Monday, September 03, 2007

Watching From The Outside

Kevin is watching Wisconsin’s budget process from D.C. and has some analysis. 

Already the writing is on the wall that they’ve over-played their hand on this one. Their lack of a serious committee hearing and debate on the plan shows it was poorly thought out and muscled through their caucus. They’ve let it drift in the wind defending “the principle” while the details have been teared apart one by one by Republicans, the media, and conservative think tanks. Finally, they drafted a plan they had to have known the Governor wasn’t on board with, but kept pushing it anyway.

What they’re left with is an anchor they themselves have placed on the budget conference. One so big, it doesn’t just wear down the process; it’s left them politically boxed in between having to kill Healthy Wisconsin themselves (something a well-read liberal blogger’s now urged). Or even worse; they force their own governor to veto it out of the budget, thus facing the wrath of his own party’s political base.

Hell, if nothing, the always reliable liberal barometer that is Own Wisconsin Now quit urging for socialized health care on a regular basis last week should say something. All the “Healthy Wisconsin” train has tied left to it are the Alliance of Cities and the diehards like Jack Lohman and the bill’s authors.

(5) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0939 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. Heaven knows the Republicans aren’t playing games, it’s all Doyle’s fault!

    Posted by John Foust on September 04, 2007 at 0816 hrs


  2. I really wish I knew what the business tax situation was.  Truth is, I find myself disbelieving of both sides.  On the one side you have Democrats saying big businesses are not paying their fair share, while Republicans call this place a tax hell for individual and business alike.  I don’t see a business boom in SE Wisconsin and I have relatives up nort’ that seem like they are in the great depression. 

    Based on the anecdotes involved, I would guess that bigger businesses get really big breaks and small businesses get screwed.  But I don’t see a lot of corporate HQs relocating here. 

    My ‘feeling’ is that bigger businesses do get big incentives to come or stay here just like they are being courted with favorable rates in other states and other countries.  If that is the case, it sucks, but wouldn’t everyone in Wisconsin want to offer them those favors just to bring money in to the state economy?  It is just a given that liberals get to use it as a talking point, data fact which also sucks.

    How far off am I?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 1101 hrs


  3. Why have a corporate tax at all?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 1103 hrs


  4. You know, Kevin’s constant, relentless cheerleading doesn’t bother me. But the vision of him in a short skirt and pom poms causes me to lose sleep.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 1311 hrs


  5. Jim, it was not necessary to share.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 1547 hrs


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