Wisconsin has everything it needs to succeed.
We have hardworking families, innovative entrepreneurs, world-class manufacturers, family farms that feed the nation and communities that still believe in the values that built this country.
Yet too many Wisconsinites feel like they are falling behind.
Young families are struggling to buy their first home. Small business owners are buried under red tape. Parents are frustrated by declining educational standards. Taxpayers are tired of sending more money to Madison without seeing better results.
Wisconsin’s challenges aren’t the result of a lack of potential. They are the result of a lack of leadership.
As governor, my mission will be simple: unlock Wisconsin’s potential.
My first action as governor will be to call a special session to end the 400-year property tax increase.
Wisconsin families already pay some of the highest property taxes in America. Homeowners, seniors on fixed incomes, and young families should not have to worry about being taxed out of their homes because of a veto made with the stroke of a pen.
But ending the 400-year property tax increase is only the beginning.
Some rankings also put Wisconsin among the bottom 10 states to start a business.
As a small business owner for 20 years, I know firsthand what it means to make payroll, balance a budget and stretch every dollar. My wife, Chris, and I built our hospitality business the same way countless Wisconsin families build their lives: through hard work, responsibility and careful planning.
Those values are missing in Madison.
When I first ran for office, it wasn’t because I wanted to become a politician. I ran because I owned a small business and saw firsthand how high taxes and excessive regulations were making it harder to succeed.
That’s why I will launch a “Red Tape Reset” during my first 100 days.
This initiative will reduce unnecessary regulations by 25%, streamline permitting and eliminate outdated rules that drive up costs for families and employers.
Wisconsin ranks as the 13th most regulated state in the country. The cost of that red tape is felt by everyone: the mom trying to open a daycare, the young entrepreneur stuck in a maze of permits and paperwork, and the first-time homebuyer waiting months to break ground.
Today, the average age of a first-time homebuyer in Wisconsin is 40, up from 29 just 10 years ago.
But the good news is that we can reverse this trend. States that have embraced regulatory reform have seen real results. In Virginia, reforms to building regulations reduced the cost of new homes by more than $24,000.
That means more families can afford to buy a home, builders can break ground faster and young people can achieve the dream of homeownership again.
It’s also time to put Wisconsin’s “Open for Business” signs back up. Wisconsin ranks second in the nation for brain drain, with too many of our young people leaving to build their careers and futures somewhere else.
Our state should be a destination for entrepreneurs, manufacturers and job creators. My administration will focus on lowering costs, reducing regulatory barriers, speeding up permitting and creating a business climate where employers can grow and workers can thrive.
But none of that matters if we fail to prepare the next generation for success.
Wisconsin has a proud tradition of educational excellence, but we are falling behind. Today, seven in 10 fourth graders are not reading proficiently.
We spend more per student than ever before, yet student outcomes continue to decline. More than half of Wisconsin employers say our K-12 education system is not adequately preparing students for the workforce.
As governor, I will raise academic standards, restore accountability, strengthen reading instruction and ensure education funding reaches students and teachers.
I will also expand apprenticeship opportunities, strengthen technical education and partner with employers to prepare students for good-paying careers.
Finally, we must restore accountability to the state government itself.
Wisconsin taxpayers work hard for every dollar they earn. Government should treat those dollars with respect.
For too long, Madison has operated without transparency or accountability.
My administration will rein in spending, conduct regular audits across state agencies, and root out waste and fraud.
The choice before Wisconsin is clear.
We can settle for higher taxes, rising costs, more bureaucracy and lower expectations. That’s the future David Crowley is offering Wisconsin.
Or we can unlock Wisconsin’s potential.
We can make our state more affordable, more competitive and more accountable.
And we can build a future where young people can afford to stay, raise a family, buy a home and pursue the Wisconsin Dream.
I know our best days are still ahead, but getting there requires new leadership.
It’s time for state government to get off your backs, out of your wallets and out of your way.
It’s time to restore common sense to Madison.
Congressman Tom Tiffany is the Republican nominee for governor of Wisconsin.
