WI "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights"

[CatholicEdHead]

While scanning the WPR topics today, the 6am WPR topic caught my eye. It was about the Wisconsin "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights". The reason I am asking about this is because rumblings of a similar bill came up and I expect will come up again in future Minnesota legislative sessions (via the MN Taxpayers League (outside funded group of rich guys who want taxes on themselves lowered).

The guest on Joy Cardin's show was 2nd District Rep Frank Lessee. The hourlong show is here:
http://clipcast.wpr.org:8080/ramgen/wpr/jca/jca041214a.rm
http://www.franklasee.net/ (bill on his page)

He has it on his web page and clearly came off as right wing nut by referring to the "leftists"/"left" quite a bit.

I have heard about a similar bill/ammendment like this passing in Colorado a few years back. I heard it really handicapped the state.

So, my question to the Wisconsin posters just across the border is what are the chances of this going through in Wisconsin? Is Rep Lessee marginalized in the WI Legisature with this bill? (that is why it was given exposure at 6am on WPR?)

I do not believe that something similar will not pass in Minnesota this year with the recent gains in the MN House by Democrats (GOP only has a 1 seat lead right now and the Democrats control the Senate).

Thanks alot

[Viking12]

1. I don't think it will pass, but it will be an ugly fight.

IMO, TABOR will be the most prominent issue in WI over the next year. It is bad policy plain and simple. We need to get ourselves informed and be vocal to stop this mess from becoming our state's way of governance. There are numerous Repugs that oppose TaBOR, but several of the more vocal, moderate Republican opponents were voted out of office this past election.

Here are some resources:

http://www.wisconsinsfuture.org/publications/taxes/TaxHellHoax.pdf


Here's a link to a apper by Andrew Reschovsky of the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs University of Wisconsin-Madison:

"The Wisconsin Legislature is currently considering a proposal for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). This constitutional amendment, if enacted, would tie annual increases in spending by all governmental bodies in Wisconsin to population growth and the rate of inflation or some other specified index. It would also require passage of referenda for any spending increase in excess of the limits, for any tax change that causes net revenue gains, and for most government
borrowing. Supporters of the TABOR amendment argue that an amendment is necessary because:

• Tax burdens in Wisconsin have climbed to excessive rates,
• The over-taxation of businesses is hurting economic development in the state, and
• State and local government spending in Wisconsin has gotten out of hand.

In this paper, I argue that none of the above assertions can be justified by the facts. There is no evidence to suggest that our system of fiscal decision making is broken, or needs the kind of
radical transformation that TABOR would bring."

The article is the second on the table of contents:

http://www.lafollette.wisc.edu/facultystaff/reschovsky/reschovsky-resources.html

[MKE Dem]

11. I think the one thing we will run into is....

People think that taxes are to high as it is, My property tax bill was 500$ more this year (Milwaukee City Bay View). I do not consider that a huge deal, I enjoy having water and police and fire and my trash picked up. My neighbor (still has the W04 sign) thinks that taxes are so high he will have to move (we kinda hope he does) He does not consider all that his taxes pay for. Maybe Re-pukes think that God will provide and the money will fall from the sky....

[CatholicEdHead]

12. Here in Minnesota

what the MN Taxpayer's League and similar thinking people do is compare us with South Dakota. Like things would be SO much better if we followed their model.

It is quite misleading to make that comparison.

[theshadow]

2. Lasse is an idiot...

.... but it's an indication of how bad things have gotten that he hasn't been marginalized at all, at least in the Assembly. I fear that it's inevitable that something will pass. Most people don't know anything about TABOR (in its various forms) beyond it's hot-button name, and that's good enough for 'em.

[gizmo1979]

3. It'll pass

Unless enough of us raise holy hell it'll pass Doyle will veto,hopefully they won't get the votes to override!

[Lisaben2619]

4. Sorry, but Doyle can't veto a constitutional amendment.

This will be on a referendum for Wisconsin voters sometime in 2005, I'm afraid, especially since we have a new Senate Majority Leader.

[sybylla]

6. I believe it has to pass two consecutive legislatures

before it goes to ballot. That means it can't make the ballot until after the 2006 elections at the earliest. At least that's what I've been heard in discussions of the issue.

That doesn't mean we need to give the pukes a head start on this issue. TABOR is bad in so many ways. Clark County is sponsoring a forum next month to discuss it and called our puke legislators to come and justify it to the public. I'm going armed to the hilt. I'll be damned if they'll get a free ride on this issue.

Keep an eye out in your local media for similar events to take place. Getting in the face of these people and turning the tables on them publically is the only way they will back down.

[ewagner]

10. Our local reps

are pretty much afraid this will be a wedge issue for 2006...the timing might be wrong but we can expect it with the GUNS, GOD AND TAXES CROWD.

Thisbill is a stinker....in Colorado, they are holding BAKE SALES to pay the electrical bills at the schools....we need to get out in front of this.

[gizmo1979]

7. doh

my bad,i had a bush moment

[Wisc Badger]

8. Can't be voted on in 05

the Wisconsin Constitution provides that a Constitutional amendment must be passed by 2 consecutive legislatures, and then put to a state wide vote during a normal state wide voting process (such as a primary or normal general election). The earliest we could see this on the ballot is most likely the Sept 06 primary or the 06 General election.

[CatholicEdHead]

9. Enough support

for 2 years in a row? You can clearly see that the Republicans would love to have this issue on the ballot in 2006 to help bring out the base.

[CatholicEdHead]

5. That would suck

I posted a parallel thead over in the Colorado board because they have had one for a few years. I got a reponse today. Pass this story around if you want to try to cut this nonsense off at the pass.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=142x2961

[CatholicEdHead]

13. WPR presented other side of TABOR

on Monday morning.

http://clipcast.wpr.org:8080/ramgen/wpr/jca/jca041227b.rm

7:00 AM


Joy Cardin - 12/27B

Listen



TABOR, the proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights, would place strict limits on state government spending. But Joy Cardin's guest, after seven, says he knows a better way to reduce property taxes and revitalize Wisconsin's economy. Find out what it is.

Guest: Rich Eggleston, Communications and Community Outreach Coordinator, Wisconsin Alliance of Cities. www.wiscities.org