Gov. Jim Doyle is making plans to continue make healthcare more affordable for Wisconsin families.
As part of the governor's next budget, Doyle is making plans to allow families who pay for their healthcare insurance after taxes to deduct the cost of their insurance.
With the cost of health care rising about 20 percent a year, Lt. Gov. Barb Lawton, said middle class families are being squeezed by the cost of insurance.
The healthcare tax-deduction already allows people who pay the entire cost of their healthcare premiums to fully deduct the expense from their state income. The benefit is used by about 80,000 families statewide.
The governor's proposal would extend the deduction to about 637,000 families that only pay for a portion of their healthcare premiums.
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A family that pays a $300 monthly healthcare premium would save about $236 per year.
People who pay their premiums before taxes are deducted would not be eligible for the tax credit.
"It's part of the strategy we have to make living in Wisconsin more affordable for middle class and lower income families," Lawton said after addressing the crowd at the Senior Picnic.
