|
 |
6/1/2009
Dems spin the budget - do we look stupid? Part II
In the coming days and weeks, we’re going to hear all kinds of hyperbole about this budget from those that wrought it.
From the Eau Claire Leader Telegram (and the AP), quoting Governor Doyle, defending the budget passed at 5:30 a.m. Friday.
“I know the usual rhetoric, but the fact is the only tax increase is for somebody that is earning over $300,000 a year and then it's only a very small marginal increase," Doyle said Friday.
Republicans accused Democrats of having misplaced priorities and raising spending by more than 7 percent. Democrats countered that increase was due to $3 billion in federal stimulus money, but that state general fund spending was actually going down about 3.5 percent over two years. So we’re going to be hearing that a lot. Bernard Schaber used it in an e-newsletter last week:
I will point out that there is no general income tax increase unless you make over $300,000 a year. There is no general sales tax increase or payroll tax increase. - and I’m assuming other Democrats have as well. It’s an absolutely ridiculous claim. This MacIver piece does a good job summarizing major changes in the budget, as does this AP article and the Eau Claire Leader Telegram linked in the first paragraph.
And then this very misleading garbage about spending in the “state general fund.” The reason Doyle can claim that “general fund” spending goes down is because he doubled fund transfer mischief in this budget. Not only are hundreds of millions of dollars transferred into the general fund from supposedly segregated funds, spending that used to be in the general fund is transferred out to other funds. Doyle doesn’t tell the whole story – and his claim about a decrease in general fund spending is laughable. Don’t be taken in by it. Always look for the increase in total funds spending, not just the general fund or "General Program Revenue" (GPR).
And stimulus funds. The budget is higher because of federal stimulus money? Give me a break. First of all, if those funds aren’t being used for expenditures the state otherwise wouldn’t have been making, we shouldn’t have taken the funds. Secondly, be assured, those funds being spent now will result in increased ongoing spending from here on out. One example – unemployment benefits which were hyped up as a condition of accepting those federal dollars. We shouldn’t count stimulus funds when calculating how much spending increases? Again, give me a break. Taxpayers, don’t be misled.
In response to naïve (or just echoing Dem talking points) and ridiculous claims by Rep. Bernard Schaber that reduced income taxes are to blame for our budget problems, a reader objects to “tossing numbers out of context,” but rather would like to see taxes per individual and apologizes that “gross tax revenue increase” might be attributable “simply to higher incomes and property values today.”
Ok Dennis, more detail. Since 1996, total state and local tax burden has fluctuated between 11.8 and 12.7% of personal income; in 2008, that percentage was 12%.
Income taxes alone, as a percentage of total personal income, rose from 3% in the early 90's to 4% during the decade – because the Dems suspended and then repealed (with Thompson’s signature) income tax indexing. Indexing was a huge setback to lower middle and middle income taxpayers -- those in the $10K to $70K range; income taxes went up almost twice as fast as income. (It was this tax increase that sowed the seeds of our current fiscal crisis because it provided huge surpluses that were spent (yes, by Thompson administrations) without any increase in reserves.)
Now, here's what’s important. After the 1999-2001 income tax cuts, individual income taxes were back to 3% of personal income and have since grown to 3.2%. In other words, all that happened with the “big tax cut” was to return the burden on the public back to where it was.
Again taxpayers. Always important to get the whole story.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Jo, thanks for your efforts at clarification. If I read your response correctly. We taxpayers are in the range (12% now within historic range of 11.8% to 12.7%) of state and local taxes that has existed since 1996. Income tax is also within the historic range (3.2% now within range of 3% to 4%)of personal income.
While I certainly do not like tax increases, I'm more concerned about how money is spent. I don't know if 4% of my personal income going to taxes is necessarily a bad thing. It depends on what I am realizing as a benefit in return.
The recent state budget activity with its "earmark" behavior especially bothers me as there appears to be a lack of healthy discussion and debate on the merits of various funding commitments.
In summary, I am not dogmatically opposed to taxes or even paying a larger share of my income in taxes. Taxes are the dues I pay to live in this society. What I choose to focus on is how that tax money is allocated and managed. What are the tangible benefits accruing?
As you point out, the taxation problem is not a GOP or DEM issue. Both parties can and have acted capriciously. It seems to me this is a matter of what's acceptable political behavior and the integrity of those who are elected to govern.
Dennis (Mon Jun 01 09:18:39 2009)
I agree with Dennis but we can no longer just put this off to "acceptable political behavior". The fact that this budget was crafted behind closed doors and literally rushed thru the process with little or no public input in not just "acceptable political behavior" but an insult to us as taxpayers.
Both sides have been guilty over the years and it will take all of us to hold them accountable. So if you have a chance to address your legislator you should do so. You have a chance this Friday in Kaukauna at Citizens Bank to address many of the legislators in this area. I plan to be there to ask some serious questions about the budget. Hopefully some of you will also. That's the only way that they will begin to listen. Otherwise they will assume we agree or really don't have any violent objections to what they are doing.
Mike
Mike Thomas (Mon Jun 01 15:37:02 2009)
Even better, get rid of Doyle, and send a message that other arrogant politicians will hear. Elections are for hiring, recalls are for FIRING. Go to www.recalldoyle.com and sign up. (The media is not covering this, as they're covering for Diamond Jim instead, but despite that, we're getting the volunteers we need despite them. We are FED UP and we are NOT going away!)
emily matthews (Mon Jun 01 16:56:14 2009)
|
|
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
|
|
