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4/22/2009
Joint Finance is just getting started
Stickin’ it to ya again. Yeah, actions mean something. And these actions cost real money. Your money and my money. And as the powerful Joint Finance Committee ‘deliberates,’ over the next days and weeks, this kind of stuff is going to happen over and over and over. Be reminded Democrats outnumber Republicans on the Doyle Rubber Stamp Committee, 12 to 4.
One of yesterday’s votes was to approve a monthly 75 cent surcharge on every phone bill, to (continue to) pay to upgrade 911 services. The vote was 9-6 (Racine Democrats Lehman and Mason joining all Republicans in voting against). Per the Journal Sentinel:
The surcharge would apply to cell phones, land lines and any other device that can connect to 911 - in all, 6.9 million wireless lines and land lines.
…. The fee would raise $61 million a year, $59 million of which would go toward one 911 center in each county. It would pay for 911 training, equipment and computer-assisted responses to emergency calls.
…. A past surcharge on wireless phones, which ranged from 43 cents to 92 cents per line to help upgrade and maintain 911 centers, expired in July. The committee voted to use a $20.3 million surplus in that account as part of aid payments to local governments. Otherwise, cell phone owners would receive a one-time credit on their bill of $5 on average.
Did you catch that? A surplus in the account, stolen for another budget purpose, and refilled with more tax. And that, after it was promised to be rebated to cell phone users.
Here’s how the AP reported it:
[The previous surcharge] was used to pay for technology upgrades in the state's wireless 911 systems so emergency dispatchers could automatically locate callers on cell phones. The work was completed earlier than planned, and the fee ended in July. There was a $20 million balance.
That money was supposed to go back to cell phone users who had paid the fees. Not returning it is a breach of faith, said Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay, a member of the budget committee who tried unsuccessfully to stop the transfer to local governments.
"They're looking taxpayers in the eye and saying, 'Guys, we lied to you,"' Montgomery said in an interview. He helped write the law that established the surcharges.
Doyle wanted to use the money to help pay for $4 billion in state aid to counties and municipalities and argued it will help to pay for vital services and lower property taxes. Geeez. Doyle makes theft sound like he’s handing you a diamond tiara. Dang it.
And that’s not all.
The committee also approved imposing a fee on both wireless and regular phone users to pay for a $415,800 annual expense to pay for six positions that handle consumer complaints related to telephone companies. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau said the effect of that increase on phone users would be minimal. Minimal. Geeez. Actions mean something. Money. Your money and my money. Dang it.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
JO:
Keep up the good work in investigating and reporting what is going on in the ongoing budget deliberations. It is very disappointing that the local news media, especially the Appleton Post Crescent, is not covering this budget in the detail that they should so that the taxpayer has transparency as to what is going on. It is much like the frog when put in a pot of cold water that will not jump out and when the heat is turned up and continues to stay in the pot until it boils to death.
I think you saw some of the "frogs" jumping out of the pot in the most recent "tea parties" and just maybe the taxpayers will start waking up to what this state government and specifically Governor Doyle is doing. He is banking that us taxpayers will not jump out of the pot.
Keep up the the heat Jo, it is really great that you are giving us information about this process and the resulting tax increases we will face.
Mike
Mike Thomas (Wed Apr 22 07:51:26 2009)
This is why we have to recall Doyle; if you're Republican, it's self-evident, and if you're Dem, a recall would force a new, better Dem candidate.
(Will people who use voip for phone service, also be taxed?)
emily matthews (Wed Apr 22 07:55:40 2009)
I'm not a lawyer - but I DO use VOIP and yes, your VOIP device DOES connect to the 9-1-1 center, so according to this article you get to pay too!
They're pirates in Madison I say ... let's send them all eye patches.
Jeff Riedl (Wed Apr 22 13:21:42 2009)
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