ABC disappointed that Gov. Evers denied apprentices same tuition tax benefit provided to college students

MADISON, Dec. 3, 2021 — John Mielke, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin, issued the following statement regarding Gov. Evers’ veto of SB 125, which would have provided a tuition tax break for apprenticeship similar to tuition tax breaks for bachelor’s and associate degree students in Wisconsin:

“Wisconsin is suffering from a significant shortage of skilled construction workers that can only be addressed by using an “all of the above” approach to get more folks into the state’s world class apprenticeship programs.  According to Governor Evers’ own Department of Revenue, as many as 14,000 Wisconsin apprentices would have been able to take advantage of this bipartisan tax deduction.  By vetoing SB 125, Governor Evers refused to treat apprentices the same as students pursuing bachelor’s and associate degrees for income tax deduction purposes.  While we are disappointed, ABC looks forward to continuing to work with elected officials regardless of party to get more people into the skilled construction trades.”

SB 125, also known as the Workforce and Education Fairness Act, would have provided an individual tax deduction for tuition expenses paid by individuals enrolled in state-approved apprenticeship programs, similar to all school programs that are approved by DWD.