Publication:Waukesha Freeman (Conley); Date:Aug 20, 2009; Section:Opinion; Page Number:10A
Doyle seemed to be gearing up for re-election bid
(James Wigderson is a blogger publishing at http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com and a Waukesha resident. His column runs Thursdays in The Freeman.)
I am surrounded by people who tell me, “Of course. I knew Gov. Doyle would never run for reelection.” They reasoned (or so they claim) that by proposing the most radical state budget of his tenure, Doyle must have known he could never seek re-election.
By that logic, every Democratic state senator on the ballot last November would not have sought re-election after their even more radical “Healthy Wisconsin” proposal. And we can all look forward to President Obama only seeking one term.
Until recently, there was every indication that Doyle was intent on seeking re-election, despite his “two terms” claim in Monday’s address. (Someone should have asked him: If two terms is such a reasonable limit, why did you serve three terms as the state’s attorney general?)
Doyle has spent the last couple of years raising campaign money – campaign money that could have gone to Democratic candidates. His current war chest is approximately $2 million.
Meanwhile, the Greater Wisconsin Committee, a Democratic special interest group often supportive of the governor, ran television advertising in July in an attempt to boost the governor’s poll numbers after the state budget was passed. These things don’t happen unless the governor was planning on running for re-election.
Unfortunately for Doyle, his numbers never improved; he was out-fundraised by one of the Republican candidates and his consecutive election winning streak was in serious danger.
Democratic candidates are already lining up.
Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton is already in the race. As a member of the Democratic Party’s “progressive” wing, if Lawton gets the nomination, the Republican candidate can coast to victory. There will be some weak attempts to portray her as a formidable candidate, but even if she is not a lightweight, as is generally believed, she will still have the problem of being blamed for everything that went wrong during Doyle’s tenure without receiving any of the credit.
The same holds true for State Sen. Jon Erpenback who will be stuck with the state budget as his albatross. The only one who really thinks Erpenbach has a chance is Erpenbach.
Congressman Ron Kind is likely to take a run and would be the front-runner in fundraising, except that the Democrats were successful in 2006 in stopping Congressman Mark Green from using his federal campaign funds for his race for governor. However, Kind will have plenty of time to fundraise. What will hurt Kind is the unpopularity of Congress. Kind will be forced to explain his support for cap and trade legislation, the stimulus bill and whatever health care reform comes out. He will have to shore up his relations with the party’s liberal wing during the primaries, but that will hurt him in the general election.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is also talked about as a candidate. However, his recent injuries may make him reluctant to take on a state campaign. Besides, as the mayor of Milwaukee, Barrett would have a hard time appealing to out-state voters. Barrett may have a problem, too, with African-Americans in his own city unhappy with the amount of development in their community and Barrett’s meddling with the local school district. The latter also hurts him with the teachers unions, the strongest voice in the Democratic Party.
There is a misperception that not having Doyle as an opponent will hurt the eventual Republican candidate, whether it is former Congressman Mark Neumann or Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. Nonsense.
Democrats are still complaining about President Bush. They ran against him last year even though he was not on the ballot and his intraparty rival was. They are going to try to run against Bush again next year.
Does anyone seriously think not having Doyle to kick around anymore will prevent the Republicans from tying the Democratic nominee to Doyle’s record?
Besides, it’s almost always easier to win an open seat than to defeat an incumbent. This time the open seat means easier fundraising for the Republican challengers and the same amount of organizational time after next year’s primary election as the Democrats.
Doyle’s departure creates a huge opportunity for the state Republican party to turn around its fortunes. Now if the Republicans could only find a candidate to take on Sen. Feingold.
JAMES WIGDERSON
Showing posts with label state budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label state budget. Show all posts
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Is that smell of garbage or hypocrisy?
D'oh! To quote the philosopher Colonel Potter, "Some men are born to garbage, some men have it thrust upon them." Here's a case where one state representative voted for the new garbage tipping fee increase (255%) forgetting he was opposed to it.
Always rough when your next opponent can just run your commercials against you.
Update! It looks like Hintz removed the video. Coward.
Always rough when your next opponent can just run your commercials against you.
Update! It looks like Hintz removed the video. Coward.
State budget won't be good for Democrats regardless if Doyle is running
Is the state budget a suicide pact between the governor and the legislature? That's the question I asked in this week's column for the Waukesha Freeman.
Despite claims, state budget hurts middle class, increases spending
(James Wigderson is a blogger publishing at http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com and a Waukesha resident. His column runs Thursdays in The Freeman.)
Is the state budget a suicide pact? This last weekend found Democrats in the Green Bay area holding their state convention and defending their state budget from Republican criticism. The Democrats are telling two lies about the budget. They claim it will not affect the middle class. The MacIver Institute and blogger Steve Eggleston concede that’s true if:
None of your earnings will be from capital gains. You will not drive. You will not smoke (unless you shop at an Indian reservation tobacco store). You will not drink. You will not get sick enough to enter a hospital or urgent care center. You will not purchase over-the-counter drugs. You will not buy downloaded software, songs or videos. You will not shop in Milwaukee County, Calumet County, Winnebago County, Outagamie County, Eau Claire County, Chippewa County or the urbanized portion of Dane County. You will not shop at a business or buy from a business that has operations both within and outside of Wisconsin. You will not own a business. You will not rent a vehicle in Milwaukee County, Racine County or Kenosha County. You will not own any real estate. You will not own a phone. You will not rent any real estate. You will not operate a power boat. You will not operate any small engines requiring gas for operation.
The second lie is that the budget spends less money. It does not. It only spends less in general purpose revenue but actually spends more total money thanks to misspending the stimulus funds and raiding segregated fees. When that money is gone, Democrats will be forced again to either raise taxes or make spending cuts.
Since they had no problem with raising taxes during a recession, what do you think the likely outcome will be in the next budget cycle? The Democrats control the budget process, and the Republicans will bear zero responsibility for the final product.
Not by choice, of course. The Republicans in the state Assembly offered over 100 amendments to the budget only to see them rejected. Democrats, on the other hand, wrote changes into the budget in their caucus sessions and then presented them to the legislative chambers fait accompli.
We might forgive Republicans then for washing their hands of the most radical budget in state history, as it was certainly not of their making.
No, the fault lies with the Democrats, and the burden is heavy upon them. Most heavily does the burden fall upon Governor Doyle, who proposed most of what remains in the state budget and who will shape the final version with his veto power.
A new poll by a Democratic pollster, Public Policy Polling, shows the governor now trailing his two possible Republican rivals in popularity. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker now leads Governor Doyle 48 percent to 40 percent, and former Congressman Mark Neumann leads Doyle 42 percent to 41 percent.
The pollster is careful to point out that it’s not Walker’s or Neumann’s popularity driving the poll numbers, but rather the governor’s unpopularity. Governor Doyle has an unfavorable rating of 60 percent. Among independents the number is 69 percent.
There is speculation that the governor will not seek another term next year. This budget is too radical and the governor will be too unpopular to stand for re-election.
However, the governor was thought to be vulnerable in the last election cycle. That is when Doyle’s supporters muddied then-Congressman Mark Green’s reputation so badly Doyle coasted to an easy victory.
The other problem with believing the governor will not seek re-election is that it does not explain why so many of his fellow Democrats are willing to go along with this budget. They, too, will have to stand for election after this debacle.
Sometimes Democrats just have to be Democrats. When the opportunity came to write the budget without any Republican interference, the Democrats took full advantage. Now it’s just a matter of whether their political fortunes will survive the coming fallout.
JAMES WIGDERSON
Despite claims, state budget hurts middle class, increases spending
(James Wigderson is a blogger publishing at http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com and a Waukesha resident. His column runs Thursdays in The Freeman.)
Is the state budget a suicide pact? This last weekend found Democrats in the Green Bay area holding their state convention and defending their state budget from Republican criticism. The Democrats are telling two lies about the budget. They claim it will not affect the middle class. The MacIver Institute and blogger Steve Eggleston concede that’s true if:
None of your earnings will be from capital gains. You will not drive. You will not smoke (unless you shop at an Indian reservation tobacco store). You will not drink. You will not get sick enough to enter a hospital or urgent care center. You will not purchase over-the-counter drugs. You will not buy downloaded software, songs or videos. You will not shop in Milwaukee County, Calumet County, Winnebago County, Outagamie County, Eau Claire County, Chippewa County or the urbanized portion of Dane County. You will not shop at a business or buy from a business that has operations both within and outside of Wisconsin. You will not own a business. You will not rent a vehicle in Milwaukee County, Racine County or Kenosha County. You will not own any real estate. You will not own a phone. You will not rent any real estate. You will not operate a power boat. You will not operate any small engines requiring gas for operation.
The second lie is that the budget spends less money. It does not. It only spends less in general purpose revenue but actually spends more total money thanks to misspending the stimulus funds and raiding segregated fees. When that money is gone, Democrats will be forced again to either raise taxes or make spending cuts.
Since they had no problem with raising taxes during a recession, what do you think the likely outcome will be in the next budget cycle? The Democrats control the budget process, and the Republicans will bear zero responsibility for the final product.
Not by choice, of course. The Republicans in the state Assembly offered over 100 amendments to the budget only to see them rejected. Democrats, on the other hand, wrote changes into the budget in their caucus sessions and then presented them to the legislative chambers fait accompli.
We might forgive Republicans then for washing their hands of the most radical budget in state history, as it was certainly not of their making.
No, the fault lies with the Democrats, and the burden is heavy upon them. Most heavily does the burden fall upon Governor Doyle, who proposed most of what remains in the state budget and who will shape the final version with his veto power.
A new poll by a Democratic pollster, Public Policy Polling, shows the governor now trailing his two possible Republican rivals in popularity. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker now leads Governor Doyle 48 percent to 40 percent, and former Congressman Mark Neumann leads Doyle 42 percent to 41 percent.
The pollster is careful to point out that it’s not Walker’s or Neumann’s popularity driving the poll numbers, but rather the governor’s unpopularity. Governor Doyle has an unfavorable rating of 60 percent. Among independents the number is 69 percent.
There is speculation that the governor will not seek another term next year. This budget is too radical and the governor will be too unpopular to stand for re-election.
However, the governor was thought to be vulnerable in the last election cycle. That is when Doyle’s supporters muddied then-Congressman Mark Green’s reputation so badly Doyle coasted to an easy victory.
The other problem with believing the governor will not seek re-election is that it does not explain why so many of his fellow Democrats are willing to go along with this budget. They, too, will have to stand for election after this debacle.
Sometimes Democrats just have to be Democrats. When the opportunity came to write the budget without any Republican interference, the Democrats took full advantage. Now it’s just a matter of whether their political fortunes will survive the coming fallout.
JAMES WIGDERSON
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Bill Kramer claims Democrats are hostile to taxpayers
This is an excerpt from the latest e-newsletter from State Representative Bill Kramer. I'm reprinting it here because I think it of interest to my readers, especially those from Waukesha.
Biennial State Budget Update
During the early morning hours on Saturday (just as most people had begun brewing their coffee), the Wisconsin State Assembly had just finished a long night of debate and passed its version of the 2009-2011 biennial budget.
This budget, that was crafted beyond the prying eyes of the press and public by just a handful of key, Madison-area legislators, was simply an irresponsible document that pitted taxpayers against state government. You lost.
Despite the rhetoric of shared sacrifice coming from the budget's authors, the fact is that this budget -- despite the current recession -- will increase state government spending by 6.3% and increase taxes by $2.25 billion. In just five short months, the liberal majority in the State Assembly has proposed raising taxes by nearly $5 billion. Sacrifice is voluntary -- this budget was downright extortion.
The budget that passed the Assembly will increase property taxes on average by over $300 and still cuts aid to our local schools and repeals a key mechanism for controlling local school costs, the Qualified Economic Offer, or QEO.
Moreover, despite claims from supporters of this budget, the state is still left with a $2.3 billion structural deficit because of accounting gimmicks and the irresponsible use of one-time money.
Dick Butkus, the famed Chicago Bear, once said, "If I was smart enough to be a doctor, I'd be a doctor. I ain't, so I'm a football player."
Similarly situated, that seems to explain the downright hostility the Democrat majority has exhibited towards Wisconsin taxpayers and job creators. Their intellectual vacuity and failure to understand economic relationships has undermined job creators, working families, budget stability and the overall competitiveness of the state.
If you own a home, use a phone, buy gas, have a child at the UW, download music, have car insurance, or even take your garbage to the curb, you will end up paying more in taxes and fees and just the cost of eveyday living for your family will increase. And this certainly says nothing of the increase in taxes on job creators which will reduce Wisconsin's global competitiveness and hurt our working families with the prospect of yet even more job losses.
The process now moves to the State Senate where they are expected to act as soon as today, more likely tomorrow, on their version of the biennial budget.
During the early morning hours on Saturday (just as most people had begun brewing their coffee), the Wisconsin State Assembly had just finished a long night of debate and passed its version of the 2009-2011 biennial budget.
This budget, that was crafted beyond the prying eyes of the press and public by just a handful of key, Madison-area legislators, was simply an irresponsible document that pitted taxpayers against state government. You lost.
Despite the rhetoric of shared sacrifice coming from the budget's authors, the fact is that this budget -- despite the current recession -- will increase state government spending by 6.3% and increase taxes by $2.25 billion. In just five short months, the liberal majority in the State Assembly has proposed raising taxes by nearly $5 billion. Sacrifice is voluntary -- this budget was downright extortion.
The budget that passed the Assembly will increase property taxes on average by over $300 and still cuts aid to our local schools and repeals a key mechanism for controlling local school costs, the Qualified Economic Offer, or QEO.
Moreover, despite claims from supporters of this budget, the state is still left with a $2.3 billion structural deficit because of accounting gimmicks and the irresponsible use of one-time money.
Dick Butkus, the famed Chicago Bear, once said, "If I was smart enough to be a doctor, I'd be a doctor. I ain't, so I'm a football player."
Similarly situated, that seems to explain the downright hostility the Democrat majority has exhibited towards Wisconsin taxpayers and job creators. Their intellectual vacuity and failure to understand economic relationships has undermined job creators, working families, budget stability and the overall competitiveness of the state.
If you own a home, use a phone, buy gas, have a child at the UW, download music, have car insurance, or even take your garbage to the curb, you will end up paying more in taxes and fees and just the cost of eveyday living for your family will increase. And this certainly says nothing of the increase in taxes on job creators which will reduce Wisconsin's global competitiveness and hurt our working families with the prospect of yet even more job losses.
The process now moves to the State Senate where they are expected to act as soon as today, more likely tomorrow, on their version of the biennial budget.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Vukmir statement on the state budget
State Representative Leah Vukmir reacted to the Assembly's passage of the state budget in her e-mail newsletter. Here is an excerpt:
The Spin vs. Reality
Some of the early budget spin coming out of the capitol in defense of the budget includes claims that this budget has real spending cuts. That's simply not true. The budget increases overall spending by 6.3%, which is $3.7 billion more than the previous budget. Reducing the amount of a spending increase is not the same as a spending cut!
They are also claiming they are cutting the state payroll by over 1,300 government positions. The fact is that these are vacant positions and they have agreed to leave them unfilled during the two-year budget cycle.
The Democrats are also critical of Republicans for not offering an alternative. We did offer suggestions and our members on the Joint Finance Committee were outspoken in their criticism of a budget they knew would take our state in the wrong direction.
Further, we pushed for building our state budget on a process called "zero-based budgeting." The process requires every agency to justify each expense, including employees, and how it relates to their statutory mission or to the effective delivery of a particular service. Instead, they chose to go with the existing "cost-to-continue" budgeting, which simply builds the new budget from the existing base.
In addition to all of the new taxes and fees, this budget also backfills spending for ongoing programs like education and Medicaid with one-time federal stimulus money. This decision will create an even bigger shortfall in the next budget.
In the end, this budget is well beyond repair. The State Senate should go back to the drawing board and start from scratch! That is the only responsible thing to do.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Open the school house doors
Milwaukee State Representative Fred Kessler's attack on school choice has not gone unnoticed. Ricky on State of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel opines:
Milwaukee State Representative Fred Kessler's Kessler would take it back to 19,500, down from the 22,500 negotiated three years ago by choice advocates and the governor. The problem: Choice schools have acted as if the governor's commitment meant something. As of November 2008, choice students numbered 20,244. And a couple of schools, again counting on that raised cap, have expansion plans that have already involved enrolling students. So, it's plain, that some students will have to be kicked out and others denied their choices. This is simply unfair.
To be fair, this is a matter of Assembly Democrats messing with the governor's commitment. But, if this amendment survives floor debate today or if the state Senate doesn't excise it in deliberations next week, the governor should stand by his commitment and veto the measure.
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker isn't happy either:
Fred Kessler and anyone in the State Assembly who votes for his motion to cut 3,000 students out of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program should be ashamed of themselves. This is an all out assault on kids and their families. It is pathetic when someone uses these young people purely as political pawns.
Maybe now people will see that white liberals like Rep. Kessler care more about flexing their political power than about the kids in these schools.
Will the legislature and the governor live up to the commitment made to school choice parents in 2006? Or will they tell (mostly minority) families that the path to a quality education is barred to them?
Will Democrats, once again, stand in the school house doors?
Jeff Wood, man of principle
The Democrats managed to find 50 votes in the Assembly to pass their budget at 5:20 AM yesterday morning. Among the 50, State Representative Jeff Wood (I-Bloomer).
Wood is a former libertarian. Later, as a Republican member of the legislature, Wood was co-author of TABOR, the proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights. He quit the Republican Party after a clash with party leadership and became an independent.
He also became a three-time drunk driver caught with marijuana in his car and has lied to his constituents ever since.
His constituents might want to ask the former libertarian how he could vote for the most radical, anti-business, tax-raising budget in state history. They might want to ask what deal was cut in the dark night behind closed doors.
Then they might remember Wood's statement that he culd not resign from the Assembly because he needed to represent them during the budget process. Some representation they received.
Wood, of course, could prove to his constituents he did not cut a deal with the Democrats just to protect his own seat. He could promise to resign after the budget passes.
It's not going to happen.
Update! Just reading through the Budget Blog by Greg Bump at WisPolitics. If you want a measure of Jeff Wood's quality representation, his changed votes are a good start. How convenient to change his vote on Amendment 4 after the roll call so it would not be decisive, but if he had voted correctly at the time of the roll call it would have made the difference.
Wood is a former libertarian. Later, as a Republican member of the legislature, Wood was co-author of TABOR, the proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights. He quit the Republican Party after a clash with party leadership and became an independent.
He also became a three-time drunk driver caught with marijuana in his car and has lied to his constituents ever since.
His constituents might want to ask the former libertarian how he could vote for the most radical, anti-business, tax-raising budget in state history. They might want to ask what deal was cut in the dark night behind closed doors.
Then they might remember Wood's statement that he culd not resign from the Assembly because he needed to represent them during the budget process. Some representation they received.
Wood, of course, could prove to his constituents he did not cut a deal with the Democrats just to protect his own seat. He could promise to resign after the budget passes.
It's not going to happen.
Update! Just reading through the Budget Blog by Greg Bump at WisPolitics. If you want a measure of Jeff Wood's quality representation, his changed votes are a good start. How convenient to change his vote on Amendment 4 after the roll call so it would not be decisive, but if he had voted correctly at the time of the roll call it would have made the difference.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Kessler leads his governor back into school choice fight
State Representative Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee) is no friend of the Milwaukee school choice program and proved it again with a purely gratuitous move to reduce the enrollment cap for school choice students from 22,500 to 19,500. Readers will remember the fight to set the cap at 22,500, and how much heat Governor Doyle took. Now the question is, will Doyle be willing to take the heat again to throw 3,000 students out of the choice program?
Besides putting Doyle on the spot, if the provision passes the Assembly it will put State Senator Jeff Plale and State Senator Jim Sullivan on record, too. Especially with Sullivan, this is not the fight the Democrats want.
Even liberal blogger and MPS teacher Jay Bullock recognizes this was a bad political move by Kessler. I suspect that if it makes to Governor Doyle's desk, he'll veto the cap reduction.
Republicans can win on education issues, and moves like Kessler's are just more ammunition for an education reform agenda.
Besides putting Doyle on the spot, if the provision passes the Assembly it will put State Senator Jeff Plale and State Senator Jim Sullivan on record, too. Especially with Sullivan, this is not the fight the Democrats want.
Even liberal blogger and MPS teacher Jay Bullock recognizes this was a bad political move by Kessler. I suspect that if it makes to Governor Doyle's desk, he'll veto the cap reduction.
Republicans can win on education issues, and moves like Kessler's are just more ammunition for an education reform agenda.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Vinehout praised for candor in Leader-Telegram editorial
State Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) gets praise from her hometown newspaper for speaking out against the Democratic Party's leadership attempting to force her to accept a bad budget:
Most news releases and columns from state lawmakers repeat the party line so carefully that you know what they say before you even read them ... if you read them at all.
But along came state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, this week with a column, "Change the Culture in the Capitol," that is jaw-dropping in its candor and criticism of the way things work in Madison.
"This week members of the Assembly are scheduled to vote on the budget," Vinehout wrote. "Behind the scenes members are told, 'This budget is bad. We need to pass it as quick as possible and get out of town.'
"In the Capitol, the culture is one of a few making the decisions and the many having their arms twisted to go along with the deal," she added.
Anyone paying attention knows Vinehout's analysis is pretty much right on. What's highly unusual is for someone on the inside to admit the hypocrisy her colleagues try so hard to gloss over. It's doubly refreshing coming from someone in the majority party.
We discussed the Vinehout statement against her party's leadership as well as the unusually strong statement to the contrary from Majority Leader Russ Decker's legislative aide Carrie Lynch.
We'll see if the independence of mind for which she is being praised translates into a rejection of the proposed state budget.
Tax on "big oil" is just passing gas
The following is from the Wisconsin Club for Growth Wednesday newsletter. I thought it a timely reminder of the stakes regarding the proposed tax on "big oil", a tax even Democrats now concede will be passed along to the consumer.
Passing Gas
For the second straight budget, Governor Jim Doyle included a 2.5% tax on oil companies which he claims won't be passed on to drivers at the pump. But studies have shown that one way or another, the increased cost to oil companies will be paid by consumers.
Of course, every company passes along tax increases to consumers, making their goods more expensive. Doyle's proposal would add between five and eight cents to a gallon of gas at the same time prices are nearing $3.00 per gallon.
Representative Robin Vos, a member of the Legislative Joint Finance Committee, pointed out that if the new tax is applied on a percentage basis, the tax will increase as the price of gas goes up. The current gas tax is a flat per gallon fee. In this regard, the oil franchise fee approximates the old gas tax indexing system, where gas taxes increased automatically every year without legislative action. The legislature repealed the indexing system in 2005 after Governor Doyle repeatedly raided the transportation fund to pay for other programs, at the same time he increased debt to pay for transportation projects.
At Vos’ request the Legislative Fiscal Bureau prepared a memo detailing the cost of the new tax to consumers. At $2.50 per gallon, the gas tax is expected to increase the per gallon cost by 4.9 cents. But if gas prices reach their 2008 summer levels of $4.00 per gallon, the state will tack on 8.7 cents to every gallon of gas.
Of course, legislative liberals still claim that their budget doesn't raise taxes on people in the middle class, like those wealthy people who fill up their cars to drive their kids to school and swimming lessons.
The Assembly will have an opportunity to remove the new tax when they vote on the budget Thursday, so be sure to contact your legislators today.
For the second straight budget, Governor Jim Doyle included a 2.5% tax on oil companies which he claims won't be passed on to drivers at the pump. But studies have shown that one way or another, the increased cost to oil companies will be paid by consumers.
Of course, every company passes along tax increases to consumers, making their goods more expensive. Doyle's proposal would add between five and eight cents to a gallon of gas at the same time prices are nearing $3.00 per gallon.
Representative Robin Vos, a member of the Legislative Joint Finance Committee, pointed out that if the new tax is applied on a percentage basis, the tax will increase as the price of gas goes up. The current gas tax is a flat per gallon fee. In this regard, the oil franchise fee approximates the old gas tax indexing system, where gas taxes increased automatically every year without legislative action. The legislature repealed the indexing system in 2005 after Governor Doyle repeatedly raided the transportation fund to pay for other programs, at the same time he increased debt to pay for transportation projects.
At Vos’ request the Legislative Fiscal Bureau prepared a memo detailing the cost of the new tax to consumers. At $2.50 per gallon, the gas tax is expected to increase the per gallon cost by 4.9 cents. But if gas prices reach their 2008 summer levels of $4.00 per gallon, the state will tack on 8.7 cents to every gallon of gas.
Of course, legislative liberals still claim that their budget doesn't raise taxes on people in the middle class, like those wealthy people who fill up their cars to drive their kids to school and swimming lessons.
The Assembly will have an opportunity to remove the new tax when they vote on the budget Thursday, so be sure to contact your legislators today.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Budgeting on the Dark Side
So much of the state budget process is being conducted by the Democrats behind closed doors, it's a wonder some of the members haven't revolted just to gasp for fresh air. The Democrats have moved the process from a smoke-filled room to a smoke-free room, so I guess that's some progress.
Will they send up puffs of white smoke when they have a budget that can get fifty votes?
Over at the MacIver Institute, they've discovered two Democrats who have an expressed preference for legislating in the light:
Will they send up puffs of white smoke when they have a budget that can get fifty votes?
Over at the MacIver Institute, they've discovered two Democrats who have an expressed preference for legislating in the light:
"Now that Democrats are in the majority we have the opportunity to lead in a different and better way--I hope we rise to the challenge. We face the toughest economic climate since the Great Depression, the largest deficit in state history, and the task of sorting out billions of dollars in federal stimulus support. The very least we can do is open all of our debate to public view."
-State Representative Cory Mason.
and
[Rep. Louis] Molepske explained that granting selective access to bill drafts not only denies the public its right to open government, but gives special interests a distinct advantage in passing their legislative proposals, as committee hearings can be held within 24 hours of a bill's introduction, well before the public even has the opportunity to read, understand and submit testimony on the effects of a bill.
If Molepske and Mason won't force open the doors so the public can watch the budget deliberations, could they at least promise not vote for any budget that passes in the dark?
Van Hollen gets some budget money back
State Attorney General JB Van Hollen got his wish today when Assembly Democrats gave his office $5.4 million. From the state GOP blog:
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will get $5.4 million back for public safety funding after Democrats tried cutting his budget for partisan reasons. The Assembly reinstated the funds after the AG launched a campaign to get the much-needed funds. The Senate and Governor Doyle still have a go at the budget however so stay tuned to WISGOP.org throughout the budget process.
I think I'll be out of the room looking for a Snickers bar next year when Van Hollen brags about how much of this money he's giving back to the state.
Is Kathleen Vinehout lying?
State Senator Kathleen Vinehout blogged at Uppity Wisconsin that she was told she could, "ask for only one change to the budget deal." This made her unhappy enough to complain publicly,
In the Capitol, the culture is one of a few making the decisions and the many having their arms twisted to go along with the deal.
The culture of the Capitol has to change. Our job as elected officials is to take what’s happening in our districts to Madison. Once in Madison, we all have to be involved in making decisions. If we agree to deals we are not party to making, we not only give up our own power, we give up the power of the voters in our district.
In response to a blog post by me referencing Vinehout's complaint, State Senator Russ Decker's aide Carrie Lynch denied Vinehout was told she could only make one change to the budget. Under further questioning, Decker's aide clarified to say neither Decker nor (Joint Finance co-chair) Senator Mark Miller told Vinehout that she could only make one change to the budget.
Wanting official confirmation that this is Senator Decker's position, I contacted his office directly and received the following response from Carrie Lynch on behalf of Senator Decker:
Hello. Senator Decker did not tell Senator Vinehout, nor any other senator, that they may submit only one change to the budget. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks.
Carrie
Carrie Lynch
Office of Senator Russ Decker
I have sent an inquiry to Senator Vinehout but have not yet received a reply. However, Vinehout has repeated her assertion in an interview with the Leader-Telegram.
Vinehout said not only can't she get everything she wants, but she was told last week she could ask for only one change to the budget proposal.
"There's a lot more than one thing that needs to be changed before I can vote yes," she said. "I need to be able to honestly go back to my people and say, given that we have very difficult times, this is the best we can do. I'm not there now. Absolutely not."
Democrats only hold a two-seat majority in the state senate. Two defections on the budget vote will require Democrats to go searching for Republican votes. One has to question the wisdom of the Democratic leadership in so publicly challenging a key vote's honesty.
Update! Apparently I missed State Senator Vinehout's phone call. My apology to the senator and I'll attempt to get an update for my readers on Thursday.
Update 2! 6/11 Correction: the call was from Carrie Lynch of Senator Decker's office. Still no contact from Senator Vinehout in response to my inquiry.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
What Democrats are being told behind the scenes about the state budget
State Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) is not happy being told she can only suggest one change to the budget:
Putting together the state budget is always a difficult process. But it is made more so by the deep budget deficit. A few weeks ago, legislative leaders and the Governor hammered out a deal. Later the deal was pushed through the legislature’s budget committee.
This week members of the Assembly are scheduled to vote on the budget. Behind the scenes members are told, “This budget is bad. We need to pass it as quick as possible and get out of town.”
In the Capitol, the culture is one of a few making the decisions and the many having their arms twisted to go along with the deal.
Perhaps everyone would be better off if the legislature took it's time instead and passed a good budget.
Kramer calls it the "Worst. Budget. Ever."
State Representative Bill Kramer summed up his feelings on the state budget in a statement released Monday night:
Worst. Budget. Ever.
The biennial state budget that the State Assembly is going to begin debating - and likely pass - this week is a clear example that elections have consequences.
Whether it was the manner in which it was created (in private, away from prying eyes, and with the special interests hovering) or the policy that it creates, the state budget is an orgy of excess.
The foxes appear to be running the hen house.
Crafted by some of the state's most liberal and extreme politicians (State Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and State Sen. Mark Miller (D-Madison)), the budget increases state spending by almost 7 percent and increases taxes by NO LESS than $2.9 billion (which includes the $1.2 billion already tacked on earlier this spring).
This budget declares war on job creators, investors, and our working families. If you buy gas, have health insurance, have car insurance, download music, have investments, have a cell phone, produce garbage, have a child at the UW, or have a teenager who works, you will pay more tribute to your benevolent state government.
I cannot believe that when the voters gave Democrats full control of state government that they anticipated the special interest-driven agenda that is about to become law.
The Democrats have abused the authority given to them, have shunned scrutiny, and even broken their own rules and promises in their zealous drive to rewrite our social contract.
The biennial state budget that the State Assembly is going to begin debating - and likely pass - this week is a clear example that elections have consequences.
Whether it was the manner in which it was created (in private, away from prying eyes, and with the special interests hovering) or the policy that it creates, the state budget is an orgy of excess.
The foxes appear to be running the hen house.
Crafted by some of the state's most liberal and extreme politicians (State Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and State Sen. Mark Miller (D-Madison)), the budget increases state spending by almost 7 percent and increases taxes by NO LESS than $2.9 billion (which includes the $1.2 billion already tacked on earlier this spring).
This budget declares war on job creators, investors, and our working families. If you buy gas, have health insurance, have car insurance, download music, have investments, have a cell phone, produce garbage, have a child at the UW, or have a teenager who works, you will pay more tribute to your benevolent state government.
I cannot believe that when the voters gave Democrats full control of state government that they anticipated the special interest-driven agenda that is about to become law.
The Democrats have abused the authority given to them, have shunned scrutiny, and even broken their own rules and promises in their zealous drive to rewrite our social contract.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Unleash the talking points!
Wisconsin democrats are desperate to take back the debate on their budget that raises taxes on nearly everyone, diminishes public safety, increases spending, and does nothing to alter the state's long-term budget problems. They've distributed 3 1/2 pages of talking points. Unfortunately for them, the MacIver Institute managed to get a copy and has answered many of them.
The first thing that strikes us is the defensive nature of the document. It begins by pointing out that some other states are raising more taxes and cutting spending. Then it concludes by attempting to refute what they call GOP Myths about the secret deal.
So, 1) It's not as bad as it could have been and 2) It's not as bad as the opposition party says it is. One would think it would be rather hard to get 50 votes on Wednesday if those are your top two themes.
It is clear the Assembly Democrats had no idea their late night hijinks would be so thoroughly disdained by the public and the press, thus making caucus unity more elusive. Perhaps it is because they never thought the public would get an advance look at their proposal???
Whatever the case, these talking points are worth a read.
We did. Here are some of our thoughts.
"From the beginning of the budget process, state legislative leaders pledged to craft a budget that makes necessary cuts while minimizing negative impacts on working families and protecting key priorities in health care, education and public safety."
Will the new gas tax negatively impact working families? Even the JFC co-Chair thinks it might...
Will the Rube Goldberg RTA compromise that will cost Milwaukee families $228 a year negatively impact working families? One would think so...
Whether they admit it or not, there is a lot in here that negatively impacts working families.
Protecting education? Tell that to the more than 20,000 students in the School Choice program in Milwaukee. Clearly the secret budget deal will hurt that program and those families.
And...public safety? Are they serious? A cut of more than $17 million from the Department of Justice that jeopardizes the recent successful reduction in the crime lab backlog and will limit the Department of Criminal Investigation's ability to partner with resource-scrapped local law enforcement...
Funny the whole "Let's no longer monitor all these sexual predators with GPS devices" item didn't make their talking points...
Oh, and then there is that whole opening the prisons to let felons out early thing...
You should examine these talking points for yourself, but be forewarned, you may simultaneously be outraged, baffled and laugh hysterically.
Did we mention the Democrats are still looking for fifty votes? Oh yes, we did.
Van Hollen's inconstant budget mood
I understand that Republicans have an issue they can use when it comes to the Democrats' willingness to sacrifice public safety. From reducing the number of sex offenders monitored with GPS to scrapping the state's truth in sentencing laws which will let drunk drivers and arsonists out of jail early, the Republicans have a winning issue.
However, putting Attorney General JB Van Hollen out there to complain about cuts to his department will only invite muddying of the issue. Van Hollen is complaining that cuts to his budget are politically motivated. He may have a case.
But Democrats are right to complain that Van Hollen has tried to have it both ways with the state Department of Justice's budget. When Van Hollen ran for election, he said asking for more money would not be the "conservative thing to do." Shortly after taking office Van Hollen asked for - and received - an immediate $7.7 million boost to his budget to tackle the backlog at the state crime lab. At the recent Defending the American Dream meeting of conservatives, Van Hollen bragged about giving back $1.2 million to the state.
Now the Democrats are cutting his budget again and Van Hollen is accused of making his staff lobby the legislature against the cuts. When the wind blows again, will Van Hollen suddenly find more money to give back to the state?
However, putting Attorney General JB Van Hollen out there to complain about cuts to his department will only invite muddying of the issue. Van Hollen is complaining that cuts to his budget are politically motivated. He may have a case.
But Democrats are right to complain that Van Hollen has tried to have it both ways with the state Department of Justice's budget. When Van Hollen ran for election, he said asking for more money would not be the "conservative thing to do." Shortly after taking office Van Hollen asked for - and received - an immediate $7.7 million boost to his budget to tackle the backlog at the state crime lab. At the recent Defending the American Dream meeting of conservatives, Van Hollen bragged about giving back $1.2 million to the state.
Now the Democrats are cutting his budget again and Van Hollen is accused of making his staff lobby the legislature against the cuts. When the wind blows again, will Van Hollen suddenly find more money to give back to the state?
Digging a hole with Other People's Money
The state legislature is poised again to pass another budget repair bill for the current fiscal year. For those of you counting, this is attempt number three. Like the proposed state budget for next year, SB232 raids federal stimulus dollars to pay the state's operational costs:
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law lapses $291,000,000 in the 2008−09 fiscal year from the state school aid appropriation to the general fund and directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to use $291,000,000 in federal funds received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to make payments to school districts in June 2009.
This bill lapses an additional $261,278,000 in school aid to the general fund in the 2008−09 fiscal year and directs DPI to use an additional $261,278,000 in federal funds received under ARRA to make payments to school districts in June 2009. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
Somebody really needs to ask President Obama on Thursday if this is what his administration meant by "shovel ready." The legislature is shovelling something all right.
Assembly still looking for 50 votes
Sources at the state capitol tell me Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan still has not found the fifty Democratic votes needed to pass the budget through the Assembly. Will they be able to get their act together to vote on Wednesday, ahead of President Obama's visit to Green Bay on Thursday?
Here's a fun question. Will anyone ask President Obama how he feels about Wisconsin misusing the stimulus funds to plug state budget holes rather than on job creation?
Here's a fun question. Will anyone ask President Obama how he feels about Wisconsin misusing the stimulus funds to plug state budget holes rather than on job creation?
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Democrats Gone Wild, the Madison edition
Starting this week the Waukesha Freeman will no longer be posting my column online at GMToday.com. Some changes are being made to the website and the opinion columnists are moving behind the subscription wall. Think of it as Conley Select. Or you can still read it on the dead tree version for just 50 cents. Paper, ink, it's all so retro and fun.
I'll also be posting the column here (instead of just excerpts), but not until Thursday evenings.
This week's column tackles the state budget again as the whole process has just become so much tax-and-spend Democratic porn.
Publication:Waukesha Freeman (Conley); Date:Jun 4, 2009; Section:Opinion; Page Number:10A
Democrats gone wild
Proposed budget most radical in state history
(James Wigderson is a blogger publishing at http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com and a Waukesha resident. His column runs Thursdays in The Freeman.)
We’re in the home stretch now on the state budget process. The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee finished with the budget (with much of the work being done late at night and behind closed doors). Now the budget goes to the Assembly, then the Senate, then finally to the governor for his final rewrite with his veto pen.
How much of the current budget proposal is going to survive is still an open question. Democrats may have the majority in both chambers, but the proposed budget certainly qualifies as one of the most radical in state history. Different Democrats may defect on different votes as the Republicans offer amendment after amendment this week. Look for more closed-door meetings, more late-night sessions, and more dealmaking as the Democrats line up the votes to make sure the budget passes.
Some of the provisions in the current budget proposal are just shocking.
Hostility to “Big Oil” has always been standard fare for the Democrats, but even Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairman Rep. Marc Pocan admits the new tax on oil company profits with the provision that the tax not get passed on to consumers might be unconstitutional. Still, he hopes to somehow fix it, according to WisPolitics.com, in order to protect $270 million for the transportation fund.
Somebody needs to ask Pocan the obvious question: If Democrats are so concerned about the transportation fund, wouldn’t it be wiser to stop raiding it, so far $1.1 billion, to fund other items in the state budget?
Then there’s the Democrats’ continued hostility to any child receiving an education outside a Wisconsin Education Association Council-approved institution. Rep. Pedro Colon, D-Milwaukee, inserted at the last minute a requirement for any school in the choice program where over 10 percent of the students had limited English proficiency to have bilingual education.
The Democrats also cut funding for choice program students by $165 each. Brett Healy of the MacIver Institute points out choice schools receive $6,607 per pupil compared to more than $13,000 for students in Milwaukee Public Schools.
Meanwhile, as a favor for the teachers unions, Democrats are repealing the Qualified Economic Offer that helps keep public education costs in check.
Republicans can seize the education issue and make it a winner in the next election cycle. Clearly they are the party of reform, while the Democrats are the party of continuing to subsidize failure.
It’s hard to pick the most brazen grab for tax money, but surely the tax on cell phones has to be near the top of the list.
In 2003 the state imposed a tax on cell phones to upgrade the 911 system to be able to pinpoint 911 cell phone calls. When the upgrades were done, the state under Governor Doyle kept the $20 million in “leftover” money. (Nothing says “home cooking” the books like “leftovers.”)
The Democrats are not only going to keep the tax in place, they are going to raise it by 75 cents per month and impose it on every phone, including the land lines. The total tax increase on cell phone users is $100 million, but it gets worse.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that using a tax on cell phones for something other than the 911 system may make the state ineligible for federal funds. This means local communities will have to raise taxes more to pay for the costs of supporting the 911 system.
Perhaps the most absurd provision in the state budget is the idea of creating a special driver’s license for illegal aliens. Did nobody in Madison say to themselves that if we can identify the illegal aliens to give them the special driver’s licenses, we ought to just deport them?
I once described the state budget process as a horror picture. We’re now in the genre of tax-and-spend porn, “The Democrats Gone Wild.” No wonder they’re busy making decisions late at night with the curtains drawn.
If you’re tempted to smoke a cigarette afterward, they’re raising the tax on that, too.
I'll also be posting the column here (instead of just excerpts), but not until Thursday evenings.
This week's column tackles the state budget again as the whole process has just become so much tax-and-spend Democratic porn.
Publication:Waukesha Freeman (Conley); Date:Jun 4, 2009; Section:Opinion; Page Number:10A
Democrats gone wild
Proposed budget most radical in state history
(James Wigderson is a blogger publishing at http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com and a Waukesha resident. His column runs Thursdays in The Freeman.)
We’re in the home stretch now on the state budget process. The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee finished with the budget (with much of the work being done late at night and behind closed doors). Now the budget goes to the Assembly, then the Senate, then finally to the governor for his final rewrite with his veto pen.
How much of the current budget proposal is going to survive is still an open question. Democrats may have the majority in both chambers, but the proposed budget certainly qualifies as one of the most radical in state history. Different Democrats may defect on different votes as the Republicans offer amendment after amendment this week. Look for more closed-door meetings, more late-night sessions, and more dealmaking as the Democrats line up the votes to make sure the budget passes.
Some of the provisions in the current budget proposal are just shocking.
Hostility to “Big Oil” has always been standard fare for the Democrats, but even Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairman Rep. Marc Pocan admits the new tax on oil company profits with the provision that the tax not get passed on to consumers might be unconstitutional. Still, he hopes to somehow fix it, according to WisPolitics.com, in order to protect $270 million for the transportation fund.
Somebody needs to ask Pocan the obvious question: If Democrats are so concerned about the transportation fund, wouldn’t it be wiser to stop raiding it, so far $1.1 billion, to fund other items in the state budget?
Then there’s the Democrats’ continued hostility to any child receiving an education outside a Wisconsin Education Association Council-approved institution. Rep. Pedro Colon, D-Milwaukee, inserted at the last minute a requirement for any school in the choice program where over 10 percent of the students had limited English proficiency to have bilingual education.
The Democrats also cut funding for choice program students by $165 each. Brett Healy of the MacIver Institute points out choice schools receive $6,607 per pupil compared to more than $13,000 for students in Milwaukee Public Schools.
Meanwhile, as a favor for the teachers unions, Democrats are repealing the Qualified Economic Offer that helps keep public education costs in check.
Republicans can seize the education issue and make it a winner in the next election cycle. Clearly they are the party of reform, while the Democrats are the party of continuing to subsidize failure.
It’s hard to pick the most brazen grab for tax money, but surely the tax on cell phones has to be near the top of the list.
In 2003 the state imposed a tax on cell phones to upgrade the 911 system to be able to pinpoint 911 cell phone calls. When the upgrades were done, the state under Governor Doyle kept the $20 million in “leftover” money. (Nothing says “home cooking” the books like “leftovers.”)
The Democrats are not only going to keep the tax in place, they are going to raise it by 75 cents per month and impose it on every phone, including the land lines. The total tax increase on cell phone users is $100 million, but it gets worse.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that using a tax on cell phones for something other than the 911 system may make the state ineligible for federal funds. This means local communities will have to raise taxes more to pay for the costs of supporting the 911 system.
Perhaps the most absurd provision in the state budget is the idea of creating a special driver’s license for illegal aliens. Did nobody in Madison say to themselves that if we can identify the illegal aliens to give them the special driver’s licenses, we ought to just deport them?
I once described the state budget process as a horror picture. We’re now in the genre of tax-and-spend porn, “The Democrats Gone Wild.” No wonder they’re busy making decisions late at night with the curtains drawn.
If you’re tempted to smoke a cigarette afterward, they’re raising the tax on that, too.
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