"In less than 30 days, I have already signed four pieces of legislation into law that will help the private sector create jobs. And on my desk is another bill giving tax relief to small businesses that I intend to sign on Friday.
The first act I signed as governor eliminated the taxes on health savings accounts, making health care more affordable for small business owners, blue-collar workers and family farmers. I want to thank Representatives Kaufert, Ziegelbauer and Stone and Senators Darling, Olsen and Vukmir for their leadership on HSAs. This change was a long time coming for Wisconsin and brings us into line with the rest of the nation.
Our second act reduced frivolous lawsuits in Wisconsin. The litigation environment in a state is one of the key drivers for business and unfortunately we were once known as “Alabama North” because of our poor lawsuit climate.
Now, we’ve turned the page on lawsuit reform and offer one more sign that Wisconsin is open for business. Thanks to Senator Zipperer and Representative Jim Ott for their leadership on this important issue.
Yesterday, I signed an expansion of our relocation and economic development tax credits. These measures will help our state attract and retain businesses and jobs."
As reported by: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/02/wisconsin-governor-scott-walker-state-of-the-state.html
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Forbes on WI Tax Cuts for businesses
From Forbes on 2/15/2011:
Wisconsin’s Cheesy Tax Cuts
"That is, he may ultimately succeed in giving away, to a different set of businesses and individuals, the $187 million of revenue that the 2009 enactment of combined reporting was expected to recoup over its first two years in effect. The entire corporate income tax in Wisconsin raises $630 million annually, accounting for 5 percent of the state’s total general purpose revenue of $12 billion."For the entire article: http://blogs.forbes.com/leesheppard/2011/02/15/wisconsins-cheesy-tax-cuts/
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Which is it? Does Wisconsin have a Surplus or a Deficit?
Here's an interesting take on Wisconsin's budget. Walker certainly cut taxes for businesses. That did make the news. Please comment if you have links to definitive sources for the information reported in this article.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/wisconsin-gov-walker-ginned-up-budget-shortfall-to-undercut-worker-rights.php
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/wisconsin-gov-walker-ginned-up-budget-shortfall-to-undercut-worker-rights.php
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
CS Dept watching Watson play Jeopardy
Capitol Rally
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Budget Repair bill
The State of Wisconsin Budget Repair bill is quite depressing indeed. I did the math and I will take another 6.3% pay cut on top of the 3% pay cut from furloughs and the loss of a 2% cost of living increase that was granted and rescinded two years ago, not to mention wage freezes before that, and a promotion without a raise during this span, because of the state budget.
If this bill passes, my future pay can only increase up to the cost of living adjustments and that's only if negotiated for in each budget. Imagine being told you will never be more qualified or productive and your current wage is your permanent 'real' wage and it will always remain what it is now, unless you get the state's voters to pass a raise for you by referendum.
I have not had a holiday or performance bonus since being hired by the University. I have however donated to the holiday bonus fund for the admin staff in my dept as well as to the student scholarship fund. All this while the state funds less and less of the UW costs. The last number I recall learning was that the state now funds less than 18% of the UW's operating costs, but UW contracts are still negotiated as if we're a public University. The proposed union busting efforts are reprehensible and will effect me even though I am not represented by a union.
Having grown up in a household supported solely by the money my father earned via straight commission sales, I'm quite sensitive to the reality of no paid vacation or sick or personal time for workers in many fields of work. Given the choice, why would anyone choose to be self employed? I recall a few promotions to management (with benefits) that my father earned. Each time he eventually gave up his new benefits of paid vacations and insurance just to return to sales. Why? Because he could make more money selling than he could managing, training, and motivating others to sell. The risk was greater as well as the potential reward and this suited his interests and abilities well.
Many such people see themselves as small business owners who pay my salary and benefits since they are taxpayers and I am employed by the UW. They resent public sector and union workers because no one provides the same benefits to them.
But, there are other rewards that they have that public workers do not. First, they pick their work hours, days and weeks. In many cases they also could negotiate for benefits and better job security over pay, but they instead choose higher pay potential. Also, Salespeople are typically rewarded for good performance with more pay, trips and other promotion bonuses.
Can any state worker conceive of a holiday or performance bonus at the end of the year, much less a trip to Hawaii or Bermuda or Boca Raton for having an especially good year teaching, licensing, planning, caring for, inspecting, picking up trash, or delivering people safely by bus, etc.?
I wonder how many more pay and benefit cuts it will take for the average taxpayer to support public workers? I'm pretty sure that my 10+% pay cut (following years of frozen wages) will not magically change the average taxpayers view that government workers are overpaid and underworked. And without unions, there is little to no job security coupled with a decrease in potential compensation. Sounds like exactly the place a hard worker will choose to work, right?
There are pros and cons to both public and private sector jobs. Each of us is free to pursue the job and the benefits that we value most. But, to resent someone else's benefits because you chose the higher wage opportunities available to you in a non-union job or field is disingenuous.
I sincerely hope the small reduction in the state's projected deficit (that these changes represent) makes all of us taxpayers happy enough to finally start supporting public sector workers and the services they provide.
Please support improved work conditions for all workers and go get the education, on the job training and ultimately the job (with the benefits and wage opportunities) you value most.
If this bill passes, my future pay can only increase up to the cost of living adjustments and that's only if negotiated for in each budget. Imagine being told you will never be more qualified or productive and your current wage is your permanent 'real' wage and it will always remain what it is now, unless you get the state's voters to pass a raise for you by referendum.
I have not had a holiday or performance bonus since being hired by the University. I have however donated to the holiday bonus fund for the admin staff in my dept as well as to the student scholarship fund. All this while the state funds less and less of the UW costs. The last number I recall learning was that the state now funds less than 18% of the UW's operating costs, but UW contracts are still negotiated as if we're a public University. The proposed union busting efforts are reprehensible and will effect me even though I am not represented by a union.
Having grown up in a household supported solely by the money my father earned via straight commission sales, I'm quite sensitive to the reality of no paid vacation or sick or personal time for workers in many fields of work. Given the choice, why would anyone choose to be self employed? I recall a few promotions to management (with benefits) that my father earned. Each time he eventually gave up his new benefits of paid vacations and insurance just to return to sales. Why? Because he could make more money selling than he could managing, training, and motivating others to sell. The risk was greater as well as the potential reward and this suited his interests and abilities well.
Many such people see themselves as small business owners who pay my salary and benefits since they are taxpayers and I am employed by the UW. They resent public sector and union workers because no one provides the same benefits to them.
But, there are other rewards that they have that public workers do not. First, they pick their work hours, days and weeks. In many cases they also could negotiate for benefits and better job security over pay, but they instead choose higher pay potential. Also, Salespeople are typically rewarded for good performance with more pay, trips and other promotion bonuses.
Can any state worker conceive of a holiday or performance bonus at the end of the year, much less a trip to Hawaii or Bermuda or Boca Raton for having an especially good year teaching, licensing, planning, caring for, inspecting, picking up trash, or delivering people safely by bus, etc.?
I wonder how many more pay and benefit cuts it will take for the average taxpayer to support public workers? I'm pretty sure that my 10+% pay cut (following years of frozen wages) will not magically change the average taxpayers view that government workers are overpaid and underworked. And without unions, there is little to no job security coupled with a decrease in potential compensation. Sounds like exactly the place a hard worker will choose to work, right?
There are pros and cons to both public and private sector jobs. Each of us is free to pursue the job and the benefits that we value most. But, to resent someone else's benefits because you chose the higher wage opportunities available to you in a non-union job or field is disingenuous.
I sincerely hope the small reduction in the state's projected deficit (that these changes represent) makes all of us taxpayers happy enough to finally start supporting public sector workers and the services they provide.
Please support improved work conditions for all workers and go get the education, on the job training and ultimately the job (with the benefits and wage opportunities) you value most.
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