Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Budget Battle Worth Having

My column for the West Bend Daily News is online.  It’s called, “Budget Battle Worth Having.”  I conclude…

The budget battle in Madison is marking a real philosophical debate about where Wisconsin should go. Should we follow the Democrats’ path down the broken road of socialism, oppressive government, and confiscatory taxation? Or should we follow the Republicans’ path down the proven road of smaller government, fiscal restraint and sensible priorities?

This is a debate that Wisconsin must have. Passing a budget quickly must not take priority over passing the budget that is best for the future of Wisconsin.

In the meantime, the police will be paid. The school will be funded. The roads will be fixed. Our government will continue to function. It just won’t be growing very much. And that’s a good thing.

(9) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1846 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. Did I miss something?  When did Republicans ever show fiscal restraint or sensible priorities?  I remember Thompson growing government, growing the deficit, and giving all the money to the road builders.  Reagan, Bush, and Bush have all ballooned the deficit, and still raised taxes.  Walker, oh, don’t even get me started…

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 1936 hrs


  2. What about Walker?

    Please start

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 1953 hrs


  3. I’m sorry, but what role does the County Executive of Milwaukee have to do with state budget negotiations?

    Try to focus, folks.

    Posted by Owen on September 04, 2007 at 2019 hrs


  4. Ok, let’s go with the state, current version.  Let’s start with Family Care.  Family Care was the brain child of TOMMY in 1998, and had a five year test run in five counties, including Milwaukee (Dept. of Aging), Richland, Fond du Lac, Portage and La Crosse.  After the trial period, it was found to have saved big money, eliminated waiting lists and expanded private businesses.  But the AssGOP wants to curb its expansion.  Is that sensible?  Is that fiscal restraint-to spend more money to help less people? 

    And as far as the County Exec. goes, wasn’t he the one who has been crying about lack of funding from the State for the mandated programs.  The delay does nothing to relieve the counties from having to find ways to cover the gap.  Either by raising taxes, or denying services to more people.  Neither a good choice.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 2121 hrs


  5. Family Care has proven to be a good program and I support it.  In fact, in this post I supported Doyle in expanding it:

    http://www.bootsandsabers.com/index.php/weblog/permalink/doyle_aims_to_expand_family_care/

    I was speaking of the budget as a whole.  As a whole, the GOP budget is far more fiscally responsible than the Democrat budget.  But I never claimed that the GOP budget was without flaws.

    Posted by Owen on September 04, 2007 at 2142 hrs


  6. Not meaning to be (too) argumentative, Family Care ain’t what you think, but that’s for another time.

    I don’t agree with everything the Dems are trying to do either, but refusing to negotiate for political points is not good governance.  And as for the rest, it’s never been proven true before in other contested budget battles.  Everyone usually loses…Today’s promises are tomorrow’s taxes.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 2207 hrs


  7. What I don’tunderstand is repeating that “we have a budget.”

    What we have is a past budget, based on past costs and projections.  My budget for last year won’t work for this year.  Why will it work for the state?

    For just one example, this week we heard that the state will build more in Waukesha County (probably taking business away from other counties) with $20 million for the ramp to the Pabst Farms that the developers and Waukesha County forgot.

    That was not a cost in the past budget that now is being called the current budget.  So that’s $20 million less for something else.  What?  What was in last year’s budget that now can’t be paid this year because of this cost?  We don’t know, because we don’t have a real budget—a current budget. 

    What we are working with is not a current budget; it is history.  Heck, then why not haul out a budget for 10 years ago from state archives and call that a current budget?  Or 50 years ago and really reduce taxes?  Please explain how a budget based on past income and outgo will be a workable budget covering increased costs, new costs such as a Pabst Farms ramp, and probably other expenditures being approved but not budgeted.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 06, 2007 at 1140 hrs


  8. Kay, when you say “we have a budget” you’re supposed to make the gesture of the Snidley Whiplash twist of the mustache end, followed by maniacal laughter as you think of all those suffering departments and government workers with cushy chairs and fat paychecks.

    A new Pabst Farm interchange?  I thought the developers were going to pick up the cost of that.  After all, business never wants a subsidy, hand-out or other intervention from the government.

    Posted by John Foust on September 06, 2007 at 1244 hrs


  9. cute homemade christmas gift ideas | homemade christmas gifts jar | inexpensive homemade christmas gift ideas | inexpensive homemade christmas gift | meaningful homemade christmas gift ideas | simple homemade christmas ornaments | spiritual homemade christmas gift ideas | unique christmas gift idea maine | unique inexpensive christmas gift ideas

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 11, 2007 at 2017 hrs


Commenting is not available in this channel entry.