Monday, March 4, 2013
The days of claiming the alternative minimum tax credit, historic rehabilitation tax credit and the working family tax credit may be over as State Assembly Republicans look at possibly cutting them.
If you were among the 790 families that claimed the working family tax credit or the 418 who claimed the historic rehabilitation tax credit, the 2012 tax year may be your last to do so. State Assembly Republicans are talking about nixing 50 tax credit programs -- including the alternative minimum tax, working family tax credit and historic rehabilitation tax credit -- that don't get used much by Wisconsin income taxpayers. The manufacturer's tax credit would remain untouched. If a proposal passes into law, the legislation would ultimately lower the tax rate, according to a story by the Journal Sentinel. Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) told the Journal Sentinel that he's trying to simplify the tax code because it is "horrendous" and …
Monday, January 21, 2013
What's blocking Wisconsin from implementing new, tougher laws against drunken driving? It could be "the dollar factor."
Mark Grapentine is a seasoned observer of state politics. He was an aide to then-state Rep. Scott Walker and a policy adviser to then-Gov. Tommy Thompson. For the past decade, he’s been a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Medical Society. In this capacity, he’s pushed for tougher state drunken driving laws — and noticed that, despite an absence of pushback, these laws have stayed mostly the same. “It has been interesting to watch how there has been a lack of progress in an area where there seems to be a tremendous amount of agreement on the need to do something,” Grapentine says. Wisconsin remains the only state where first-offense drunken driving is not a crime, although the civil penalties include license suspension and substantial fines. Two …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
State lawmakers say they want to change the rules to make government more transparent.
**Updated 10 p.m. The State Assembly Thursday voted to end all night debate sessions in an effort, lawmakers said, to make government more open. Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Majority Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbottsford) introduced the measure during the first full day the Legislature is in session after the November elections. “At the end of last session, numerous constituents, colleagues and even the press talked to me about ending the overnight Assembly sessions, so that our debates could be more open and transparent,” said Vos in a written statement. “These marathon sessions don’t serve the members or the citizens of this state well.” Leaders from both sides of the aisle signed on to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that spells …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Speaker-elect Robin Vos plans to introduce mining law reform as his first order of business when the state Legislature reconvenes later this month.
Calling it "a top priority" when the state Legislature officially returns to work later this month, Assembly Speaker-elect Robin Vos (R-Rochester) will make mining law reform the first bill introduced during the new session. Vos and Majority Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbottsford) say reform is needed to bring mining back to the state while also protecting the environment. “Mining reform is a top priority in the state Assembly,” Vos said in a press release. “I’m hopeful all the interested parties can come together to protect our environment and make mining reform happen.” Vos and Suder joined Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday as he visited companies in Green Bay, Milwaukee and Schofield that would directly benefit from the mining industry's return to…
Friday, September 14, 2012
Estimates in February put the cost of recall upwards of $17 million. The real figures are closer to $13 million, which is still a big chunk of change.
The Government Accountability Board issued a press release Friday saying the 2012 recall elections cost taxpayers more than $13 million. Specifically, the statement says the May recall primary ran up a bill of $6.3 million. That figure includes: The June recall general election cost more, coming in at $7.2 million. This amount also accounts for a variety of functions: “Instead of conducting two primaries and two elections this year, Wisconsin election officials will be conducting six elections, which added approximately $13.5 million in unbudgeted costs,” said Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the GAB in the statement. “These unplanned elections also put significant stress on Wisconsin’s clerks, who have many other duties …
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Despite the gulf between their philosophies, big names from both sides of the recall told their supporters the same thing: Get to the polls and take everyone you know with you.
Two rallies, two distinct ways of looking at the state's historic recalls and one overriding message: Get out and vote, and get as many people as possible to go, too. "Call everyone you know," Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch told the almost 4,000 people in Gorney Park Saturday for the Racine Tea Party rally. "Email your family and friends, talk to your neighbors, use social media and let's win this thing for Wisconsin." It wasn't much different two hours later at the Racine Labor Center where recall supporters gathered to meet liberal radio and MSNBC talk show host Ed Schultz. "We've done a lot of work, but there's more to be done before Tuesday," said US Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison). "Every single vote counts, and it is up to you to close …
Monday, May 14, 2012
With the 2011 and 2012 recall elections costing Wisconsin taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) introduced an amendment that would change the way we do recall in Wisconsin. Vos is Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Finance.
Last week every community across Wisconsin spent thousands of tax dollars on an unnecessary recall election. In a few weeks, our local governments will spend that same amount again. Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen estimates that a quarter of a million dollars will be spent on the recall elections in our county. So, it’s not surprising that the total cost of the two recall elections statewide is expected to exceed $16 million. I think we all can agree that’s too much money. These dollars could be better spent or even better, given back to the taxpayer. Our state is turning into the recall state. My constituents continue to grow tired and frustrated with the never-ending campaign cycle. Even the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial …
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Government Accountability Board also needs $100,000 in software upgrades, an off-site facility and temp workers.
Wisconsin recall elections seem like a pretty sure thing, and to be sure the integrity of the process is preserved, the Government Accountability Board is asking for an extension to review petition signatures. State statute gives the agency 30 days to conduct a review, but the GAB is asking for 60 days or more, according to an Associated Press story. Government Accountability Board Director Kevin Kennedy said the court-ordered, more stringent process is driving the timeline. Completing the verifications in 60 days plus a primary for the gubernatorial race means a May election. Further court challenges or other delays could mean pushing the election(s) to June or later. While 540,000 signatures are required to spark a recall election, state…
Friday, January 6, 2012
All 72 counties responded to a survey that helped the Government Accountability Board compile its numbers.
A recall election for Gov. Scott Walker would cost just more than $9 million without a primary and $17 million with a primary, according to numbers released Friday. The Government Accountability Board reached those estimates after receiving information from the state's 72 counties. The work was done after Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) made a request for the information. "The costs are significant," said Vos. "We asked for these figures, hoping that if people knew the cost, they would think twice." After learning the recall elections in summer 2011 cost over $2 million, Vos wanted to know what a statewide recall would run. In a letter to the GAB back in October, Vos asked for an estimate, saying he wanted voters informed before petitions …
Friday, July 29, 2011
Critics say the national government-business organization has too much say in state politics here and elsewhere.
A little-known think tank called the American Legislative Exchange Council is getting some national attention for its involvement in Wisconsin politics. The conservative-backed organization is gaining attention for authoring legislation pushed through state Legislatures around the country, including here in Wisconsin. Rep. Robin Vos, a Republican who represents Caledonia, is an active member, and Gov. Scott Walker is a former member of the group. After conservatives recent successes in Wisconsin, liberals are working to raise ALEC's profile and make it an issue come election time. John Nichols, associate editor of The Capital Times and contributor to The Nation and In These Times, wrote "ALEC Exposed" for The Nation. The article was …
peter
6:25 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
If anyone who claims to know God's intentions is a fraud, why do all the fascists go to church? more ›