m.
Democratic candidate for governor Tony Evers says he’s open to raising a variety of taxes, including on personal income and gasoline, as part of his agenda to lower the tax burden for working families and fix roads.
Evers says his goal is to reduce the tax burden on middle class families and the poor, while having the wealthy pay more.
His comments in a Thursday news conference came on the heels of a new campaign ad from Gov. Scott Walker and comments from Republican lawmakers saying taxes will go up under Evers.
Evers doesn’t have a specific plan, but says “it will be our goal to keep taxes reasonable.”
Evers says his education budget that raises state aid for schools by 10 percent would not increase property taxes.
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12:16 p.m.
Democratic candidate for governor and Wisconsin state superintendent Tony Evers says education priorities in Wisconsin are “out of whack” and the policies of Gov. Scott Walker are “failing us.”
Evers makes the argument in his Thursday speech at the Capitol that Walker’s agenda and “divisive solutions” from Washington aren’t working.
The annual speech comes in the heat of the governor’s race and provides Evers a platform to tout his proposed education department budget. Evers is touting the plan as a way to fix the state aid system for schools. It would increase funding by 10 percent.
Evers says people want honest leadership and cooperation.
Walker and Republicans issued a new line of attack Thursday, saying Evers would raise taxes and take the state backward if elected.
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11:20 a.m.
Republican state lawmakers say Democratic candidate Tony Evers would increase taxes and return Wisconsin to the “dark” days of former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle.
State Rep. Mark Born and state Sen. Tom Tiffany held a news conference Thursday to speak out before Evers gives his annual state of education speech. Evers is the state superintendent and is asking for a 10 percent increase in state aid for schools, which he says can be paid for without a tax increase.
Born and Tiffany are both on the Legislature’s budget committee. They say Evers would recklessly raise taxes, hurting Wisconsin’s economy.
Born says, “Wisconsin will no longer be open for business under Tony Evers.”
Evers has been open to raising taxes to pay for roads and supports eliminating a tax break for manufacturers and farmers.
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6:15 a.m.
Gov. Scott Walker is bemoaning the volume of attacks in the race for governor as he blasts his Democratic opponent in a new ad.
The Walker ad announced Thursday comes two days after a poll showed Tony Evers, the state superintendent, with a slight lead in the gubernatorial race, seven weeks before the election.
Evers is slated to deliver his annual speech on the state of education Thursday.
In the new ad, Walker speaks directly to the camera, saying “with all of the attack ads these days, it’s easy to forget” positives such as lower property taxes, strong schools and that more people are working now than ever.
Walker then goes on to criticize Evers, saying he’ll raise taxes and “that would put our jobs at risk.”
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