"Taxpayer BIll of Rights" Full of Perils for GOP

[sybylla]

http://www.madison.com/captimes/news/stories/73076.php
by Matt Pommer

Assembly Speaker John Gard's leadership will be tested this week as Republicans attempt to mesh talk of a Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) constitutional amendment with political reality.

Republicans appear in some disarray over the TABOR concept. A committee appointed by Gard has been unable to deliver specific language on what the amendment should say.

Nor have the Assembly Republicans been working closely with Republicans in the state Senate who will get a list of potential alternatives for a constitutional amendment and companion tax legislation.

First, the political reality. The road building industry, which donates large amounts of money to Republican causes, would like an exemption from tough controls on highway construction and the fees and taxes that fund roads.

<snip>

Let's hope it brings down a few goppies on the way.

[eyesroll]

1. Milwaukee-area DUers can hear a talk about this TONIGHT

6:00 at Long Wong's on Bluemound.

It's sponsored by Milwaukee for Democracy (the former Milwaukee for Dean), and is preceeding the regular MeetUp. (dfa.meetup.com has the info). You don't need to like Dean to attend.

I'm woefully uninformed about TABOR -- I tried to blog about it yesterday and what little I had was wiped out by a computer freeze -- so I'm hoping this will shed some light on it.

Thanks for posting, Sybylla.

[sybylla]

2. Some sources for TABOR info

Been looking at it myself for a couple of months since it came up at a school board meeting.

I've found information at a couple of sites

http://www.highroadnow.org - this website belongs to Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) and is very fact-based in its research

http://www.thewheelerreport.com - has press releases and legislation info on TABOR

[sybylla]

3. More on TABOR from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

Special interests with a stake in the outcome of the debate over a proposed constitutional amendment to restrict state and local government spending dubbed the "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" have showered over $6.5 million in campaign contributions on current members of the Legislature since 1993, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review of donations shows. http://www.wisdc.org/taborcontributions.html

Most advocacy groups oppose TABOR, with at least 44 organizations on record against writing limitations on government spending into the state constitution. Only four groups are on record supporting TABOR - big business lobby Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the Wisconsin Realtors Association, Wisconsin Property Taxpayers Inc. and the Out of State Landowners Association.

Manufacturing and business interests represented by WMC have contributed more than $2.2 million to legislators and Realtors have donated at least $827,795.

TABOR opponents include labor unions, municipal governments, various social service organizations, the health care industry and education interests. Labor unions have contributed at least $810,454 to lawmakers since 1993. Of that, $236,883 came from teachers union Wisconsin Education Association Council and its affiliates.

It is uncertain if or when the Legislature will meet to consider the proposed constitutional amendment. Republicans who back the concepts embodied in TABOR and who control both houses of the Legislature have yet to agree on key details involving the severity of the taxing and spending restrictions in the proposal.

Spread the word about this issue by sending this message to people you know. To support the Democracy Campaign's work, go here.


Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
210 North Bassett Street, Suite 215
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: [phone]
Web Site: http://www.wisdc.org

[ewagner]

5. Thanks Sybylla

needed to get up to speed.

[eyesroll]

4. My sister's in Colorado, and she teaches under TABOR

She guest-blogged for me on the subject. It ain't pretty.