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The Democratic-controlled [Joint Finance] committee Tuesday approved adding more than $118,000 to Lawton's budget so she can hire a fourth staffer. Republicans on the committee called the decision ridiculous in light of the state's $5 billion budget shortfall.

Republican state Rep. Robin Vos of Racine said the Democrats' only job creation program is in the lieutenant governor's office.

But Democratic committee co-chair Rep. Mark Pocan of Madison said it's an insult Lawton only has three staff members.

Think about fairness, think about those individuals who are working two, three jobs to try to make ends meet. They are the guys who are going to be paying for this," said Darling. "I'm sorry to get a little emotional about it, but I think somebody's going to have to start waking up, and getting inside the skins of real people out there who are really going to be paying for all this. It's not that we don't want to give people in our school districts wonderful things, but the idea is can we afford it? Who's going to be paying for it and can they afford it? They can't.

This is a very small fraction of dollars that people are getting. So while you're making it sound like it somehow this is a great, onerous burden on people who are working two or three jobs in River Hills, I'm sorry that's B.S. It's completely not true.

As legislators are wont to do, they will continuously tinker with Wisconsin’s retirement system, most typically adding benefits in small degrees and adding workers as protective category employees. With an eye on controlling costs, Wisconsin voters must ask their legislators to be diligent in not expanding … [public sector employee programs].

Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee rubberstamped a Doyle budget proposal today [Tuesday] that irresponsibly adds thousands of part-time school district employees to the Wisconsin Retirement System without a study detailing the actual costs to state taxpayers.

In a time when most individuals in Wisconsin are worried about losing their jobs and having their pensions and benefits reduced. The Democrats are giving away entirely new full-time retirement benefits to part-time employees.

Under current law, modifications may not be made to the state retirement system unless they have been heard before the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems in order to vet the possible costs and effect on the actuarial soundness of the retirement system. Since this law was not followed today by the Democrats on Finance, it’s possible this provision isn’t even legal. ….

It’s unfortunate that the Democrats have eroded that priority [of a quality education for every child] today by forcing school board members to choose between funding education programs for our kids and paying a brand new pension benefit only available to government employees.

Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net

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COMMENTS

It's going to get worse before it gets better. What seems to be left out is that people have a choice in this matter.

A choice that is on the table for each and every one of us ... whether it is convenient or not ... is to move. When the taxing gets to be too much, each and every property owner can choose to sell and head off to a state that is not such a burden.

Of course if you wait too long, you'll have a harder time selling because others will look at this state and say "no way".

Ultimately the spenders in Madison are digging a hole that will make the state unmarketable and unaffordable.

I'm seriously considering making that choice SOONER rather than later.


Jeff (Thu Apr 23 09:12:44 2009)

Just as a comparison, the private sector uses 2,080 hours/year to calculate the annual salary of an hourly worker at full time status. It is inconceivable that anyone working for 440 hours/year would qualify for benefits.

Phyllis Klee (Thu Apr 23 10:32:28 2009)

The Wisconsin Democrats are bold in their spending of our hard earned dollars. They have exceeded the "Golden Rule" by taking future income and investments from our children and grand kids for political power and personal greed. They have a political agenda of destroying the free market system and to empower more people to be dependent on government.

Jack C (Thu Apr 23 10:40:17 2009)

So, how come you express no outrage at the fact that US Congressman Paul Ryan has 18 (yes, ten plus eight) staffers and he just gave them all bonuses, also on the taxpayer's dime? Sigh...

Rock County TP (Thu Apr 23 11:00:43 2009)

I think it is called "Public campaign financing." She obviously building a platform for her springboard to another office.

I wonder if my buddy Jack will have a comment on that?

And I wonder how anyone NOT elected will be able to compete on any level, much less an equal one, when they can not get similar hidden subsidies to their political efforts.

Ken Van Doren (Thu Apr 23 19:51:39 2009)

Responding to: Rock County TP
So, how come you express no outrage at the fact that US Congressman Paul Ryan has 18 (yes, ten plus eight) staffers and he just gave them all bonuses, also on the taxpayer's dime? Sigh...

Typical lefty practice of taking someting out of context.

Here is what you forgot to mention:
Ryan's expenses always have been less than his allowance, and he didn't spend $70,000 of it in 2008, Sweeney said.

Ryan has returned more than $600,000 since he took office in 1999, Sweeney said.

Eric Matthews (Fri Apr 24 15:58:35 2009)

RECALL DOYLE! Yes, there is a grassroots effort to do just that. If you're Dem, you should also be interested in this, as there needs to be another candidate; Doyle is just plain bad all around.

He never saw a tax he didn't like, and he's environmentally irresponsible: he wants to bring more CAFOs into WI, which should do wonders in killing WI as a tourist destination. (Not to mention toxic levels of H2S and SO2 (these can cause permanent neurological damage), as well as nitrates well above EPA safe limits--nitrates cause blue baby syndrome.)

emily matthews (Sat Apr 25 11:58:32 2009)

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