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Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), whose district includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, and parts of Greenfield, has been in the Legislature for more than a decade.
She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
By Mary Lazich
Friday, Jul 25 2008, 10:20 AM
As a New Berlin Lioness, I am proud to volunteer every year at the popular New Berlin Lions Club Corn Roast Stand at the Wisconsin State Fair. This year’s State Fair runs July 31- August 10.
Located at the corner of Central Avenue and Second Street, the New Berlin Lions Club Corn Roast Stand sells well over 100-thousand ears of corn each year, and goes through a ton of butter and over 25 pounds of salt.
Money raised from the sales of corn goes to dozens of charities.
Here is a pictorial history of our stand.
Please stop by the stand, buy an ear of corn, and say hello!
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By Mary Lazich
Thursday, Jul 24 2008, 07:24 PM
With only a few exceptions, most state parks and trails are open in Wisconsin. High water levels on southern lakes and rivers are dropping while water levels in the north are low. Fishing conditions are normal.
Fawns are active so the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says be alert of fawns following does along roadways. White-tailed bucks are showing antler development. . Black bear sows with as many as three cubs in tow have been seen as well as red fox kits.
Here are full details from the latest DNR Outdoor Report.
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By Mary Lazich
Wednesday, Jul 23 2008, 11:59 AM
If information is power, then pregnant women should see an ultrasound before they ultimately decide on having an abortion.
Under Wisconsin law, “at least 24 hours before the abortion is to be performed or induced, the physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or any other qualified physician” is required to, in person, inform the woman “that fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation of fetal heart tone services are available that enable a pregnant woman to view the image or hear the heartbeat of her unborn child. In so informing the woman and describing these services, the physician shall advise the woman as to how she may obtain these services if she desires to do so.”
Wisconsin statute 253.10(3)(c)1(g)
Wisconsin is one of 15 states to require medical officials to give pregnant women the option of seeing an ultrasound before an abortion.
This year, Oklahoma became the first state in the nation making it mandatory that a woman see an ultrasound at least one hour before an abortion is scheduled.
State legislatures around the country took up 30 ultrasound-related bills in 17 states. Similar legislation is expected to be reviewed next year.
The author of Oklahoma’s new ultrasound law, state Senator Todd Lamb (R), told Stateline.org the purpose of the law is to “ensure 100 percent informed consent. We’re short-changing these moms if they’re not receiving an ultrasound so they can see how their child is being formed.”
Here’s the story from stateline.org.
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By Mary Lazich
Tuesday, Jul 22 2008, 11:36 AM
More bad news for Wisconsin’s fiscal situation. The non-partisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) reports, “Wisconsin state and local governments devoted a larger share of state personal income to debt service in 2006 than all but nine other states.”
WISTAX came to its conclusion using new U.S. Census figures. “State government ranked 13th in the amount of personal income spent on debt service (0.53% vs. 0.37%, U.S. average), while all local governments combined ranked 21st (0.40% of income), almost 14% below the national norm (0.47%).”
Here’s the WISTAX news release.
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By Mary Lazich
Tuesday, Jul 22 2008, 08:11 AM
I have written extensively about my opposition to the Senate Democrats’ $15.2 billion government health care proposal. Thus far, the program has been rejected, but Senate Democrats vow to bring it back for legislative consideration.
The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI) has a new report that the plan, known as Healthy Wisconsin, would bust the state budget.
WPRI says, “Healthy Wisconsin would turn every aspect of the health care system over to state government. Government involvement in health care would not only be likely, it would be required. As with every other aspect of the state budget, the Legislature will have to set the level of payroll tax that supports the plan and establish a global budget for the plan. Further, given that the tax will be by far the largest levied by state government, and that spending on Healthy Wisconsin will exceed the entirety of the state’s general fund budget, it is inevitable that health care finance and spending will be prominent political and campaign issues.”
The report also states that government involvement in the program will not cases once it’s up and running, the Legislature will be faced with an increase in the payroll tax that supports the program, and that if the plan can’t bring the growth in health care costs closer to the rate of the growth in wages, it will face a shortfall of between $4.79 billion and $10 billion by 2017.
Finally, WPRI points out the disturbing trend in Wisconsin budgeting of raiding funds, noting the $15.2 billion government health care program would be a prime target for raiding.
Here is the complete report.
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By Mary Lazich
Monday, Jul 21 2008, 02:00 PM
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is quite correct in claiming Wisconsin should be designated as America’s Berryland as well as America’s Dairyland. July is berry time in Wisconsin and DATCP’s assertion that you will live longer if you eat more Wisconsin blueberries, if you ask medical experts, is true.
Blueberries are categorized as a “superfood” that everyone should eat to reduce cholesterol and fight off heart disease and cancer. The fruit contains valuable antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E, and according to the US Highbush Blueberry Council, researchers have shown that a serving of fresh blueberries provides more antioxidant activity than many other fresh fruits and vegetables.
The USDA Human Nutrition Research Center (HNRC) is studying the effect of blueberries on the aging process. Thus far, initial tests indicate people who ate a cup of blueberries a day performed 5–6% better on motor skills tests than a control group.
Mid-July is perfect blueberry picking time in southern Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Berry Growers Association recommends that you pick early in the morning when it’s cool and before the sun softens the blueberries. Early evening when the sun is setting is also a good picking time.
Just look under leaves for the fruit. Use one hand to grab the branch and the other hand to pick. All fully ripe berries with no green or white tips should be picked and handled carefully. Piling them too high will crush the berries on the bottom.
If you prefer buying prepicked berries in the supermarket or at a farmer’s market, watch for blueberries that are fresh and fully ripe, shiny, and have plump flesh. If leaves are attached, they should be fresh and green. If the container has stains, that means the blueberries are losing their juice and are overripe. Buy the blueberries by weight.
When you get the blueberries home, keep them out of the sun and heat. Sort them by removing the overripe or moldy blueberries, and refrigerate in loosely covered containers. Don’t wash until the blueberries are going to be eaten.
A half cup of blueberries has 43 calories and 0.3 grams of fat.
Here are more details from DATCP and from webmd.com about the blueberry’s superfood status.
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By Mary Lazich
Monday, Jul 21 2008, 01:05 PM
The non-partisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) says it is assessments.
In a nutshell, WISTAX says, “A rising (or falling) assessment does not necessarily mean higher (or lower) property taxes.”
WISTAX goes into more detail in this report.
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By Mary Lazich
Monday, Jul 21 2008, 11:46 AM
I have blogged extensively about my opposition to government run health care. The state Legislature was successful in keeping the Senate Democrats’ $15.2 billion government health care plan out of the 2007-09 state budget. Senate Democrats promise they will re-introduce the proposal in the next legislative session, despite its exorbitant cost.
The Green Bay Press Gazette editorializes against government health care, citing the high cost of popular programs, and the inefficiencies for veterans’ care.
The newspaper writes, “We know that participants in such government programs as Medicare and BadgerCare are generally satisfied with the care they receive through those programs. But we also know that the costs for both taxpayers and participants is enormous. And we know that the nation's Veterans Affairs health care system is not all that it could be or should be”
The editorial reaches the following conclusion:
“Our instincts tell us the answer lies more in the direction of competition and the innovation of free enterprise, not in the direction of government control and centralization. We urge healthy skepticism toward politicians who advocate a government-run single-payer system.”
Here’s the entire editorial.
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By Mary Lazich
Monday, Jul 21 2008, 10:50 AM
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) is reporting that according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), over 77,000 Wisconsin residents will not get their economic stimulus check from the federal government because they have not filed the appropriate paperwork. The IRS says 68 percent of those who haven’t filed yet are over age 65 and 84 percent are over age 50.
The DOR has launched a summer campaign to attempt to reach Wisconsinites who are still eligible for an economic stimulus check. Here are the details.
To be eligible, you must file a 2007 income tax return, have a valid Social Security Number (SSN), can't be claimed as a dependent on a tax return and have either an income tax liability or "qualifying income" of at least $3,000. The economic stimulus payment is not taxable, and it will not reduce your 2007 or 2008 refund or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2008 return.
However, individuals with at least $3,000 in qualifying income who don’t normally file a tax return must fill out other paperwork with the IRS to get an economic stimulus check.
The deadline to file in order to receive a check is October 15, 2008.
Here are complete details on the economic stimulus payments from the IRS.
Be aware of one of the biggest tax scams of the year according to the Internal Revenue Service.
From irs.gov:
Scams Related to the Economic Stimulus Payment
Some scam artists are trying to trick individuals into revealing personal financial information that can be used to access their financial accounts by making promises relating to the economic stimulus payment, often called a “rebate.” To obtain the payment, eligible individuals in most cases will not have to do anything more than file a 2007 federal tax return. But some criminals posing as IRS representatives are trying to trick taxpayers into revealing their personal financial information by falsely telling them they must provide information to get a payment. For instance, a potential victim is told by phone or e-mail that he or she is eligible for a rebate but must provide a bank account number (or similar information) to get the payment. If the target is unwilling, the victim is then told that he cannot receive the rebate unless the information is provided. Individuals should remember that the only way to get a stimulus payment is to file a 2007 tax return. The IRS urges taxpayers to be extra-vigilant. The IRS will not contact taxpayers by phone or e-mail about their stimulus payment.
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By Mary Lazich
Monday, Jul 21 2008, 10:28 AM
Since 2001, more than 80,000 people have called 1-800-QUIT-NOW, the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line. The assistance they have received has helped reduce their risk of premature death and has saved the state millions of dollars in health care-related costs.
Services at the Tobacco Quit Line expanded on January 1, 2008. Dr. Michael Fiore, Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention has informed me that the hotline continues to be successful with more people taking advantage of its lifesaving services than ever before. Dr. Fiore writes:
“In the first six months of this expansion (1/1/08 - 7/1/08), more than 21,000 state residents contacted the Quit Line. It provides confidential, personalized and free coaching and medication for those who want to break their tobacco dependence. It also helps smokers locate quitting resources and programs in their own communities.
2008 Quit Line service rates shatter all previous records. In a typical year, the Wisconsin quit line helps about 9,000 state residents. By and large, this unprecedented interest is a response to the increased cigarette state excise tax, which went into effect on Jan. 1 combined with the expanded Quit Line services. Here is a more detailed breakdown of Quit Line callers:
● 90 percent are tobacco users. The remaining 10 percent are healthcare providers, and people concerned about friends and family.
● 90 percent have requested further assistance from the Quit Line, including science-based coaching to help them quit. More than 12,300 two-week starter kits of nicotine medications have been mailed out.
● Among those who requested these starter kits, 62 percent chose to receive stop-smoking nicotine patches. The remaining 38 percent chose either nicotine gum or lozenges.
● 40 percent have identified themselves as Medicaid enrollees or uninsured.
The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and administered by the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. It was established in 2001.
Wisconsin Researchers Lead National Effort to Establish New Federal Guidelines on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence
As the chair of a federal panel convened by the U.S. Public Health Service, I was proud to participate in a May event to release an updated guideline of care for clinicians and healthcare systems to address tobacco dependence and treatment. The event culminated two year’s worth of work that examined more than 8,700 scientific studies. It was hosted by the American Medical Association and featured Dr. C. Everett Koop as a speaker. More than 58 national and international organizations have endorsed the guideline, representing more than 1.2 million clinicians.
The guideline recommends a combination of coaching, counseling and medication to more successfully treat what is a chronic disease - tobacco dependence. We are now working with state and national partners to ensure that every Wisconsin smoker visiting a healthcare setting receives evidence-based assistance in quitting.
Wisconsin Researchers Break the “Kid-Smoking” Genetic Code
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI), along with colleagues at the University of Utah published findings that pinpoint the genetic risk of nicotine dependence in children. That risk is mitigated if children don’t smoke on a daily basis prior to age 17. If they do smoke daily prior to turning 17, their risk of addiction increases and it’s likely to be an even more severe addiction than for those who don’t have the genetic predisposition.
This groundbreaking finding is based on a study of 398 participants who came to UW-CTRI clinics in Milwaukee and Madison. Participants from Utah and an extensive national study rounded out the sample.
In Wisconsin, 19.9 percent of high school students and 5.8 percent of middle school students are tobacco users. This new genetic research emphasizes the importance of prevention programs, and specifically prevention programs aimed at youth who are genetically at risk for nicotine dependence.”
Here is the website for the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line, information on what to expect when you call, and testimonials from callers about their experience with the hotline
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By Mary Lazich
Monday, Jul 21 2008, 09:51 AM
The Appleton Post-Crescent is reporting the state wants to add information about some of Wisconsin’s most dangerous sex offenders to a website by the end of summer. These are offenders who have failed to comply with state registration requirements and are still at large. When found, they face fines, jail, or prison time.
Here’s the Post-Crescent article and the website for Wisconsin’s Most Wanted Noncompliant Registered Sex Offenders.
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By Mary Lazich
Monday, Jul 21 2008, 07:34 AM
During the last legislative session, I co-authored a bill to prevent coercive abortions that passed in the state Assembly but was killed by the state Senate, even though a state Senate Democrat was the other co-author.
Women are coerced to have abortions more often than you think. One of the most egregious cases occurred in Georgia. A parent forged a signature on a parental consent form for her son's pregnant girlfriend. The parent, Cindi Cook was recently sentenced.
ABC News has the story. Note the headline. Normally the news media would use the clinical term, fetus. ABC editors, to their credit, used the word baby to headline their story.
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By Mary Lazich
Friday, Jul 18 2008, 11:00 AM
Residents of southeast Wisconsin are quite familiar with the federal agency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA has determined the quality of air in our area is hampered by auto emissions. According to the Wisconsin Vehicle Inspection Program (WVIP) Annual Report for 2005-2006, “The U.S. EPA implemented a more stringent ozone standard, the so-called 8-hour ozone standard. In April 2004, several southeastern and eastern Wisconsin counties were designated non-attainment areas under this standard. The WVIP will play an important, ongoing role in the state’s efforts to comply with the standard.”
That means the auto emission program continues in southeast Wisconsin, although there was a change implemented in the program two weeks. As of July 1, 2008, cars and trucks built before 1996 are exempt from undergoing emissions testing.
This seems odd given that the conventional wisdom is older cars produce dirtier emissions and that newer, cleaner running automobiles that have replaced older cars are cleaner and stay cleaner much longer than their predecessors. If any vehicles should be exempt, it should be the newer and not the older models.
Motorists in southeast Wisconsin are also required to pump and use reformulated gas (RFG) that during the summertime costs much more than gasoline in counties outside our region. How effective is RFG in improving the quality of our air? The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel recently posed that question to the EPA. The EPA had to admit that it didn’t know.
From jsonline.com, June 30, 2008:
“The Public Investigator Team asked the Environmental Protection Agency exactly how the gas benefits air quality today. The answer: ‘That's the data we don't know now,’ said Paul Machiele, director of the EPA's Fuels Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.” During May of this year, I signed a letter with other lawmakers asking the EPA to eliminate the RFG requirement. The EPA says it's preparing a response. Remember, southeast Wisconsin consumers have complained mightily about the effect of RFG, wreaking havoc on automobiles and small engines.
That leads to the latest EPA folly. Nick Loris of the Heritage Foundation reports the EPA is considering a rule that would allow the agency to regulate the emissions of your lawnmower.
Loris writes, “This would require the agency to create different regulations and units of emissions requirements for each gadget that pollutes.”
Loris then quotes from the proposed EPA rule:
“[E]ach application could require a different unit of measure tied to the machine’s mission or output– such as grams per kilogram of cuttings from a “standard” lawn for lawnmowers and grams per kilogram-meter of load lift for forklifts.”
Needless to say, these regulations would be far-reaching, cumbersome, and costly.
Here is Loris’ piece.
The EPA is accepting public comment on the proposed rule. You can e-mail your comments to: a-and-rDocket@epa.gov, fax them to 202-566-9744, or mail them to Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,Washington, DC 20460.
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By Mary Lazich
Friday, Jul 18 2008, 10:11 AM
The Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) has released its annual audit of the financial statements for the Wisconsin State Fair Park for fiscal year 2006-07. Here are the audit’s key findings.
For the first time since fiscal year 1998-99, State Fair Park annual revenue exceeded expenditures, by $1.3 million. Race track related expenditures declined by $3.8 million. As of June 30, 2007, State Fair Park’s accumulated cash deficit was $9.9 million. The deficit is a concern because less funding is available for other state programs and the deficit prohibits State Fair Park income from turning into investments.
State Fair Park made a license agreement in December 2005 with Milwaukee Mile Holdings to manage racing events at the Fair Park. The agreement was for 18 years and included a license fee of $246,000 the first year increasing to $1.8 million annually thereafter. There have been some amendments to the agreement since, the latest coming in a renegotiation in February of this year that reduced the annual license fee to $1 million beginning in 2008.
The original agreement December 2005 agreement was intended to have the license fee be sufficient to cover annual debt service at State Fair Park. Under the new agreement, the LAB estimates that, “State Fair Park’s financial responsibility for the Milwaukee Mile will increase to nearly $1.2 million in 2008,” meaning more revenue sources must be found. Some possibilities that had been considered review are the development of 5.75 acres at State Fair Park adjacent to I-94 and the construction of a billboard on the grounds. Because of I-94 construction, those options have been postponed.
The audit also examined concerns pertaining to livestock contests at the Wisconsin State Fair. The concerns include the role of the Agriculture Director consulting with advisory committees in establishing contest rules for junior division livestock shows, the responsibility of the Agriculture Director in choosing junior division judges, and changes in the payout procedures for the premier livestock competition of the State Fair, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction.
The LAB also reports, “Several conflict of interest allegations have also been raised related to the Agriculture Director’s responsibilities to State Fair Park and his participation in an outside business that buys and sells show cattle. For example, the Agriculture Director maintained a financial interest in animals that were exhibited and won championships at the 2005 and 2006 state fairs. State Fair Park officials were aware of this potential conflict but did not reassign the Agriculture Director’s responsibilities because he was not a direct participant in the competitions and was not the sole person responsible for selecting judges. The Agriculture Director has indicated he is transitioning away from his outside business, but we found that he continued to participate as recently as March 2008.”
Here is the way the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel reported the issue.
The LAB recommends the State Fair Park Board consult with the state’s Government Accountability Board to examine if the Agriculture Director’s outside business interests constitute a conflict of interest with his duties at the State Fair Park.
The LAB also recommends the State Fair Park get more financial information from the company managing racing activities, report back to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee by March 31, 2009 on both the revenue shortfall in the new license agreement with Milwaukee Mile Holdings and the cash deficit, reevaluate the selection of judges for junior livestock competitions, and that the State Fair Park Board’s Agriculture Committee approves competition rules for livestock shows annually.
Here is the entire LAB audit report.
I commend the LAB for their consistently excellent reviews.
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By Mary Lazich
Friday, Jul 18 2008, 09:25 AM
A ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in favor of Menasha Corporation of Neenah will result in a huge hole in the state budget. The high court ruled that the state was wrong to collect sales taxes on customized computer software sales from Menasha and other firms in Wisconsin. The sales tax money collected will now have to be returned and the Legislature must address the $265 million gap.
Here are details from the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel.
As I did with the 2007-09 state budget and the state budget repair bill, I will oppose any solution to this latest budget problem that includes a tax increase.
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By Mary Lazich
Thursday, Jul 17 2008, 06:22 PM
Having written a dozen blogs on ethanol, my record on the issue is clear. Too many question marks along with the dramatic impact on the world food supply make me more than skeptical about the value of ethanol. My constituents have also informed me of their strong opposition.
In America, members of Congress and the food industry are calling for an end to ethanol mandates. The nationwide corn-based ethanol mandate requires blending 9 billion gallons of ethanol into America’s fuel supply this year. Midwest flooding during June devastated several million acres of corn and soybeans fields, pushing the price of corn to record highs that have, in turn, severely hurt livestock producers.
The British also understand the ramifications of the ethanol craze. Christopher Booker and Richard North recently published Scared To Death: From BSE to Global Warming, How Scares Are Costing Us The Earth. They have written a column in the Daily Telegraph, chronicling the historical rise and speedy fall of biofuels.
Booker and North write, “Rarely in political history can there have been such a rapid and dramatic reversal of a received wisdom as we have seen in the past 18 months over biofuels.” Prior to the change in heart over biofuels, Booker and North document what they call “mankind’s love affair with biofuels,” a process that developed in five stages going back decades.
Stage One-The internal combustion engine is born. Henry Ford wanted his autos to run on ethanol made from corn and hemp. The petroleum business boomed during the 1920’s, and ethanol got placed on the back burner.
Stage Two- During the 1970’s, skyrocketing oil prices put the focus back on biofuels. The United Nations, after holding a conference on the issue in 1981 adopted a program in 1987 emphasizing biofuels.
Stage Three- Two key developments occurred during the 1990’s: 1) After the first Gulf War, the United States, staring at a spike in oil prices, viewed surplus crops as the answer to dependence on foreign oil, and 2) The United Nations considered biofuels a solution to global warming.
Stage Four- Between 2004 and 2007, hysteria over global warming grew. In an attempt to show leadership on global warming, the European Union (EU) set a required target of 10 percent of all EU transport fuel to come from biofuels by 2020. A United Nations report during 2006 indicated that in order to meet the EU goal of 10 percent, 70 per cent of dry land would have to be taken out of food production. Despite the UN report, the EU today refuses to alter its 10 percent target.
Stage Five- The ethanol backlash exploded, coming from some unpredictable sources. Environmental groups, once chief biofuel proponents, now had serious doubts, spurred by the effects in the Third World and rainforests. Worldwide food shortages had critics pointing the finger squarely at the biofuel craze.
Booker and North quote a United Nations official who says biofuels can only bring "more hunger to the poor people of the world, "and that biofuels are a "crime against humanity".
The world needs to get over its ethanol hangover and dramatically cut back on ramming food into fuel tanks. Here is Booker and North’s column in the Daily Telegraph.
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By Mary Lazich
Thursday, Jul 17 2008, 05:47 PM
Every county in state Senate District 28 that I represent has been declared a disaster area following the horrendous June floods. The Internal Revenue Service has announced the deadline for tax relief for flood victims has been extended.
Details are contained in this press release from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
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By Mary Lazich
Thursday, Jul 17 2008, 04:58 PM
Deadlines are fast approaching to file for disaster unemployment assistance in Wisconsin. If you were unable to work because of the severe flooding last month, you can apply for assistance, but time is running out.
Here are the deadlines for counties I represent in state Senate District 28:
Waukesha County: July 19, 2008
Walworth County: July 25, 2008
Here is more information in a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
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By Mary Lazich
Thursday, Jul 17 2008, 03:19 PM
The news media gives little attention to Tax Freedom Day, the day the average American has earned enough money to pay this year's tax obligations at the federal, state and local levels. It reports even less on the Cost of Government Day.
Cost of Government Day is the date of the calendar year on which the average American worker has earned enough gross income to pay off his or her share of spending and regulatory burdens imposed by all levels of government, federal, state and local. According to the Americans for Tax Reform, Cost of Government Day is far worse than Tax Freedom Day.
This year, the national Cost of Government Day fell on July 16. Wisconsin’s Cost of Government Day, the 37th latest in the country, is today. July 17.
Americans for Tax Reform in its 2008 report on Cost of Government Day (COGD) writes:
“Working people must toil on average 197 days out of the year just to meet all costs imposed by government. In other words, the cost of government consumes 53.9 percent of national income.
Cost of Government Day falls four days later in 2008 than last year’s revised date of July 12. In 2008, the average American will have to work an additional 17 days out of the year to pay off his or her cost of government compared to 2000, when the COGD was June 29.
In fact, since 1977, COGD has fallen later than July 16 in only four of those 32 years -in 1982 and 1983, and in 1992 and 1993. The driving factor for this development is the fact that all components of the cost of government – federal spending, state and local spending, and regulation – are now increasing faster than national income.
This increase in the cost of government stands in sharp contrast to at least two periods in the past thirty years: COGD fell sharply from a high of July 20 in 1992 to June 29 in 1999 and 2000. In addition, COGD declined from a record high of July 23 in 1982 to July 3 in 1989. Both of these declines resulted from a combination of restraining the growth of federal spending while the economy was booming and rapidly increasing national income.”
The key is taxing and spending. The burden on taxpayers is reduced when restraints are placed on spending. In Wisconsin, taxing and spending levels remain too high, meaning Wisconsin taxpayers have to work over half a year just to earn enough income to pay off their commitments to all levels of government.
You can read more about the Cost of Government and Cost of Government Day here.
I have signed a pledge issued by Americans for Tax Reform that I oppose tax increases.
Cost of Government Day is finally here. Its arrival is little reason to celebrate.
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By Mary Lazich
Tuesday, Jul 15 2008, 10:20 AM
Voters in Georgia go to the polls today to choose candidates in primaries for Congress, the General Assembly and other state and local offices. Before they can vote, Georgians must provide a Georgia driver's license, a valid government-issued photo ID, a U.S. passport, a military photo ID, a valid picture ID showing membership in a native American tribe, or a photo ID issued by a county registrar.
Last Friday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Tom Campbell tossed out a challenge against the photo ID requirement. Georgia’s state Democrat Party was seeking a temporary restraining order to block the use of photo ID in today’s Georgia primaries.
During a hearing last week, Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel testified there would be "mass chaos" at Georgia’s 3,000 precincts if the judge were to grant the Democrat party's request. In a statement following the judge’s ruling, Handel said, "Photo ID has been implemented without incident in eight elections, including the presidential preference primary that featured record voter turnout."
Georgia has also taken a step that I proposed with legislation in Wisconsin that literally removes one of the key arguments of photo ID opponents. In Georgia, according to the Secretary of State’s website, “If you do not have one of these acceptable forms of photo identification, the State of Georgia offers a FREE Voter Identification Card. An identification card can be issued at any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services office FREE of charge.”
During the 2005 legislative session, I authored Senate Bill 119 that would have issued identification cards without charge. Senate Bill 119 passed the state Senate 25-8, but did not get to the Assembly floor for a vote. Here are details on Senate Bill 119.
Democrats in Georgia pledge to continue to fight to have that state’s photo ID thrown out before the November elections. Just as here in Wisconsin, Democrats object to the common sense policy of having voters show proof that they are who they say they are. Wisconsin needs to adopt a photo ID requirement. Approving photo ID should be one of the Legislature’s top priorities when it reconvenes in January 2009.
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