Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Well, It’s Been An Interesting Day

There was a lot of both public and behind-the-scenes action on my efforts to have the Assembly Republicans pledge that you will not vote for a budget that includes any tax increases or any fee increases that aren’t directly related to the cost of delivering the service. 

- This morning, Charlie Sykes covered this effort in his 8:30 segment.  I was at work and unable to listen, but Wendy said that he basically asked the very important question, “if Republicans won’t oppose tax increases, then what’s the point of voting for them?” 

Indeed.

Wendy was also disappointed that Charlie didn’t take calls.  She was going to call in for the first time ever.

- Patrick McIlheran points out:

Still, if this is a matter of Republicans not wanting to box themselves in with no-tax promises, well, there are some boxes that are good to be in. That’s one of them.

I agree.

- Dad29 has been following the story for a couple of days now. 

- This morning, Jay Weber interviewed me about this.  Here’s the audio.  Jay is supportive of the effort.  If nothing else, Jay contends, forcing folks in the Assembly to evaluate their own philosophy regarding taxing and spending is a good thing.

- After I got off of the phone with Jay, Rep. Jim Ott called in to explain why he isn’t signing the pledge.  Basically, his argument is that he knows his own heart and he knows that he won’t vote for tax increases.  Thus, he figures, he doesn’t need to sign any silly pledge to prove it.  Fair enough.  I guess I would just ask why not?  If he’s not going to vote for tax increases anyway, then what’s the harm?

- Hmmmm… how to put this vaguely enough… I had some conversations today with a number of people.  I have it on very good authority that SE Wisconsin’s Republican Congressional delegation is in agreement that the Assembly must reclaim the initiative on the tax issue by opposing a tax increase budget.  I also have it on very good authority that the new leadership of the Republican Party itself is of the same mind. 

- Needless to say, folks in the Assembly leadership are a little ticked off at me right now.  That’s fine.  But I hope that they recognize that I am not the problem.  I am the symptom.  We peons in the base are fed up with empty promises and flat out aren’t going to support - financially, with our time, or rhetorically - Republicans who can’t make the simple vow to not raise our taxes anymore.  I’m just a guy expressing what a lot of other conservatives in Wisconsin are already thinking.  On the flip side, we will support to the hilt those representatives who are willing to make the hard choices to protect the taxpayers.

- WisPolitics has a post up about this.  Rep. Vos is aggressively trying to distance himself from any effort to oppose this pledge.  I’m curious because the information I posted about him was from two sources.  Furthermore, Belling confirmed it with his own source (which may or may not have been one of my sources too).  I’m not sure what the truth is.  It might be that Huebsch planned to ask Vos to ask folks to oppose this pledge, but then changed his mind and it never happened.  I’ll try to get it all sorted out so that we have an accurate report.  I would note that nobody from the leadership has denied this story.

(9) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1856 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. This sounds like a good thing, if it gets beyond the blogosphere.

    One thing that does concern me (and I am very naive about the political process, so forgive me for not having more sophisticated knowledge - I’m sure I will improve as I read this blog more).  Anyway, is there any possibility that a legislator signs the pledge, then at some later date they somehow get conned or tricked into passing something somewhere sometime that does have a fee or tax increase buried in it?  Then fast forward to the next election, and political hay is made about him/her being a “hypocrite” for going against the pledge - I can hear the tone of those ads already.

    It seems like for about 20 years after Reagan left office, every social problem and lack of funding thereof was blamed on the “Reagan Deficits”.  As I recall, the deficits were due to the Reagan tax cuts in combination with legislative increases in expeditures.  I also remember the infamous Bush I “Read My Lips” about tax increases.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2007 at 1949 hrs


  2. Anyway, is there any possibility that a legislator signs the pledge, then at some later date they somehow get conned or tricked into passing something somewhere sometime that does have a fee or tax increase buried in it? 

    It’s possible, but unlikely.  The Legislative Fiscal Bureau does a fiscal estimate for every bill.  It says in pretty clear language if there are tax/spending increases/decreases.  It’s usually pretty accurate.

    Posted by Owen on May 23, 2007 at 2011 hrs


  3. Since everyone seems to have a pledge, I thought I would make a pledge of my own:

    I pledge to not have a short memory and remember which representatives stand up for true conservative principles and support them in the next election.  As for those who cave, well… don’t bother calling or sending requests for support, because it won’t be there.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2007 at 2054 hrs


  4. How’s that for a pledge?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2007 at 2055 hrs


  5. Thanks Owen, we really need you to run for Governor someday.  Nothing would get past you.

    I’m just amazed at all the little taxes/fees that have been buried a long time & never see sunlight.  And the ones that are created for a specific purpose, and at a later time the specific purpose goes away, and then the tax is applied to something else.

    Someday I would like to find a link that lists every fee & tax that is imposed on businesses and citizens.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2007 at 2056 hrs


  6. Owen, I’ll be your campaign treasurer…

    And I like KT’s pledge. Long memories are important. Be sure to encourage a few with others you know!

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2007 at 2204 hrs


  7. Jim Ott has to step up to the plate and sign this thing.  Any namby pamby garbage about how he’s “in-line” with the same philosophy but doesn’t need to “prove it in writing” is just typical politician garbage. 

    John Wirth would have had no problem signing this, and I’ll remember to point that out if he challenges Ott in the next election.  Get on board Jim!

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 23, 2007 at 2325 hrs


  8. Just let me know how I can help send these faux-conservatives back to private practice, Owen. 

    Watching this discussion on the tizzysphere I’ve seen dozens of pull-quotes that will turn up in literature against Vos and Huebsch next time.  That’s a good start.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 24, 2007 at 0625 hrs


  9. Plausible Deniability.

    “Who, ME??  I didn’t send anyone to do anything….”

    Posted by dad29 on May 24, 2007 at 0933 hrs


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