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.
"If we can't cut four and a half cents on the buck, then what the hell are we doing here?"
It is impossible to meet and know state Senator Michael Ellis (R-Neenah) as I have for many, many years and not love the guy.
No one captivates the listening audience when the state Senate is on the floor than Ellis who is so persuasive he even gets the liberal Capitol press corp and Senate Democrats chuckling and fighting nodding in agreement. I always try to pay attention as to which Senate Democrat will foolishly rise after Ellis is through speaking and try to follow. More often than not, it’s Robert Wirch from
No one, I mean absolutely no one other than possibly Bob Lang of the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau knows the state budget inside out as well as Ellis. The senator from time to time will invite the media into his office and dissect the budget on his office blackboard. It’s the truest picture of the numbers they’ll get anywhere because trust me, the Capitol press corps, unless it’s spoon fed to them, won’t write about it.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that Ellis is proposing the Legislature make across the board cuts of 4.5% to address the state’s $2.5 billion structural deficit.
"If we can't cut four and a half cents on the buck, then what the hell are we doing here?" said Ellis.
BINGO!
More from the Journal Sentinel:
“His plan would include reductions to aid for public schools and local governments. He said lawmakers should bar local officials from making up the cuts with increased property taxes.”
DOUBLE BINGO!
The state has been generous year after year after year. Well guess what? The state is broke to the tune of $2.5 billion. Yet some will scream for more state aid. It ain’t there, folks.
Unless you want big fat tax increase, Ellis’ way is the way to go.
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