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Milwaukee Business Leaders Pushing for Sales Tax Increase

Is you watched Sunday Insight like you were supposed to, you might have picked up on an interesting tidbit from Milwaukee County Supervisor Lynn DeBruin.  She said that Milwaukee business leaders had already gotten the governor to include the sales tax increase in the next state budget.  Interesting, no?

The good news is that the referendum might actually backfire on the supporters of the tax increase.  If Doyle had slipped it into the budget without a referendum, the politicians could argue whatever they want.  Now they will have to take into account the results of the referendum (assuming the board overrides Walker’s veto as expected).  If that referendum is a 70%-30% “no” vote, it will be much harder to get that tax through the legislature - even a Democratic one.

Posted by Owen at 1019 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

1. As opposed to a property tax increase, I suppose a sales tax increase makes more short-term sense to them.

   But you’d think they’d really be smart enough to know that cutting spending and taxes would be better for them and us taxpayers, too.

   Ask these business “leaders” why I buy more and more items online.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2008 at 1217 hrs
   
   
   

2. So all this hubbub boils down to Holloway et al wanting to give the taxpayers a choice on the sales tax through a referendum (apparently the biz leaders have made up their minds) and Scotty is just saying Scotty knows best.

   
   Remind me again who is supposed to be acting like a thug in this scenario?

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2008 at 1245 hrs
   
   
   

3. I don’t know Lloyd, maybe because it allows you to illegally underreport the sales and use tax that you owe to the state?  Not saying lots of people don’t do it, just calling a spade a spade.  You do know that you owe the state the corresponding sales tax on those purchases, right?

   I have no dog in this fight, but PJR makes a good point.  Conservatives always seem to think it’s a good idea to put spending measures on referenda, but when it comes to raising a tax, then all of a sudden a lot of conservatives seem to think voters can’t/shouldn’t be trusted to make the decision for themselves.

   Unlike a lot of policy matters, issues of taxation are generally unsophisticated and very easy for the average voter to comprehend.  There’s not a lot of nuance in raising the sales tax.  And if Walker is so sure that it would fail, why wouldn’t he welcome the opportunity for the idea to be rejected?

   I’m not saying that the hypocrisy is one-sided.  We could change a couple of the variables and then the Democrats would pulling in both directions as well.

   But if voters want to spend more money on something simple like this (and I’m not saying they all do in this case), why not let them decide?  Again, we’re not talking about complex matters of public policy here.  We’re not asking voters to decide an exit strategy in Iraq or determine our nation’s monetary policy.  We’re talking about spending more money on parks and transit.  Easy enough, right?  And if it can take parks/transit spending off the property tax rolls and shift some of the burden to out-of-county users, well, isn’t everyone clamoring for lower property taxes?

   Posted by Recess Supervisor on July 20, 2008 at 1408 hrs
   
   
   

4. Just the fact that the supporters have to lie about the tax to try to get it passed makes me a bit leery. The taxers always put forth the line of BS that it will help keep the property tax from rising. That is nonsense because the whole point is to generate more “revenue” which means demanding more from those of us that pay taxes.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2008 at 1652 hrs
   
   
   

5. What is not BS is the situation with the parks and transit is getting dire. It is clear the county is not finding fat to cut but is whacking it from the bone and muscle.

   Everything else is going up, meaning that if revenue stays the same the programs will diminish because of energy cost soaring.

   Nobody wants their taxes raised for the hell of it. It is ironic when conservatives suddenly feel sympathy for average people when taxes have to be raised, but give a crap as we have seen so many times before on this blog when the private sector cost of the shopping basket rises.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2008 at 1919 hrs
   
   
   

6. RS, so long as the State’s spending and debt exceed all prudent and reasonable guidelines, preventing the State from copping sales taxes is patriotic and shows good citizenship.

   So much for reporting sales/use tax.

   Posted by dad29 on July 20, 2008 at 2050 hrs
   
   
   

7. I love how so many conservatives are all “tough on crime” unless they happen to disagree with the law, in which case, they’re willing to salute lawbreaking as patriotic.  The hypocrisy continues to run rampant.

   Then again, what else is there to expect from a guy who piously blogs about God while simultaneously talking about how many different types of miscreants, lawbreakers, and other societal undesirables he’d like to see offed at the hands of the state?

   Posted by Recess Supervisor on July 20, 2008 at 2255 hrs
   
   
   

8. I love how so many conservatives are all “tough on crime” unless they happen to disagree with the law, in which case, they’re willing to salute lawbreaking as patriotic

   So says the indentured servant of the State.

   “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.”—Thomas Jefferson, Patriot.

   As to the DP:  you won’t find me endorsing it, except in principle.  The State has that right, with all the usual caveats.  If you argue that the State does NOT have that right, then you have to prove your argument to be valid.

   Any time you’re ready…

   Posted by dad29 on July 21, 2008 at 0601 hrs
   
   
   

9. Dad,

   Since you’re quoting Jefferson, why don’t you share some of his thoughts on organized religion?

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 21, 2008 at 0612 hrs
   
   
   

10. “You can never lower taxes by raising taxes”.  This is a battle about more spending for public employees.  They have better pensions, salaries, vacations, sick days, often misused, and benefits than we do.  That is where the money will go, not to property tax relief.  Cut their salaires, benefits, etc and we will be just fine.  If they want to strike, let them, then public will know what it is all about.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 21, 2008 at 0808 hrs
    
    
    

11. I don’t understand the opposition to Walker’s decision; if he feels the tax is a bad idea, it’s his job to veto it as County Executive, even if that means trying to keep it from referendum.  Just because he feels that the general population will shoot it down doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t veto it anyways, to save the voters the trouble of even fighting it (not that I think showing up to vote is “trouble,” but I’m talking rhetorically).

    Only a modern liberal idealogue could think his actions are somehow “hypocritical.”  I don’t even see as the term could apply here, seing as he ran on a platform of slowing/decreasing spending and (as) low (as possible) taxes and vetoing this going to referendum is trying to achieve the latter.

    Posted by Mike Gallo on July 21, 2008 at 1739 hrs
    
    
    

12. Gee Mike the only reference I see here to being “hypocritical.”, is with RS and dad off on the side sparring with one another over dodging taxes.

    What are you referring to?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 21, 2008 at 1924 hrs
    
    
    

13. TosaVoter:  the question is over-taxation, not religion.  Perhaps you have ADD or something, or you would have noticed the theme.

    Posted by dad29 on July 21, 2008 at 2113 hrs
    
    
    

14. Special note to Jack Lohman and Ketih Schmitz.  Maybe we could have Obama
    designate the money that was suppoed to be used by his campaign from the government fund used for our transit problems.  The parks are just fine.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 22, 2008 at 2142 hrs
    
    
    

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