The state budget passed. There was compromise. I am not happy about it.
I am really disappointed in Speaker Mike Huebsch. For all the no tax increase posturing he did prior to the vote, it seems he gave in to the idea that increases were OK as long as they weren't horribly high. With that kind of thinking we will never get spending under control!
The real goal should be to reduce spending, not just tailor the increases to what someone thinks we can afford. There is nothing wrong with government leaving a little extra money in your pocket at the end of the day. That extra is what we use to fund our savings, retirement, college, and charitable giving accounts.
JSOnline reported, "Huebsch touted the budget as one that keeps governent spending in line with taxpayers' ability to pay, but Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa), a no-tax-increase pledge signer, disagreed."
" ' This is not a Republican budget, it is a Democratic budget; and it's riddled with earmarks and favors and new spending that we simply cannot afford,' she said."
Some fees/taxes/surcharges or whatever you want to call them were eliminated--there won't be the bed tax or oil company tax. But there will be hefty new fees and taxes--$763.2 million of them. The $274 million increase in drivers license/car title fees and the $200 million raiding of malpractice funds along with the new cigarette tax are excessive. Granted, the estimated $378.5 million new cigarette tax probably irritates only the smokers, but on principle, it is wrong. I don't want anyone to smoke, but which group will they stab next to target for a new tax?
Anyway, I am glad to report that Brookfield's 3 Republican legislators voted NO to this budget. By the way, I would have been even happier if our one Democrat Senator Sullivan had voted NO too. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue; it is simply a case of controlling unbridled spending.
If you are pleased with Brookfield's 3 legislators, Rep. Vukmir, Rep. Zipperer, and Senator Kanavas, who voted NO, take a moment to tell them. While you are at it, share your thoughts with Senator Sullivan, Rep. J. Fitzgerald, and Rep. Huebsch, who voted YES.
No votes:
State Representative Leah Vukmir, Republican, 14th District
Representative Rich Zipperer, Republican, 98th District
State Senator Theodore Kanavas, Republican, 33rd District
Yes votes:
State Senator Jim Sullivan, Democrat, 5th District
Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (Assembly Majority Leader)
Rep. Michael Huebsch (Assembly Speaker)
