Why Do Our Rulers Not Hear Us?

Wisconsinites are in the midst of the single biggest money grab by any political party in my memory…and that covers some ground.

The combinations of all proposed (some accepted already) new or increased fees and taxes will equal nearly $3 Billion in additional payments to the state. There are some 5.5 Million of us in Wisconsin.

Our rulers are expecting an average of an additional $545 from every person in the state. If you and your wife constitute your household, then you can expect to pony up another $1,091 for the state. If you and your wife have two children at home, then your equivalent share will be $2,182, and so on. These are averages, and the people who pay the majority of taxes (those earning $50,000 and more) will be hit several times harder.

This does not begin to take into account the additions that will be required of communities, and of our school districts, and of our county, and on and on. This does not take into account Governor Doyle’s latest, the promise of a college education in a Wisconsin institution of higher learning for every current eighth grader and all future students who maintain “B” averages, stay out of trouble and sign a contract. So far, many of the 75,000 eligible this year have signed this document even before the program has been approved. By the way, we aren’t even being told the ultimate cost of this boondoggle.

This does not take into account that the state will have managed to move up a slot or two or three on the “Highest Taxed States in the Nation” list that our current rulers seem to think is an honor.

This does not address the negative impact on our business environment, and on the purchase of new vehicles, and on the sales tax collection fall-offs, or our children leaving the state and it does not address another thing…

When, if ever, will enough be enough for Governor Doyle and the Democrats, our rulers?

We are now going through the charade of state budget “debate”. It is during this time that the Joint Finance Committee, comprised of eight Democrats and eight Republicans meet regularly to make changes to the budget submitted by the Governor. One small problem exists, however, in that the Democrat members of this Committee have almost consistently chosen to vote against any changes in the budget as they march to the beat of the Governor's drum.

When this Committee deadlocks at eight to eight, as it usually does, the Governor’s proposed budget remains in place. And, our Governor has chosen to load his budget with nearly every conceivable spending and gifting proposal coupled with increases in everything that already exists. (I use the word “nearly” since his creativity has outstripped my imagination. There are probably more yet to come.)

It would be interesting to see the list of taxes and fees that are not being increased. Certainly it would be easier to list those than all that are going to be, or already have been, increased.

And, what’s worse is that elected Republican officials can do virtually nothing about this except to hold news conferences to try to get the word out. That, too, is made difficult since the mainstream media appears to be enjoying this renaissance with its newly promised government largess.

They can't find time to have a vote on their Sick Leave largess, but raising taxes is good at any time!

These rulers do not represent me. I presume they also do not represent many others! Will our memories last long enough to get us to the polls and to remember that changes are necessary?

It was widely rumored that this was Governor Doyle’s last race for public office. If so, it seems he has decided to get everything on his list accomplished during this last term.

We can only hope for two things: that this is his last term, and that we’ll be able to put food on our tables after he’s gone.