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Political Calculation

Despite earlier reports that they may fast track the bill to the governor’s desk, the Republican leaders of the Wisconsin legislature have decided to hold on to the Property Tax Freeze for a while before passing it to the governor.

If the GOP sends the bill to Doyle right away and he vetoes it, then the rhetoric returns to “Doyle and the GOP each have a property tax freeze, but they do it differently.”  Given that the MSM insists on parroting Doyle’s false claim to have a plan for a freeze, the debate becomes very muddled in the public arena.  It’s hard for people to differentiate between the two versions.  This opaqueness is exactly what Doyle is counting on.

By holding on to the freeze for a while, it paints Doyle as what he is - a roadblock to a property tax freeze.  As long as the GOP property tax freeze bill is still alive, there’s only one property tax freeze on the table.  As time goes on and people learn more about the provisions in this bill, they will wonder more and more why Doyle won’t sign it.  Doyle can talk about his “freeze” all her wants.  There’s only one bill passed by the legislature about which to debate.

Apparently, the tactic is already working.  Doyle has signaled a softening in his position on signing the GOP bill.  Originally, he said that he would veto it immediately.  Now he is saying that he may sign it if the legislature returns to 2/3rds funding of K-12.  In reality, Doyle is not actually softening his position.  But he is trying to make himself appear less obstructionist because he knows that being labeled the “only guy between Wisconsinites and a property tax freeze” is massively politically damaging.

Posted by Owen at 2242 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

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