Republicans want super-majority for tax increases

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican state lawmakers are proposing a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds majority vote before taxes can be raised in Wisconsin.

State law already requires the super-majority vote to raise sales and income taxes. But the proposal circulated this week by Republican Rep. Dean Knudson, of Hudson, and Sen. Leah Vukmir, of Brookfield, would make the requirement part of the constitution, where it would be more difficult to change.

Their proposal would have to pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature and be approved in a statewide vote before being added to the constitution.

A super-majority vote requires 66 votes instead of 50 in the Assembly and 22 votes instead of 17 in the Senate.

Republicans changed state law in 2011 to require the higher votes.