“The Democrats are killing us with taxes. The Republicans shouldn’t be helping them.”

Mark Belling used his column this week to call out Assembly Republicans for refusing to draw a hard line on taxes. 

If Wisconsin Republicans cannot offer an alternative vision to Doyle’s tax and spend orgy, they will have forfeited the right to claim to be the party of conservatives. Republican Assembly members (at least in southeastern Wisconsin) who acquiesce to this tax explosion will find themselves targeted for defeat in primary elections next year. It’s even conceivable that one of them could face a recall this summer. Enough is enough. The Democrats are killing us with taxes. The Republicans shouldn’t be helping them.

He also reminded everyone of what exactly happens when the budget doesn’t get passed by the end of the fiscal year (which is only one month away).

The state fiscal year ends June 30. What if the two parties don’t agree on a budget by then? The current budget simply remains in place. That gives the Republicans a lot of leverage. The state won’t shut down. Welfare checks and state payroll checks will still be issued. No employees will be laid off. The driver’s license bureaus and state parks remain open. It won’t be like the notorious federal shutdown of a decade ago.

All Assembly Republicans have to do is draw a line in the sand and say they will not raise taxes more than a small amount. It’s a stand that will earn them the support of a lot of Wisconsinites and will allow them to actually lay out a different vision for the state than the one being served up by Doyle. The only reason not to do it is if they don’t believe in it.

If that’s the case - if the Sue Jeskewitzes and Mark Gottliebs of the world (to name two Republicans from our area who think like Democrats) find themselves agreeing more with big spenders like Doyle, the unions and the road builders - it is proof that they are phonies who offer lip service to constituents in overwhelmingly Republican districts.

2007 is the chance for the real Republican Party in Wisconsin to stand up. We’ll know in a few weeks just who that party really is.

As a reminder, I have asked Assembly Republicans to pledge that they 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.  Here are the 10 Republicans and 1 Democrat in the Assembly who are willing to take this pledge.  Please, PLEASE, let these good folks know that you support them.  Just click through the links to get their contact information.

Rep. Vukmir
Rep. LeMahieu
Rep. Lothian
Rep. Pridemore
Rep. Lasee
Rep. Zipperer
Rep. Nass
Rep. Kramer
Rep. Nygren
Rep. Gunderson
Rep. Ziegelbauer

Here are the folks who have refused to take this pledge.  They should be commended for taking the time to respond.  Yes, they are wrong, but at least they showed enough respect for the readers of this blog to let us know their mind. 

Rep. Ott
Rep. Strachota
Rep. Vos
Rep. Gottlieb
Rep. Jeskewitz

The rest of the Assembly GOP caucus has chosen to give us the cold shoulder… or the middle finger… I still haven’t decided.