This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Many flaws in Governor Doyle's budget address
Governor Doyle opened his speech outlining his priorities:
“As I put together the budget I am presenting to you tonight, five principles shaped the decisions I’ve made.
First, protect what is most important to Wisconsin – protect education, our health care, our public safety and our ability to create jobs and grow the economy.
Second, cut what is not essential.
Third, use the federal money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan wisely.
Fourth, protect the middle class against tax increases.
And finally, leave this state in better shape than it was before.”
Notice what’s mentioned first, right out of the box by the WEAC Pinocchio? Protect education.
The governor mentions we must protect our ability to grow jobs, yet nowhere in his speech do I see a job creation plan. |
Protect the middle class against tax increases is his 4th priority. After public safety, that should have been #2.
CONCLUSION: The governor’s priorities are mixed up.
The governor then said his budget “rejects new spending requests, however worthy. “ How does that explain Wisconsin Covenant? The new registry for gay couples? The new regional transportation authorities?
CONCLUSION: The governor is increasing spending when he says he’s not increasing spending.
The governor said, “By investing in our schools, the state of Wisconsin is protecting the local property tax payer. Property taxes hit families hard – especially families who have lost jobs – and this budget holds the line on property taxes.“
Following the speech, Wisconsin Public Television interviewed the state’s #1 expert on taxes, Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance President Todd Berry. Berry said the governor’s budget increases school aids. The result will be statewide property tax increases of 5-7%.
CONCLUSION: The governor is increasing your property taxes.
The governor boasts of making big cuts. Cuts in increases aren’t cuts. Lapsing expenditures isn’t cutting.
CONCLUSION: The governor warned of pain. In reality, there’s not much here. After the governor’s “cuts,” the state is still in a deep deficit.
The governor said, “Some say we should raise the sales tax. I’ve never done that, and I’m not going to now. “
No, he’ll just find other ways to tax, along with fees to raise.
He said, “This budget calls for taxpayers to pay one percent more on any earnings above $300,000 a year…….We can pass an oil assessment (tax) so that big oil companies, which are still making record profits, pay their share for our roads…… I am proposing an additional 75 cent tax on a pack of cigarettes.” The governor is also re-introducing his hospital tax.
CONCLUSION: When Doyle said in his 2003 State of the State address, "We should not, we must not and I will not raise taxes," it was a lie.
Governor Doyle didn’t fix anything. Just as in the past, he has left the mission of fixing Wisconsin’s finances to the Legislature. Only this time, the Legislature is controlled by Democrats. That could mean even more tax/fee and spending increases.
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