Assembly Leadership Fights to Keep Caucus From Opposing Tax Increases

It looks like the Assembly leadership is getting a bit jittery.  A few days ago I asked Assembly Republicans to sign a pledge that they would not vote for a budget that increases taxes. 

Well… as of late this morning, Brian Dake from Speaker Huebsch’s Office began making the rounds to Assembly Republican offices to dissuade members from signing or agreeing to my pledge.  Additionally, I have heard that Speaker Huebsch has chosen a couple of legislators to contact individual members and “explain to them why it’s a bad idea” to sign the pledge.  Those two legislators are Rep. Vos and Rep. Rhoades (both on JFC).
It is clear that the leadership fears having members locked-in with the no tax increase pledge.  Makes you wonder how on the one hand Huebsch can talk tough at the Convention and then wants to prevent members from publicly stating their opposition to tax increases.  What happened to this?

“How much further can they go?” Huebsch asked. “That is where the state Assembly will be that goalkeeper, and we will stand in the way of Jim Doyle and his tax increases.”

Look, I’ve heard the leadership’s arguments on this issue.  After I posted the pledge I received some vigorous opposition to it from leadership folks (folks whom I like and who are generally conservative).  But I believe that the leadership’s budget tactics are fundamentally flawed and will result in massive tax increases.  I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t afford any more.  Madison gets enough of my paycheck. 

BTW, several more Assembly Republicans have signed on to my pledge.  I’ll post their responses in a little while. 

UPDATE: Apparently there was also an emergency conference call last night among the leaders to plan this counter-offensive.  Glad to know that they are acting so swiftly and aggressively to squash the fiscal conservatives in their caucus.  If only there was such action on other fronts. 

UPDATE2:  Here’s Mark Belling’s take on this topic.  And Charlie Sykes has his thoughts on it:

Do you think the GOP learned it’s lesson last year? Apparently not.

Owen, from Boots and Sabers has been challenging legislators to sign a no tax pledge.

Now, he reports, assembly GOP honchos are quietly telling leggies not to sign. Setting the stage for a cave-in? Keeping their tax-increasing options open?

Disturbing.

1. Huebsch’s actions make it that much more important that we support Rep. Vukmir, Rep. LeMahieu, Rep. Lothian, Rep. Pridemore, and the others who have signed on today.

   If the Speaker won’t support legislators who stand up for the taxpayer, we will.  We have to.  There is no one else between where we are now and massive, oppressive tax increases.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 22, 2007 at 1603 hrs




2. HOLY COW

   I just called Represntative Ott’s office to ask if he was going to sign on to your pledge that you sent him.  I spoke with a nice lady who said she wasn’t sure and would take my name and number.  After I gave her my address she asked me to hold, and Jim Ott then came on the line to speak with me.  I have called the offices of my representatives, both state and federal, many times but I have never gotten to speak with them personally.  I have even visited offices in person and never seen them.

   All that aside, he said that he was in the process of crafting a response at this time, but would not be signing onto the pledge.  He did say that he would not sign Doyle’s budget, nor would he sign the one that is being worked on in committee.  He said he doesn’t believe in raising the nursing home, hospital, cigarette, beer, soda, or real estate taxes, I think he even included a few others.  He described how there are items in the budget that increase in spending regardless of whether they pass a budget or not, and if those increases aren’t funded they will just go up on the property taxes.  While I see his point I would like to see that money come from the excess and waste from other parts of the budget.

   On a side note we would not be in this mess if we (the entire state) had done our job and kept the republicans in control in Madison and gotten Jim Doyle out of the capitol.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 22, 2007 at 1646 hrs




3. I guess there are the goalkeepers that take the field expecting to shut out the other team…and some that don’t have that winning attitude and expect to let a few go by…

   How disheartening!

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 22, 2007 at 1655 hrs




4. I guess it’s time to unleash my dark answer on whether conservatism is <strike>out of gas</strike> dead in Wisconsin.

   Posted by steveegg on May 22, 2007 at 1730 hrs




5. I wrote to my rep (Bies, 1st AD) encouraging him to sign—it will be interesting to see what he does (or doesn’t do). 

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 22, 2007 at 2053 hrs




6. I have Cory Mason… Sigh.

   Posted by Fred on May 22, 2007 at 2231 hrs