Armstrong: Housing bill victories, tax reform busts

Wisconsin’s 2023-24 legislative session is all but finally closed and Rice Lake’s representative to the Assembly recently reviewed the hits — and the misses — pertaining to his priorities and that of the GOP.

Republican Rep. David Armstrong of Rice Lake was elected for the second time to represent District 75 in 2022, joining a 64-35 GOP majority in the Assembly.

Housing and economic development were among the cornerstones of his work in the Assembly, and he succeeded in getting a few significant bills signed into law.

Armstrong said “by far” the biggest bills that he sponsored or cosponsored that were subsequently signed into law by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers related to housing.

“They were so in need right now,” Armstrong said. “Those took a long time to get together and negotiate.”

Armstrong’s bills helped establish a residential housing infrastructure revolving loan fund aimed at workforce and senior housing, and created revolving loan funds to encourage Main Street housing rehabilitation and commercial-to-residential conversion.

Now the details must be hammered out to get the laws implemented, Armstrong said. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority will administer the loans.

Another Armstrong-sponsored law related to housing makes it easier for local governments to approve developments that meet local standards and regulations.

“Wisconsin is in the middle of a housing crisis,” Armstrong said when announcing the bills. “There simply aren’t enough residential units being built to meet demand, so rents and home prices are soaring. The result is that people are getting priced out of the market, and this contributes to the labor shortage as well. People don’t want to work in a community or region — or state — where they can’t afford to live. As Barron County’s economic development director, this is a problem I struggle with every day, so I was thrilled when these housing bills began to take form.”

As another victory, Armstrong cited an economic development bill that became known as Act 143 when Evers signed it.

The act relates to tax credits for business development that focuses on jobs. Specifically, it shifts focus from the creation of jobs to job retention and capital investment. As the representative noted, businesses are finding it difficult to keep employees, much less recruit workers for positions that already exist.

Under Act 143, qualifying employers also may receive credit for investments in workforce housing and employee child care.

One of Armstrong’s biggest disappointments was the failure of the GOP-dominated Legislature to cut income taxes. Part of the proposal expanded the amount of household income subject to the second tax bracket of 4.4% from $38,190 to $150,000. Only the package’s proposal to boost a child care credit drew significant bipartisan support, according to WisPolitics.

Evers vetoed everything except the child tax credit, which he signed.

Armstrong said it was disheartening to see the tax proposals vetoed, especially because he felt they were exactly what the governor had asked for.

The Rice Lake representative also sought to increase the amount allowed statewide for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit from about $6 million to $100 million. Armstrong said the bill ran out of time getting through the Senate, much to his chagrin.

Another Armstrong measure introduced at the tail end of the session that didn’t get through the process would have given tax credits to cover expenses related to producing films. The representative noted that actor Mark Ruffalo, known for playing the Hulk in Marvel Studio films, backed the proposal.

“It was really fun to have the Hulk back your bill,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong is currently circulating nomination papers to be reelected to the state Assembly, but this time in the 67th District.

The Republican was moved from the 75th Assembly District to the 67th Assembly District because of redistricting. He will no longer represent anyone in Washburn County but his territory shifted south to include parts of Dunn County.

If reelected he plans to reintroduce legislation that didn’t make it into law during the 2023-24 session.