Hey kids! Look what Santa Budget brought! Recycling bins!

It's a small item. But then, so many items are. Then we wonder where did all that money go?

The town of Wrightstown is getting $46,000 in brand new recycling bins. The only explanation anyone has for this budget item involves elves and reindeer. From a press release from state representatives Rich Zipperer and Leah Vukmir:

Madison - Today Representative Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee) and
Representative Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) blasted a provision added to the state budget by the Democrat-controlled Joint Committee on Finance earlier this week. The provision provided $46,000 for new recycling bins in the town of Wrightstown at a time when Legislators are trying to solve Governor Doyle's $6.6 billion state deficit. The $46,000 represents a 735% increase over what the town received for recycling aid in the last budget.

"This provision is preposterous," said Vukmir. "This is exactly the kind of nickel-and-diming that has put Wisconsin in such a mess over the years. Wasteful earmarks for things like recycling bins for only one town should not be a priority of the state, but to the Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee, it apparently is."

According to a recent news article in the Green Bay Press Gazette, the Wrightstown Clerk didn't know about the spending provision, and the Democrat co-chairs of the Finance Committee claimed that they didn't know who brought the provision forward. Wrightstown's representative in the Assembly, Democrat Ted Zigmunt, did not return a press call seeking answers.

"The fact that the Democrat co-chairs of the Finance Committee, who control every motion and vote brought forward to the committee, can claim they don't know how the provision was included is ridiculous," said Zipperer. "Taxpayers deserve transparency in the state budget, and they deserve to know who thought recycling bins in Wrightstown are important enough to have priority at a time when we are trying to fix Governor Doyle's $6.6 billion state deficit."

Zipperer and Vukmir are the authors of the Earmark Transparency Act, which is before the Joint Committee on Finance but has not yet been given a public hearing. The Earmark Transparency Act would require complete disclosure of the state budget, including disclosing who brought motions and earmarks forward during the Finance Committee proceedings.

"This is just one example of multiple spending provisions that should not be in the state budget. Once the budget reaches the full Assembly, we will watch out for the taxpayers and work to remove these wasteful earmarks," Zipperer concluded.

Two reactions to the State of the State address

From State Representative Rich Zipperer:

"I'm ready to work with anyone from either side of the aisle on real solutions that fix our economy and bring jobs to Wisconsin. Those include lowering the tax burden on families and small businesses, easing the regulatory burdens that are pushing jobs away, and ending the tax and spend culture that has taken hold in Madison. Unfortunately, we didn't hear any of that from Governor Doyle tonight.

If Wisconsin is to climb out of our financial mess, Governor Doyle must change his ways. Higher taxes and bloated government spending will not lead to long-term economic recovery.

Under Jim Doyle's lack of leadership, taxes are up, spending is up, and our budget deficit is one of the worst in the nation-over two billion worse than the day he first took office. It's no wonder that our state is losing good paying jobs seemingly every day.

We must reverse this trend. Wisconsin residents need real solutions from our leaders-solutions that will bring jobs to Wisconsin's hurting families, not lofty rhetoric and legislating by press release."

State Senator Ted Kanavas:

“Say this for Governor Doyle: he understands how to set low expectations. Tonight’s speech, as advertised, was steeped in somber rhetoric and dire warnings. He seemed trapped in his own flawed logic: on the one hand rejecting a partisan blame game, and on the other blaming everyone else for the state’s financial problems.

As remedies go, it seems pretty clear that the Governor wants to convince Wisconsinites that raising taxes is the only way to get through this budget session. I disagree. The underlying problem facing Wisconsin is that state government punishes businesses instead of nurturing them. Governor Doyle missed a golden opportunity to embrace policies that would protect existing businesses and create new jobs.

State government needs to reduce spending and cut-up the credit card. The Wisconsin Legislature needs to resist the temptation to borrow and continue building up state government at the expense of taxpayers and small businesses. Bad public policy got us into this mess. We need new thinking, responsible budgeting and economic growth to get us out.”

Short notice of good things

Conservative Young Professionals of Milwaukee are having a year-end cocktail party this evening with guest speaker State Representative Rich Zipperer.

Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Time: 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: Mo's Irish Pub in Tosa
Street: Corner of Bluemound and Hwy 100

At least he lives in the district

State Representative Rich Zipperer's Democratic opponent in the 98th Assembly district may live in the district, but I wonder if Zipperer's people will challenge his place on the ballot. Victor Weers only gathered 213 nomination signatures for his candidacy. The minimum needed is 200. Given the zigs and zags of the of the district line near Weers' home, I suspect it would not take much to find 14 people who signed Weers nomination papers that do not live in the district.

Two years ago Zipperer won the Republican Primary in a crowded field and then faced Democrat Sterling Lynk who did not live in the district.

see Update: 7/10/08

Zipperer announces

From the press release:

State Representative Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee) announced today that he is seeking re-election to the state Assembly from the 98th Assembly District. He was first elected to the seat in 2006 with 71% of the vote.

In making the announcement, Rep. Zipperer stated, “Two years ago I ran for the Assembly because I believed that the people of our great state, and our state’s economy, were being held back by high taxes and out-of-control government spending.” Zipperer continued, “With our state’s economy continuing to falter and the tax burden growing worse, that belief is stronger today than it was then.”

In his two years in the Assembly, Zipperer authored or coauthored a number of bills to reduce taxes and grow the economy, including retirement income tax relief, the Higher Education Tax Credit, and an across-the-board income tax cut. Zipperer took the lead on controlling wasteful spending by authoring the Earmark Transparency Act, landmark legislation that will force politicians to be accountable for their spending proposals and make it easier to stop wasteful pet projects before taxpayer money is spent. Zipperer also authored one of the few tax relief measures that became law last year, an increase in the college tuition income tax deduction.

“While I’m pleased to be able to say that I was the author of one of the only tax relief measures that became law this session, providing tax relief to families dealing with the ever increasing cost of higher education, far more needs to be done to help create jobs, grow our economy, and encourage our seniors and younger families to stay right here in Wisconsin. That will be my top priority in the next session,” concluded Zipperer.

Well, that's three votes no

State Representatives Scott Newcomer and Bill Kramer already told the Waukesha Freeman on Saturday they would be voting against the proposed budget. We can add State Representative Rich Zipperer to the list. From a press release:

"Today I have a choice to stand up for families and taxpayers, make them a priority and work to move Wisconsin out of the top ten list of highest taxed states, or side with bureaucracy and exasperate our already too-high tax burden. The choice for me is simple- I will side with families and taxpayers every time. Anytime we raise taxes, spend on the government credit card, or expand bureaucracy, we cut real income from household budgets throughout Wisconsin.

The bottom line is simple; this budget fails to make our state more competitive or to do what is needed to get our economy moving forward again. It raises taxes by $420 million, and raids $200 million from the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. It puts bureaucracy first by creating one of the largest state agencies in history by creating the Department of Children and Families.

While I applaud Speaker Huebsch for forcing the Democrats to back down from numerous ill-advised tax increases, including the $15.2 billion Healthy Wisconsin payroll tax, $418 million sick tax, $277 million gas tax, $142 million home tax, $35 million nursing home bed tax, even the $5.6 million tax on filing taxes, because of Governor Doyle's insistence on higher taxes and expanded bureaucracy, this budget is a still bad deal for taxpayers.

Wisconsin's tax burden is one of the highest in the nation. This budget does not move our state in the right direction."

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Zipperer updates the latest on the budget fight in Madison

Assembly Majority Defeats Governor’s Billion Dollar Tax Increase
Zipperer stands up for taxpayers, says no to largest spending plan in state history.

Madison— Late Monday, the State Assembly voted to reject Governor Doyle’s second proposed budget, a budget that would have set a record spending level of over $58 billion dollars and increased taxes by $1 billion. Rep. Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee) voted with the majority to defeat the Governor’s plan, a proposal Zipperer called an extreme tax hike on working families across Wisconsin. The proposal would have increased taxes by $700 for a family of four.

“Tonight we took a vote on taxes, and the taxpayers of Wisconsin won,” said Zipperer. “Now that this side-show is over, the leaders of the Assembly and Senate can get back to real negotiations and develop a budget that funds our priorities without raising taxes.”

While he was pleased that the Assembly defeated the Governor’s tax-increases, Zipperer was disappointed that the Senate Democrats failed to pass a separate education funding package. Monday was the statutory deadline for the Department of Public Instruction to tell local school districts how much funding they will be receiving from the state. Without new education funding information, property tax payers could be on the hook for a property tax increase as large as $600 million.

“The Assembly voted weeks ago to pass an education appropriation at the level requested by Governor Doyle. There is simply no reason why the Senate Democrats could not have finished the job for schools and property taxpayers tonight,” said Zipperer. “By failing to approve the education package, Senate Democrats have proven that political talking points are more important to them than actually getting the job done.”

Zipperer noted that besides the billion dollar tax increase, the Governor’s latest budget deserved to be rejected due to many other provisions as well. These provisions include:

· $175 million raid from the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund
· $52 nursing home bed tax
· Eliminates tax deductions for Health Savings Accounts
· Eliminates 285,000 seniors’ eligibility for retirement income tax exemptions
· Allows 4% property tax increase annually
· Provides in-state tuition for illegal aliens
· Eliminates proof of citizenship requirements for public assistance
· Removes oversight of the stewardship program while spending record levels of taxpayer dollars
· Gives raises to Governor Doyle’s cabinet secretaries

“The massive tax increase would be reason enough to reject this budget proposal, but when you add in hand outs to illegal aliens and raises for Doyle’s cabinet while at the same time eliminating tax relief for 285,000 seniors, this budget was nothing but a media spectacle by the Governor. Now we can get back to figuring out a budget plan that funds Wisconsin’s priorities without raising the already high tax burden,” said Zipperer.

Note: Jessica McBride reports only one Republican broke ranks, Brett Davis of Oregon. Three Democrats broke ranks, Bob Ziegelbauer (not surprising), Sheldon Wasserman (running against Alberta Darling for state senate) and Amy Sue Vruwink of Milladore.

Local Republicans all voted against Governor Doyle's budget, including Bill Kramer, Scott Newcomer, Mark Gundrum, Leah Vukmir, Joel Kleefisch...

Governor Doyle and the Democrats are stuck. They need a budget much more than the Republicans. The Republicans in the Assembly have passed a partial budget that funds state primary education at the level the governor requested. The Democrats could have what they want in education spending right now. Instead they've tried to hold out for more money to fund their pet causes.

Meanwhile for most Wisconsinites life goes on without even a blip in their routine.

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Zipperer ready to fight Doyle's proposed budget

A short note from State Rep. Rich Zipperer:

Dear Friends,

On Monday at 1pm, the State Assembly will come into a ‘special session’ called by Governor Doyle. The purpose of the special session is to consider the Governor’s newest budget proposal, a proposal which still includes over one billion in new taxes.

Over the weekend, I will be working hard to encourage my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, to reject this extreme tax increase. As a constituent of the 98th Assembly District, you can rest assured that I will not vote to increase your taxes. Please take a moment this weekend, however, and contact your friends and family throughout Wisconsin. Urge them to contact their representative and encourage them to vote no along with me. Together, we can defeat this massive tax hike.

Rich

Zippperer also has a press release explaining his position:

"One billion dollars in new taxes. $700 per family. That's the poison pill Governor Doyle is attempting to sell to the people of Wisconsin," said Zipperer. "The Legislature needs to reject this proposal on Monday so the leaders of the Assembly and Senate can get back to real negotiations. This budget from Governor Doyle is nothing but a side-show."

According to the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau, this is the first time in Wisconsin's history that a governor has introduced a revised budget. Zipperer said he will emphatically vote no on Governor Doyle's budget in order to prevent a tax hike that averages almost $173 for every man, woman and child in Wisconsin, or $700 for a family of four.

While this misguided budget must be rejected, he also encouraged the Senate Democrats to stop neglecting their duties and take up Assembly Bill 506 and 507 on Monday. AB506 and 507 will provide school districts across Wisconsin with the funding they need, as well as ward off a $600 million property tax increase. These provisions, with funding levels requested by the Governor, have broad bipartisan support.

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Dear Mike

State Representative Rich Zipperer sent the following letter to Speaker Huebsch:

September 5, 2007

Speaker Mike Huebsch
Room 211 West
Wisconsin State Capitol

Speaker Huebsch,

As the budget conference committee continues its important task of working out the differences between the Assembly and Senate budgets, I want to thank you for your steadfast support of Wisconsin's taxpayers.

As you know, the Assembly budget, which I supported, put families and taxpayers ahead of state bureaucracy by holding the line on spending and saying no to new tax increases. Under your leadership, we were able to pass a budget in the Assembly that funded Wisconsin's top priorities, including an historic investment in K-12 education, while not increasing the already too-high tax burden in Wisconsin. In fact, our budget included over $75 million in additional targeted tax relief, including tax credits for college tuition, health insurance premiums, retirement income, and Health Savings Accounts.

The Senate budget, on the other hand, was a stark contrast. The Senate Democrats' budget included over $18 billion in new tax increases, including a $15.2 billion tax increase for their Healthy Wisconsin health care scheme. As you know, their proposed tax increase would be the largest tax increase not only in Wisconsin history, but of any state in our nation's history. It would give Wisconsin the dismal honor of having the highest tax burden in the country, and in my opinion, would force businesses and retirees to flee from our state in search of a better tax climate.

Indeed, just last week we learned that business groups from other states are already using the Democrats' proposed tax increase as a recruitment tool to lure businesses and jobs away from Wisconsin. The Senate's plan is a recipe for disaster for Wisconsin's taxpayers and economy.

As the conference committee continues to work on the budget, I am writing today to reiterate the importance of continuing to stand up for Wisconsin taxpayers. While the majority of taxpayers may not be able to travel to the capitol and lobby for a no-tax-increase-budget, you can rest assured that the silent majority of Wisconsinites understand that the efforts you are taking to stand against tax increases are vital to the future of our state.

In fact, in recent weeks I have heard from numerous seniors, families, businesses, and investors who have all expressed concern about high taxes potentially driving them away from our great state. They understand that the only thing standing between their pocketbooks and an historic tax increase is the Assembly Republican Majority, and we need to continue our fight despite the rhetoric from Governor Doyle, Senate Democrats, and special interest groups interested in nothing more than expanding government power and increasing state spending.

Thank you again for your efforts on behalf of Wisconsin's taxpayers. Wisconsin can have a budget that funds our key priorities while not increasing taxes; the Assembly budget shows how.

Sincerely,


Rich Zipperer
State Representative

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Tailgating for prosperity

I'm late in mentioning this party, but last Friday evening a Who's Who of local conservatives attended the Americans for Prosperity tailgate party at Miller Park to enjoy a little ballpark fare, watch the Milwaukee Brewers win (a rarity these days), and talk a little politics. Among the attendees: State Rep Frank Lasee, State Rep Leah Vukmir, State Rep Bill Kramer, Waukesha County Treasurer Pam Reeves, State Rep Rich Zipperer, State Rep Jeff Stone, Chris Lufter and her husband, Troy Fullerton, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, Chris Kliesmet, a giant pig who doesn't work for Roger Waters, and plenty of others. Yes, I'm forgetting more than a few people.

Among the bloggers in attendance, Owen Robinson and family, Fred Dooley and Mrs. Real Debate, Steve Eggleston, and yours truly with his faithful sidekick Will.

For those of you who missed it, well, you missed it. Some of the attendees were asked to say a few words on camera. I'm on after the intern.



I won't mention the last time Chris Lufter was anywhere near Miller Park.

I did get a hot tip. I'm told my guess in the Wispolitics.com "Guess the date the budget gets passed" contest is too optimistic. I guessed the end of September.

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Running of the Cows

I actually don't think this is a bad idea. (ht: Grumps)

That's right: the Running of the Cows. Forget the silly trolleys or whether or not the city's drinking water is perpetually screwed up or scheduling fundraisers for the police, you need to get this in the city. Just imagine, cattle running, more likely a slow trotting pace, down State Street as some of the more daring spectators would risk even life and limb to run with the cows.

It would be the event of the century. A representative of every news outlet in the country, and probably the BBC, heck even Al-Jazeera and the Taliban Times, would be present to witness the spectacle for posterity. As someone said "it'd be rolling Mifflin, Halloween and the farmers' markets, everything [or something] all into one". Is there any possibly better way for this city to celebrate its Wisconsiness? I think not.

I think Waukesha would be better. The reputation for confusing streets would be part of the charm. And we could have our very own documentary film made. We could have Culver's sponsor the run. Visitors from all over could stay at our new hotel.

I bet State Representative Bill Kramer would be up for a run. State Rep Rich Zipperer, too. They both seem like good sports. And who wouldn't pay good money to see Pete Kennedy making the mad dash?

Zipperer E-Update, promises he'll never get sick

State Representative Rich Zipperer (R-Country Springs Hotel) launched his new E-Updates for the district. If you're interested in receiving them, you can e-mail him at Rep.Zipperer@legis.wisconsin.gov.

This week's update is on the failed effort to get the sick leave policy changed for elected officials.

Rather than just permitting time off for illness, our state employees and elected officials can accumulate unused sick leave and convert those unused sick days into health insurance premiums when they retire. With little accounting of the leave, and no enforcement, few elected officials have ever bothered to claim any sick days. By doing so, numerous state officials have built up sizable health care retirement accounts. One incredible example: according to published reports, State Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has accumulated over $400,000 worth of health care benefits just through the collection of sick leave.

Even if our state was flush with cash and not facing a multi-billion dollar deficit, I see no reason why elected officials should receive a sick leave benefit while in office or during retirement. Legislators are not docked pay if they miss committee hearings or votes. Rather, if they're not doing the job and don't have a good reason for missing work, the voters can vote them out of office. The sick leave benefit simply serves no good purpose for elected officials.

Shortly after I was elected last November I became the first newly elected State Representative to publicly oppose the sick leave benefit and announce that I would not accept the benefit for myself. Earlier this year, I signed on as an early cosponsor of legislation, introduced by Senator Ted Kanavas and Representative Pat Strachota, to end this benefit for all Wisconsin elected officials.

It really is silly to have a sick leave policy for elected officials. Zipperer is right about the way elected officials should be held accountable for their attendance - by the voters.

Seth Zolotcha argues we should wait to see the numbers before making a hasty decision that affects the level of compensation for the state legislators. However, if we really want to create some sort of retirement health care benefit for legislators, lets do it up front rather than try to sneak it by as a "sick leave" policy.

Of course, then we might have to look at the whole compensation policy and whether we really have a full-time legislature.

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Local legislative reaction to the Doyle budget

Governor Doyle's budget is out and it's a doozy. Speaker Huebsch points out that it will cost every "man, woman and child" and extra $310. (Since I already took my kids' spare $310 and spent it at the track, the state is in trouble.) Republican Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald did some quick math to figure out Doyle's tax and fee increases are at $1.75 billion, just a staggering amount.

Closer to home I received the following press release from State Representative Rich Zipperer:

“First Governor Doyle wanted to discourage smoking by increasing the cigarette tax...with all his tax and fee increases tonight, he’s apparently also trying to discourage Wisconsinites from owning a home, driving a car, or going to the doctor.

Wisconsin needs fiscal restraint and responsibility from our leaders no matter what side of the political aisle one comes from. Now is not the time to raise taxes and create new programs and departments.

I look forward to working with my Legislative colleagues to turn this budget around and stand up for Wisconsin taxpayers.”

And from State Representative Bill Kramer:

In the two short weeks since Governor Doyle outlined his agenda in his State of the State address, we have seen reports on multiple proposals that increase taxes on Wisconsin’s working families and businesses.

Tonight we got specifics – an overwhelming $1.7 billion in new taxes.

With over $57 billion in government spending – representing a 9 percent increase over the current budget – on top of a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, the Democrats budget scheme is ill-advised and ill-timed. Wisconsinites realize that we don’t have a revenue problem in Madison, but a spending problem.

It is inconceivable to me that while nearly every state in the country enjoys budget surpluses, Wisconsin Democrats want to seemingly dig further into the taxpayers’ pockets with impunity.

Wisconsin’s growing economy is not the result of under-taxation. It is the goal of Assembly Republicans to rein in excessive government spending.

In the coming months I will work with my Republican colleagues to produce a budget that more accurately reflects our Wisconsin values and priorities while protecting our taxpayers.

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Two reactions to Governor Doyle's State of the State

State Representative Rich Zipperer (R-98th Assembly District):

“Tonight Governor Doyle presented his ideas for making Wisconsin a better place. We heard about many new programs and initiatives—from a task force on global warming to creating yet another new state agency—but we didn’t hear about how to pay for all these new programs or how to put Wisconsin on a path to control spending, lower the tax burden and eliminate the budget deficit.

I agree with Governor Doyle that Wisconsin is facing many challenges in the next few years; from creating jobs and remaining competitive in the global economy to improving our schools and keeping the UW System a world-class institution. We have real challenges before us that we can work on together.

I look forward to debating and working on all these issues in the months ahead, and hope that debate will also include ways to control spending, lower the tax burden on Wisconsin families and put Wisconsin on track to eliminate the state budget deficit.

We need to balance the checkbook before maxing out the credit card again.”

State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-33rd State Senate district):

How the times have changed; in his 2003 State of the State Address, Governor Doyle said, “Going forward, my mind will be open to every solution -- except one. We should not -- we must not -- and I will not -- raise taxes.”

So much for keeping promises. The tax and spend philosophy is alive and well in Madison and Governor Doyle has a long wish list of initiatives. Our families cannot endure the burden of the governor’s old fashioned liberal spending spree. I question his judgment if he truly believes our economy and our families will prosper by raising taxes.

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