Once in a while the mainstream press gets it:
Our view: State residents, Republicans left out in the cold
An excerpt:
The Democratic-controlled Legislature put the final budget together, essentially in secret, then brought it up for a vote. It passed without any Republican support. Minority lawmakers were unable to make any changes.
Republicans, of course, cried foul. But if roles were reversed and they controlled the Assembly and Senate, they likely would have done the same thing. We know how politics works.
The disappointment stems more from the inability of the state's leaders to find a balance. At a time of economic crisis, when even state workers are on furlough, spending increases in the state. There are no general sales, income or payroll tax increases in this budget, but despite Doyle's promise to protect the middle class, taxes and fees will hit the wallets of state residents. From monthly phone fees to additional taxes on cigarettes, people will pay more.
Republicans, of course, cried foul. But if roles were reversed and they controlled the Assembly and Senate, they likely would have done the same thing. We know how politics works.
The disappointment stems more from the inability of the state's leaders to find a balance. At a time of economic crisis, when even state workers are on furlough, spending increases in the state. There are no general sales, income or payroll tax increases in this budget, but despite Doyle's promise to protect the middle class, taxes and fees will hit the wallets of state residents. From monthly phone fees to additional taxes on cigarettes, people will pay more.
Yes, once in a while even a newspaper editorial board in a left-leaning congressional district like mine calls a spade a spade.
Kind of like this moment of clarity Chip Reid & Helen Thomas had:
Kind of like this moment of clarity Chip Reid & Helen Thomas had:
But back to the Doylocrats, some of the taxes that have just been raised in Wisconsin are really appalling:
The monthly tax on every nursing home bed has doubled from $75 to $150 per month starting July 1, 2009 in the plan introduced by Governor Doyle. The bed tax will rise further, to $170 per month, in July 2010.
The Democrats care for Seniors? Gimme a break!
And even though the people of Wisconsin have overwhelmingly spoken against 'Gay Marriage', we are going to give benefits to domestic partnerships in this year's budget. The 2006 Wisconsin Constitutional Referendum was decided 59 to 41 %. The referendum ALSO banned civil unions and domestic partnerships which means that what the Doylocrats have done is unconstitutional (and therefore illegal) according to the Wisconsin State Constitution - not that that has stopped them before but I'd like to see the WisGOP show some guts and take this one to court. So far J.B. Van Hollen has been defending the initial ban referendum results of the 2006 election cycle. It would be nice to see this budget blunder taken on as well.
Ciggy taxes will go up $.75 a pack, I admit I'm not too excited about that one but I am opposed to it in principle because I just hate tax hikes period. Since it is mainly blue collar and poor people who smoke you have to wonder why they keep voting for the Doylocrats. A pack-a-day smoker will pay another $5.25 a week or another $273 a year now in taxes.
Oh, and the 2009 Wisconsin budget has over 100 earmarks! That's right ONE HUNDRED earmarks costing over fifty million dollars, that's right, over $50,000,000.00!
But wait! There's more! You own a cell phone? Have garbage pickup?
Yup, if I committed this kind of piracy to the taxpayers, I'd do it out of sight too.
TTFN,
Jim
Ciggy taxes will go up $.75 a pack, I admit I'm not too excited about that one but I am opposed to it in principle because I just hate tax hikes period. Since it is mainly blue collar and poor people who smoke you have to wonder why they keep voting for the Doylocrats. A pack-a-day smoker will pay another $5.25 a week or another $273 a year now in taxes.
Oh, and the 2009 Wisconsin budget has over 100 earmarks! That's right ONE HUNDRED earmarks costing over fifty million dollars, that's right, over $50,000,000.00!
But wait! There's more! You own a cell phone? Have garbage pickup?
Yup, if I committed this kind of piracy to the taxpayers, I'd do it out of sight too.
TTFN,
Jim
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