Subeck and Taylor Unveil Middle Class Tax Cut Legislation

MADISON – Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) and Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) joined several of their Democratic colleagues today in introducing progressive tax reform legislation that provides substantial, targeted tax relief to middle class families and ensures that millionaires and big corporations pay their fair share. 

The proposed tax cut is specifically targeted to individuals making less than $60,000/year and families making less than $100,000/year.  For example, a family of four making $45,000/year would receive an additional $607 for tax year 2017.  Taylor and Subeck pay for these middle class tax cuts by repealing the largest corporate tax giveaway in Wisconsin history – of which 88 percent goes to Wisconsinites making more than $500,000/year – and instituting a Millionaire’s Tax by creating a fifth tax bracket for Wisconsin’s most wealthy.

“Governor Walker and legislative Republicans have given handout after handout to the rich and powerful,” Taylor remarked.  “To the hard-working families of Wisconsin – we hear you and know you need more money in your pocket.  We are committed to doing everything we can to give you a needed raise and to build an economy that works for you, not just those at the top.”

In Wisconsin, the rich are getting richer while middle income people are having to work harder just to survive.  Over the last three decades, the average incomes for Wisconsin’s top 1 percent has increased by 120 percent, yet the incomes of the remaining 99 percent grew by just 4 percent (Pulling Apart 2016, by the Wisconsin Budget Project and COWS).  Meanwhile, Wisconsin Republicans have created a rigged economic system that leaves low and middle income families behind.  Not only are middle income people paying the largest percentage of their income of any group in state and local taxes (Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy), the number of Wisconsin middle income families is declining (Pew Charitable Trust).

“It is time that legislative Republicans start putting the people they represent first, ahead of big corporations and their wealthy donors. The Republican agenda sacrifices the future of our children by cutting our public schools and UW System, simply to pay for tax breaks for the rich,” said Subeck.  “I traveled around the state talking to middle class working people, and it is abundantly clear they have been harmed by these policies and want an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.” 

To view a video on our progressive tax reform bill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBOWnShLrHc

The Tennessee Tax Cut

By Jeff Simpson

We brought you the story of who was truly carrying water for Scott Walker, the elected Democrats.  Then we also showed you how easy it was to take an issue that Scott Walker loses in and turn it into an easily understandable story about gumballs.

Now we find out that while we get to share a gumball weekly, our friends in Tennesee get a whole Gumball truckload thanks to Scott Walker and Democrats who gave him cover!


While most Wisconsin taxpayers will see a cut of pennies to a whopping $13.00 this year, all while burdening the Wisconsin Taxpayers with more future debt and a larger structural deficit.

The best part though is whole Scott Walker is giving you an $.08 pay cut this year, he is giving his friends in Tennessee $18,000.

 And CBL Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn., owner of East Towne and West Towne malls, will enjoy an $18,000 savings. Each mall is assessed for about $81 million, according to city tax records, with the owners paying almost $4 million total in property taxes last year.

Nothing says "create" jobs in WI, like sending an $18,000 check to TN.  I wonder how much the rent at East Towne and West Town will come down now?  Or what kind of sale the stores will run to help spark the economy because of this "tax cut"?

Or will CBL properties just add it into their bottom line and bonus the CEO because of improved profitability?  

Why Scott Walker is Beatable & Why The Democrats Won't Beat Him!

By Jeff Simpson

I pointed out yesterday, that what is really hurting the cause in WI is when Scott Walker advances "crap" bills and the dems give him political cover by overwhelmingly supporting it.

This LTE was in the Baraboo News Republic recently:

MAILBAG: Thanks, governor, for free gumballs

 

October 15, 2013 4:29 pm

Huh, you say? Let me explain.

Walker’s much-ballyhooed $100 million tax cut, as everyone should know by now, translates into roughly $13 per household. That $13 per year equals 3.5 cents per day, so if you save it up for a week, you’ll end up with a full entire quarter. That’s just enough to buy a gumball at any of our local grocery stores. If your house is particularly nice, you might end up with two or three gumballs. Of course, if you’re poor and don’t own a home, sorry, no gumballs for you.

But for the sake of argument, let’s say you’re a one-gumball person. Most of us are. Looking forward to it? Think again. Since state and local taxes are deductible from your federal taxes, every tax cut you get from the state means you'll have to pay more in federal taxes. If you’re in the 25 percent tax bracket, then you’ll have to send every fourth gumball to the IRS. Now you’re down to just three a month.

But hey, a gumball is a gumball. Which would you rather have, better schools for Wisconsin’s children, or a handful of gumballs? Personally, I’m grateful to the governor for this. I’d write him a thank-you note, except that my tax savings won’t cover the cost of a postage stamp.

Tom O'Brien, Reedsburg

See, more people then ever are paying attention. Which means more people "get it".  Unfortunately, our elected Democrats, approach with job with cowardice, and treat the people of WI like they are ignorant.   Not everyone thinks that getting a "Gumball a week", while our infrastructure crumbles, our public schools suffer and there are no jobs, is such a great thing. 

So as long as the democrats keep playing defense, worrying about how the republicans will campaign against them and keep trotting someone out as the next great hope who will not take a position on anything, we will continue to lose. 


For me I will look at my weekly gumball and think about what might have been!

Carrying Water

 

By Jeff Simpson

Yesterday I was accused of this:

" It is undeniable you are carrying water for Walker. You can claim your not, shout it from the rooftops if you like. Doesn't change the undeniable fact which is you are doing exactly what's the R's want."

All because I think we should set the bar at - not a career lobbyist who has been convicted of criminal activity in the biggest governmental scandal of our lifetime for people trying to get Mary Burke elected as our next Governor.     

This morning I woke up to this in my emailbox from One Wisconsin Now:

Jeffrey -
Gov. Walker’s desperation tax scheme is on its way to becoming law, and for the average property taxpayer it adds up to a “savings” of all of $1.08 a month, for a total of $13 a year, in 2013.

Our research uncovered that Gov. Walker didn’t even start drafting the bill until the same day he had his press conference announcing it!

If you’ve had enough of this malarkey, kick in $13 to our Walker Rapid Response Fund and help us keep exposing the hypocrisy of Gov. Walker.

One Wisconsin Now is one of my favorite groups.  They have been at the forefront of opposing this extreme right wing agenda that has happened in Wisconsin.  They are truly a progressive group that is at the forefront of trying to make Wisconsin a better place.  They truly are what you could consider, the base of the Democratic party!

Now let's look at it.  OWN is sending out a fundraising email on the back of Scott Walker's ridiculous, thrown together quickly, make me look good to the uninformed voters, kick the deficit can down the road, Don't spend your $13 all in one place "tax cut".

The problem that we have is who are they fighting here?  

“The freedom that comes along with announcing you’re not running for reelection is that you can vote against crap like this,” said Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, describing the property tax relief bill that passed the state Senate with bipartisan support on Tuesday.
Jauch and four other Democrats were the sole votes against the $100 million measure that Gov. Scott Walker called the Legislature into special session to approve. Even Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, a vociferous Walker critic who was first elected by ousting a conservative Democrat in a primary, grudgingly voted for the bill after arguing that property tax relief would not have been necessary if Republicans had not made such dramatic cuts in aid to school districts in recent years.
“If a Democrat is up for reelection votes against it, you can bet that becomes a major argument against that candidate,” explained Jauch, who said he believes the bill will go down as one of the “two most pathetic tax cuts in state history.” The other instance he pointed to was a $20 rebate championed by former Democratic Gov. Marty Schreiber 35 years ago

 Let me tell you what is carrying water for Scott Walker and helping him get reelected.

When he comes out with "crap" and the Democrats to jump on board, allowing Walker to claim "bipartisan victory" in giving back to the people of Wisconsin.    When the party leader votes for "crap" where exactly is he leading us too?  An even smaller minority? 

When as a politician if you can not explain to your constituents, why it is fiscal insanity to spend $100,000,000 to give Wisconsinites in Spring Green $.07 CENTS back, then maybe your in the wrong line of work. 

Even Mary Burke jumped on the "crap" bandwagon(who the hell is advising her?)!

Burke says in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday that "there's no doubt tax cuts are very good." She says no one can argue with a tax cut, but she is looking at the longer-term implications.

Of course, looking at the long term implications, just not caring about the long term implications!

Talk about carrying water for Scott Walker!