Friday, June 08, 2007

Reclaim The Tax Issue

James Wigderson of Pub fame pens (keys?) a good column regarding the tax issue in Wisconsin.

Back in Wisconsin, Republicans have not learned the lessons of the 2006 elections when they failed to make taxes a credible issue, losing the race for governor and control of the state Senate.

Republicans still control the state Assembly by a narrow margin, but Speaker Mike Huebsch is obviously ready to ignore the voices he heard at the GOP state convention in Lake Geneva and will compromise with the Democrats on a state budget that will raise taxes. While Huebsch recently stated the Assembly would pass “a balanced budget that taxpayers can afford” which does not include the tax increases proposed by Gov. Jim Doyle, he is actively encouraging his members not to sign a pledge to not raise taxes written by blogger Owen Robinson.

Huebsch has also been waffling on the proposed new tax on oil company profits despite its dubious constitutionality and the likelihood of higher gas prices. The tax money would go to the Legislature’s favorite constituency, the road builders.

The first budget the Assembly passes might avoid raising taxes, but Huebsch will lead his party to passing a budget that raises taxes rather than force the Democrats to raise taxes with only the support of a handful of weak-kneed Republicans. Huebsch should ask former Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz how life is in the minority and out of leadership before he chooses that path.

So far, only 10 Republican members of the Assembly have pledged to vote against any budget that raises taxes. Among the disappointments is state Rep. Mark Gundrum, who has a reputation as a conservative stalwart. The two freshmen in the Waukesha area, state Reps. Rich Zipperer and Bill Kramer, have taken the pledge. So has state Rep. Leah Vukmir.

It is ironic to note that when Kramer first took office, he was in the Gundrum car pool to Madison. Gundrum was supposed to be Kramer’s mentor in the Legislature. Perhaps it’s time the teacher became the student, and time the leadership started listening to two Republicans who managed to win open seats last November.

Why is it that everybody seems to get this except the Republican leadership?

(1) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2018 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. Yah, the Gundrum absence on your ‘signer’s sheet’ was very noticeable.

    Posted by dad29 on June 09, 2007 at 0711 hrs


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