Press Release: Assembly Bill 157 not the Answer


“We should all protect our natural resources,” said State Rep. Jim Ott. “However, AB 157 will have no impact on reducing global temperatures, but it would have a significant and negative impact on Wisconsin’s economy.”


“As recently as the late 1970s and early 1980s scientists and the media were talking about the possibility of an approaching ice age,” said Ott. “Imagine if lawmakers had rushed in and mandated all sorts of changes based on that assumption?”


This is why we love you Jim!!

Is it any wonder how we became one of the highest taxed states in the Union? When we can’t figure out how to put together a simple Voter Registration System…mind you one that has now cost us over $24 million!!!

Here are the highlights of the Legislative Audit Bureau’s findings…but I would encourage you to read the full report. There is a lot more here than meets the eye!!

The media and some politicians wonder why we don’t trust government…this is one of the reasons!

I have criticized the building of KRM since METRA finished their study and said that the population density was not enough to sustain the line.

I have openly argued that the numbers that are shared by the Transit Now group are “pie in the sky” numbers with no basis in reality.

I have made it crystal clear that the economic development in areas such as Durand and 31, Mayfair, and Bayshore were done with out a single train ever coming into these areas.

But I have never heard the argument against KRM put as elegantly as Mr. Poplawski did in Sunday’s Journal Times Letters to the Editor:

Leave my money alone

The railroad?

Let me see if I understand the KRM proposal correctly.

Some elected officials are in favor of taxing us for a railroad to serve three groups of people:

1. Those who don’t want to live here.
2. Those who don’t want to work here.
3. Those who aren’t here yet.

I do know that I’m already paying a “petax” so millionaires can play baseball in Milwaukee. I know I won’t be voting for anyone in favor of increasing taxes.

It’s time those in office read our lips: “No new taxes.” I pay my own way to and from work.

Jim Poplawski
Racine

6.6% increase to the State Budget is what the State Senate and Assembly agreed to tonight. They agreed to spend $3,560,337,000 more over the next 2 years than they did in the past 2 years.

To Rep. Turner (D), Rep. Mason (D), and Senator Lehman (D) I am simply appalled that you would allow this to go through…not surprised…but definitely appalled.

Thank you to Rep. Vos, Gunderson, Kerkman, and the 36 other Representatives for listening to your constituents and voting against this dreadful budget.

For those of you who are wondering Sen. Kreitlow is a Democrat from the Chippewa Falls area.

Sen. Kreitlow now has the distinction of being yet another Democrat Senator to back away from his own party’s budget by calling Democrats Education and Municipality funding “Empty Promises: the Education and Local Government Deficit Act.”

You see, the Republican Assembly saw that the budget battle was going to be a long fight but instead of making education and municipalities suffer because of the massive tax increase the Democrats want the Republicans did the responsible thing and passed the Democrats version of the Education and Municipalities budget (AB 506 & 507.)

But now, nearly a month after AB 506 & 507 was passed, the Democrats are calling this funding irresponsible.

So what game are they playing? Sen. Kreitlow is accusing Assembly Republicans of trying to “saddle taxpayers with a $1 billion deficit” and “failing Wisconsin taxpayers” when it is just the opposite.

Democrats in the Senate have played games with our State Budget and now they will not even agree to fund Education and Municipalities. They like to say they are the party of the people when in reality they are the party of obstructionism.

Doyle put the out a press release Monday evening stating that the Assembly “failed once again” to do their job.

On the contrary Mr. Governor, the Assembly is doing just what they are there to do, protect the citizens of Wisconsin from dictatorial governors that believe that asinine tax increases are the only way to get the State out from their spending habit.

The Governor accuses “extreme elements of the Republican Assembly” of refusing to deal with “the cost to operate school buses, pay heating bills, and maintain roads” but it was Governor Doyle that threatened the Democrat Senate with a veto (and lord knows what else) if they were to pass the bipartisan Assembly bills 506 & 507.

Doyle has failed the people of Wisconsin and by his own words “created a fiscal nightmare for this state” by not allowing passage of AB 506 and 507 that would have secured funding for schools and the municipalities of Wisconsin at the levels that HE and Senate Democrats wanted.

So the only failure this State has had was in allowing the Senate Democrats and the Governor make a mockery of the budget process by not funding schools and municipalities. If they had we would be well on our way to making head way on the remaining portions of the State budget and perhaps not be looking at the huge tax increase that the governor would like us to swallow.

What is Sen. Robson smoking?

The reason I ask this is because any one that has read the Democrat’s Budget, Doyle’s Budget, or the new “Compromise” Budget (whose compromise…I have no idea and I’m willing to bet the Republicans on the committee are wondering the same thing) would not be able to make the following statement:

Robson noted the budget cuts state government spending by hundreds of millions of dollars.

“These cuts won’t be easy and there will be a noticeable reduction in services. We didn’t get everything we want for the University of Wisconsin System and we weren’t able to increase shared revenues for cities, but its mid-October and time for Wisconsin to have a budget,” Robson said. (link)

You did not misread that it is true today in a Press Release by Senator Robson, Senate Majority Leader, and for those of you who don’t know, a major Democrat, stated the following:

“Local officials who want to make sure they have enough cops and firefighters for their growing communities and schools wanting to maintain a quality education for kids have been left in limbo.”

Whose fault is that Sen. Robson?

The Republican lead Assembly passed, not one but two, bipartisan bills (AB 506 & 507) that would have funded the local governments and schools in Wisconsin at the levels originally requested in the Senate Budget and that you have chosen not to take up.

Sen. Robson also states that passing a budget is important because: “It’s our job.”

Senator Robson you have failed at your job and should be fired. You want to accuse the Republicans of “pointing fingers” and push us to “rise above the fray” when if fact your press release is full of the vitriol that we have come to expect from Democrats who have failed to get their way.

Do you believe that “Days of debate evolved into an embarrassing stalemate that gave our great state a black eye?”

I believe that this is fight defines the difference between Democrats and Republicans (Liberals and Conservatives).

You believe that the only way to run the state is by using oppressive taxes that will hinder the poorest in this state more so than anyone else (tobacco & oil tax). You believe that all taxes are by nature good. You believe that by stating lies over and over and over (such as lack of funding to communities will endanger safety) will win you the debate.

I believe that your reign of terror is coming to an end. People are waking up to the idea that taxes on business only mean that we all pay more in the store. I believe that people understand that taxes do more harm that good. I believe that people who think for 2 seconds will realize that cutting government spending will not endanger safety and if it does they will elect people that know how to properly prioritize our spending.

Sen. Robson and the Democrats have made matters worse by stating falsehoods and have used scare tactics to try to pressure Republicans to cave into HUGE tax increases.

Enough is enough; pass a budget that does not increase taxes and the deal is done. Try to pass a tax increase and consider yourself fired.

Imagine a politician using his political office and influence to obtain confidential financial records (violating the law in the process) and using that information to leverage his political will…its happening right here in Wisconsin!

Charlie Sykes has the details right here.

Republicans have given Democrats exactly what they wanted related to K-12 education and local government funding. (AB 506 & AB507)

Now the Republicans are willing to give the Democrats the cigarette tax increase. Huebsch Press Release

What have the Democrats given in on to get this budget passed?

Anything?

Anyone?

Bueller?

This is the message from Senate Democrats who are unwilling to budge an inch on their huge tax increase.

Today Senate Democrat Breske put out the a press release where he says in part, “It’s time to compromise and work out a budget and stop shortchanging Wisconsin residents.” So does this mean that the Democrats are willing to give up their HUGE tax increases? Are they willing to actually negotiate or are they expecting the Republicans to cave completely?

Assembly Republicans realized that the Democrats were going to play dirty with this budget so they passed AB506 and AB507 to fully fund education and our communities but the Senate has been unwilling to pass these measures and have in stead called for passage of a complete budget…or else.

My answer to the Democrats would be this: Pass AB 506 & 507 so that we can negotiate on the remainder of the budget. If you are unwilling to do so and only want a complete budget passed right now…then you have our budget that was passed by the State Assembly that does not raise taxes…pass that so the State can get on with the business of the people.

I find it interesting that while our schools are approaching a budget deadline that will create chaos for the school systems of Wisconsin as well as huge tax increases to the people of Wisconsin; the Senate Democrats are running around talking about how the State should mandate that businesses in Wisconsin spend billions of dollars to curb greenhouse gases. (Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona))

Maybe if Democrats held their breath this whole global warming thing would go away…

Senator Miller is right though “Global warming is the most significant environmental issue ever faced by mankind.”

Think about it…cold weather accounts for over 80% of weather related deaths in the world…if the planet was warmer then mankind would not have to face such a cruel death. But I guess that would hurt the liberal agenda worldwide since they would not be able to capitalize on the suffering of others!!

As most of you know the State Senate still has not taken up AB506 & AB507. Have you written your State Senator and asked for them to take action?

Here is my contribution…why not write to your Senator today?!?! For your convinence I’ve included all of their e-mails below!

Subject: The State Budget

Senator Lehman,

I would like to urge you to push your colleagues in the Senate to take up AB506 and AB507 and put these items up for a vote.

As you know these items are of the utmost importance in order to continue to fund education and our communities across the State.

The obstructionist tactics of the Senate Democrats to withhold these funds will not come without consequences to the State, your Party, or to you as you seek re-election in 3 years.

Once again, show leadership on this issue and pass Assembly Bills 506 and 507.

Your constituent,

William Folk

I like to give people my opinion all the time but on the following issue (which I have expressed my opinion on once before) I’d like to know what you all think about this…

Many of you may have read the Journal Times article of Friday talking about the GOP Budget Compromise: Local GOP legislators ready to deal on budget

But did you get the chance to read the letter to the editor on Saturday from Rep Vos and Rep Gunderson?

GOP firm on taxes

On Saturday The Journal Times ran a story that indicated Republicans were willing to work together with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to find an answer to the budget stalemate in Madison. While that part of the story is accurate, other aspects didn’t fully reflect our position.

We understand that politics is about give and take. Republicans are willing to sit at the table and negotiate our spending priorities with Democrats as long as it takes. However we will not negotiate on one of our most important principles: our heart-felt belief that tax increases are not the answer to balancing this budget.

Unfortunately some Democrats have already indicated that they will oppose the proposal and insist on their demand for higher taxes.

The proposal that will come before the State Assembly on Tuesday clearly reflects the priorities of our state; strong support for local schools, municipalities and counties while clearly showing our belief that these priorities can be funded without the need for any additional taxes.

While the story also didn’t mention this point, the proposal also sets a maximum property tax increase of 2 percent for 2008 and 2009.

We are committed to finding workable solutions to ensure Wisconsin keeps moving forward and that taxpayers are protected.

State Rep. Robin Vos, R-Caledonia.
State Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford

JT: GOP Assembly budget is disastrous for Racine by State Sen. John Lehman D-Racine

Senator, how would you describe your budget? You know, the one in which you burden the poorest in our state with monstrous taxes including the cigarette and gasoline tax and deny poor children in our community a chance at a better education. You sir, are “heartless.”

You and your Democrat friends worked tirelessly to bring socialized medicine and the enormous cost of the plan to a state that is not in need of it and at the same time exempting your friends at WEAC. That sir is “irresponsible.”

You demonize the Republicans for not supporting KRM, which you claim has broad support, but you do not support a referendum that would determine if such broad support actually exists among the citizens of Racine. That is a “blatant attack” on the taxpayers of Racine.

Senator, I suggest that before you start calling names like a child that you take a look inside and truly decide if this is really the way you wish to legislate. If it is, I suggest you get ready to lose your Senate seat.

… you all feel it right? That looming behemoth of taxes just waiting to be dropped right on out heads is still out there.

I’ve read over the Assembly’s budget and if I knew that the final budget was going to be anywhere close to this I would be happy but the reality is we are in for a HUGE tax increase and unfortunately there is very little the Republicans can do about it.

Republicans are already being painted as though they took a machete to the budget…just look at these headlines:

Racine JT: Bad news for Racine: Local legislator decries GOP Assembly budget proposal

Wisconsin State Journal: Budget would cut from UW System

Or how about these quotes:

Rep. Colon: “Instead they have protected the interests of big oil companies and big tobacco companies.”

Sen. Robson: “Assembly Republicans are on the verge of passing the most fiscally irresponsible, morally reprehensible budget to come out of Madison in some time.”

Rep. Kreuser: “Worst of all, despite deep cuts to nearly every important state priority, the GOP budget fails to offer any meaningful tax relief to middle class families beyond what was proposed by Governor Doyle.”


Here is the best part…the budget proposed by the Republicans is basically a net zero budget. What this means is that while they are adding certain items, such as expanded school choice, they are cutting in other areas to compensate for it. This is how people handle their own budgets at home why should our legislators be any different? The Democrats are screaming now but in the end (once the compromise committee meets) they will get a portion of their tax increase that they are looking for.

I hope that the Republicans stick to their guns and hold to this budget…not only today but through the committee review that is still to come.

Good luck guys and gals!

I’ve been haunted by what an elected State Republican told me and others months ago regarding the State Budget bill. We were told that we have to “be ready to negotiate a tax increase” and that the State Republicans will try to get it to zero but that with such a large gap between what the Democrats are proposing and what the Republicans are hoping for there was not much hope.

So here is the dilemma; many of us have been calling our legislators and asking them to sign the “zero tax increase” pledge but to what end? We want 0% increase and the other side wants a 15% increase…where is the middle ground? 5-10% increase!?!?

Think about this another way, you are find a person selling something you want and they are asking $125 for it but you do not can’t to spend any more than $100 for it, what do you offer the guy? If you offer $100 and the guy says $110…the show is over. But if you offer $75 or $80 you might be able to talk him down to $100. That is how you negotiate effectively.

The Republicans in the State Legislature are in a similar predicament. In order for them to get us the 0% tax increase they need to start with a tax and spending cut equal to the tax and spending increase the Democrats are proposing. Maybe then we will see a true tax freeze that this state desperately needs.

Statement by Doyle

“I look forward to signing a budget that reflects Wisconsin’s values, protects Wisconsin’s priorities, and invests in Wisconsin’s people.”