2-19-14 walker tax cuts

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says lawmakers are close on a deal that will lead to passage of Gov. Scott Walker's income and property tax package.  Fitzgerald said Tuesday that lawmakers were committed to the $406 million property tax cuts and $98.6 million income tax reductions. He says talks are now focused on whether to cut $35 million that has been collected across state government in fees but not spent.  He says the Senate also wants to move money around to reduce a projected shortfall in the next budget from $807 million to at least $690 million.  The Legislature's budget-writing Joint Finance Committee plans to vote Wednesday on the plan. Fitzgerald says he expects the final parameters of the deal to be worked out by then.