|
 |
8/4/2010
Todd Berry: Election Year Resolution for Voters
Wisconsin can be proud that more people—over 300—are running for the state legislature this year than in any gubernatorial year in at least two decades.
Now it’s our turn. Candidates are knocking on our doors, sharing brochures that all too often make unrealistic promises. Let’s greet them with an election-year resolution to encourage informed discussion of real issues with unprecedented candor.
The first step in keeping this resolution is to identify and understand the challenges Wisconsin faces. As it has in past election years, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) is working to educate candidates and voters. WISTAX is an independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving state and local government through citizen education.
One way we do this is by providing factual information to every legislative hopeful, regardless of party or political bent. WISTAX briefing packets arrived several weeks ago, providing detailed information on such issues as the state deficit, prison costs, schools, public employee benefits, and unemployment compensation.
Another way we do this is by giving voters clear, succinct background information on major issues. The latest issue of our monthly Taxpayer magazine does this and suggests possible voter questions for candidates. You can get a free copy by going to our website, www.wistax.org.
Armed with this information, we must ask candidates specific questions to determine who would best represent us. No issue is more important than the economy. Jobs and output have declined. State per capita personal income is 6% below the nation’s. We need to ask candidates what Wisconsin government can or should do to boost the economy.
Taxes are another popular issue. State and local taxes claim 11.8% of personal income, 13th highest among the states. Part of the reason we tax ourselves more is that we make below-average use of fees and rank low in receipt of federal dollars. Ask candidates what combination of fees and taxes they think is best to fund government.
A third area of broad interest is schools. With enrollments declining in many places, districts face state-imposed revenue caps. Yet labor, transportation, and utility costs are increasing. The revenue-cost gap presents tough choices for school leaders. WISTAX research shows that small, sparsely populated districts spend more per student than other districts. Ask candidates what can be done to address the problems such districts face.
Higher education is a related issue. As state support as a share of total college and university spending has declined, students are paying for a larger part of their education. Ask candidates what share of costs they think students should pay.
Wisconsin has good roads, according to federal reports. Wisconsin spent $627 per capita on highways in 2008, 12th highest nationally. Transportation is funded through “earmarked” gas taxes and registration fees that, in recent years, state officials have taken to balance the budget. Ask candidates which of the following approaches to transportation finance they support: increased taxes and fees, more borrowing, an end to using transportation dollars for other purposes, or less road construction.
Finally, there is the issue of state deficits. In 2011-12, the new governor and legislature will inherit a $1.2 billion structural imbalance, the largest since 2003-04 and the second largest ever. This will require tough decisions about cutting costs and raising revenues. Ask candidates if they are committed to a truly balanced budget and what specific steps they would take to ensure it.
If candidates and voters make a concerted effort to be better informed this year, and if we ask candidates for specific answers to our questions, the result can only be a better legislature come January.
Todd Berry is the President of Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.
COMMENTS
This and the information on the site is exactly what every citizen should know.
dave allen (Thu Aug 05 08:37:11 2010)
How long has it been since the University system has been audited for management efficiency???
Dohnal (Thu Aug 05 16:03:03 2010)
Jo...how's the vacation
Dale (Fri Aug 06 05:55:35 2010)
Kaylynn...
You can look all day and the bottom line is Roger Roth has not taken 1/10th the special interest money from PAC's and individuals connected with one industry in his entire political career...all 4 years of it (I love the "career politician" spin the Ribble camp is spinning") than Reid Ribble took in the first three months of the campaign.
CJ
I concede that Reid may be a generous guy. So am I within my means. How does that qualify me to be a Congressmen or fall under the influence of a special interest?
Dale (Fri Aug 06 06:03:08 2010)
Virtually all of the above questions and issues are the direct result of the one question Todd didn't pose for the candidates: "who do you think should be funding the political campaigns?"
By now I hope we all know that politicians spend money because the special interests that fund their campaigns WANT them to spend money, and taxes increase as a result.
We've been there before on this blog, but why is it not of concern of WITAX?
Jack Lohman (Fri Aug 06 06:45:54 2010)
I've endorsed Reid Ribble because it is so important to elect someone from outside the political process and bring a fresh outlook that reflects the real world. Someone who has worked hard and hired people to fill jobs that he created. He knows what it takes to meet a payroll, pay employer taxes, worker comp. and all the other demands that big brother government has placed on anyone who tries to make a profit in a successful business. Reid believes in God, family, and country. The other GOP candidates are fine people but Ribble has a leg up.
senator alan lasee (Wed Aug 11 20:45:55 2010)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
