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11/17/2008
So will WI finally be cutting spending?

A $5 billion deficit. Is that finally the right reason for any and everyone to be looking at where to cut state spending? Gosh, even the governor is at least posturing in that direction!

Tales from the Trails – the not-so-good stuff (As opposed to “The Good Stuff”)
I write commentary for FoxPolitics.net, day in and day out. I try to be reasoned, thoughtful and provocative, so as to inspire readers to take an interest in, to get involved in, public policy. Every single day I aim to create a discussion, to get people – citizens of this great state!! – thinking.

And then I actually had the nerve to run for public office.

Dan Bice, Journal Sentinel muckraker extraordinaire, decided to pick, choose and twist words from my blogs. Excited as a little kid finding supposedly hidden treasure, Bice in most cases was wrong. Dead wrong – and an “extremist” besides. To quote Bice:

As a candidate, Egelhoff talks about making the state’s schools the best in the nation. As a blogger, she spoke out in favor of eliminating kindergarten for 4-year-olds, shutting down all two-year colleges and restricting pay raises for teachers.

The smear-monger, Milwaukee-based phony issue ad group, Greater Wisconsin Committee also got in the act, claiming “Egelhoff would [emphasis mine]‘eliminate state funding for 4-year-old kindergarten.’” Another lie.

So let’s start with taking up what this year may become a critical issue – 4-year-old kindergarten.

Here’s the link to the WHOLE blog (dated way back in May, 2007). I was taking Owen Robinson to task - and legislators and anyone else that wants to cut spending without being specific. Throw in any newspaper editorial you’ve ever read and anyone else that wants to cut spending – but without being specific. So I offered suggestions – specific suggestions. Imagine that.

How about taking away state 2/3 dollars for all spending that is the result of a referendum and all spending that results from labor settlements at greater than the QEO?
Property tax increases that result? See paragraph above.
Eliminate state funding for 4 year-old kindergarten.
Fund SeniorCare for the neediest seniors, require greater cost-sharing as assets and incomes increase – like most other states do.
Facilitate consolidation (or service-sharing) of school districts of less than say, 2,000 students. Reduce transportation spending by 10%, requiring yes, bumpier roads for more years. We in Wisconsin have a tradition of paved, high quality roads, stemming from our roots that required milk to get to market in a timely way. Perhaps this is an expectation that needs to change.

Ok. Lots of folks can find fault with lots of these specifics. But the point is I went through the exercise – as did Owen. It’s not an easy one. And it’s not an easy exercise for our legislators to go through when we keep demanding more and more from a budget already in deficit – and when at the same time, we demand (which we should!) lower and lower taxes. There’s just no magic….

We can differ on what taxes the people and businesses of Wisconsin can bear. For those that see the benefit of 4K, yes, let’s talk about it. Which is exactly what I did in an April 29, 2008 piece. Funny thing Bice and the smear-piece authors didn’t find that piece.

I illustrate the approach Appleton’s school district (AASD) is taking, targeting children with the potential for low achievement (its “Birth-to-Five” program), but not offering 4K to all. And I compare AASD’s approach with Green Bay, which is indeed, offering 4K to all.

So two different programs looking for similar results. Kids that can read at grade level at the end of grade 3. But AASD is searching out [only] that portion of our school-age kids not as ready to learn - and then doing what it takes to get them up to speed early on.

Screening, prevention where needed, outreach, outreach, outreach. And do you think the Birth-to-Five initiative even comes close to the cost of bricks and mortar and teachers and aides and school buses for 4K? No way. Will the Birth-to-Five program show better results? Possibly. Either way AASD, good work.

Here’s the important message – a message I am proud to have harped on for years: There are simply not unlimited dollars to go around in this state.

Stir the pot. Question ideas. Be provocative. Get folks interested in policy and politics – interested in the issues. To half-steal a phrase from Owen, “The blogging will continue until the budget gets balanced” – which is likely to be a long, long time.

Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net

COMMENTS

State spending results from one thing, campaign contributions from the special interests that want the spending. If you want to cut spending and taxes, get the private money out of the political system.

Follow the money. Road builders are top contributers, and they get in return things like four lanes to Chicago, tearing down and replacing the Hoan bridge, rebuilding and expanding the Oconomowoc interchange, and roads to nowhere.

Live with it, or fix it.

Jack Lohman (Mon Nov 17 07:40:55 2008)

Why is it that every dysfunction in society has government at its root, but the destroyers, like Jack Lohman, insist to turn a blind eye to it?

History shows a broad, open path toward improving our standard of living through restricting government to its proper functions in society i.e. defending the shores, policing the streets, and enforcing contracts. Instead the socialists keep badgering us closer to the edge of the precipice.

Brian Heyer (Mon Nov 17 08:11:02 2008)

Well, I've accused of a lot, but not turning a blind eye. If you truly believe in history, follow the money and learn how the moneyed interests control government.

No, they do not want less spending, they want more. And they bribe their politicians to get it. If politicians are going to properly represent the taxpayers, their elections must be funded by the taxpayers. Not those who want in the taxpayer's pockets.

Jack Lohman (Mon Nov 17 08:18:14 2008)

Jo:
I applaud you for continuing the fight to bring fiscal sense to the state government. Everything should be on the table, but I noticed that Gov. Doyle did not mention 4 year old kindergarten as being on the table. He did mention that increased taxes and fees are definitely on the table.
Yes, we cannot afford everything everyone wants. I agree with Jack, that the roadbuilders have a definite edge with their campaign contributions and that should not be. However, on the flip side, WEAC has a definite edge because of their political contributions and that is equally bad.
How do you think we got the idea of 4 year old kindergarten in the first place.
It will be interesting to see how the Democratic controlled state legislature handles this.

Mike Thomas (Mon Nov 17 10:29:06 2008)

From the tone of this we apparently, according to Jo, cinch in our belts over 4 year
old kindergarten so that those private jets can keep flying down to the Cayman
Islands to make their deposits.

Twanging on something as trivial-- yes trivial -- as 4 year old kindergarten in the
face of the lobbied spending for private versus public works projects like the 4
lane road to Chicago and other mega projects in an era of waste is pointless.

Not pointless for the readers here apparently because here The Big Picture is more
about 401ks and other investments with vested interests in, well *interest* and
dividends.

There are other ways to get those dividends. As with the insurance game, it means
cutting out the middle man and taxing those who have gotten around it for so long.

Here and elsewhere, I've mentioned a land tax versus property tax.

That was echoes in the recent Harper's cover story on fixing the economy. It's not original by me. It's just correct.

Lon Ponschock (Mon Nov 17 11:28:42 2008)

Lon, the purpose of the article is to create a discussion about where to possibly trim back spending in Wisconsin's state budget. Where specifically would you propose cuts? Or are you proposing only revenue increases? What specific revenue increases would you propose discussing?

Jo (Mon Nov 17 11:41:42)

WEAC money is as bad as everybody else's money. That we don't stop ALL bribery is disgraceful. But then, we just got through re-electing 100% of our congressional reps, so I shouldn't be surprised that we allow the corruption.

Jack Lohman (Mon Nov 17 13:33:58 2008)

One trouble I have re. taxpayer-funded campaigns, is how much would they cost? How do we know there would be a spending cap? What would it be? How would we ensure that money did NOT come from other sources; for example, the pre-paid credit cards that were used (in part) to fund Obama's campaign? These cannot be traced!

How would we keep incumbents from all getting together and voting themselves unlimited tax-paid funds to keep themselves in office? What about third parties?

emily matthews (Mon Nov 17 16:37:40 2008)

Good questions Emily. The answers can be found HERE, but in general its about $75K and they cannot accept any outside money. If the non-complying candidate tried to break the bank with outside money, the state would kick in matching funds. That removes the incentive for people trying to buy an election. Here's the best summary from Arizona's experience. Incumbents would have to opt in or opt out. No playing games. Third parties would receive the same dollars, but they must all get a pre-determined number of local support signatures to prove their viability and to eliminate fringe candidates.

Jack Lohman (Mon Nov 17 17:23:39 2008)

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