Wisconsin Taxes – Can You Say Tax Revolt?

Or, what the left isn’t telling you about taxes in Wisconsin.

They are upset about the Walker proposed tax cuts…. But, what they are not talking about are the tax increases they have passed in the last several years, and at least some the Walker proposed cuts are actually a roll-back of the democrat sponsored increases! Here is a list of the Wisconsin tax increases:

2007 – $15.2 Billion Tax Increase

2007 – Increases in cigarette taxes…. And again in 2009

2009 – Rental car tax increases by 73 percent.

2009 – The Beer Tax! (that probably didn’t go down well)

Here is a list of the 2009 tax hikes:

* Raising the individual income tax to 7.75% – $312 million
* Higher capital gains tax on savings and investment – $181 million
* A series of tax hikes on Wisconsin businesses – over $208 million
* A huge targeted tax hike on smokers – another $344 million
* A $272 million tax on oil companies that means higher energy prices and prices at the pump
* A $1.5 million fee increase on processing poultry and beef that means higher prices for groceries
* A new coverage mandate for auto insurance that means higher prices for drivers

2010 – Property Taxes.

Many Democrats have been saying that there was a budget surplus until Scott Walker came to town. As you can see, it wasn’t a true surplus at all, but one that was built by covering up the budget deficiencies through higher and higher taxes. Democrats here in California have been trying to do the same here in California, and though there have been a few tax hikes in recent years, there has been enough Republicans in the legislature to prevent the type of money grab that has occurred in Wisconsin. Taken in this light, Walkers “evil” tax cuts are more like tax rollbacks. Jeez, can you blame Wisconsin voters for turning out those Democrats on their ears and voting in tax cutting Republicans???

Economics, Stupid Government | Sonicfrog February 22, 2011

5 Comments to “Wisconsin Taxes – Can You Say Tax Revolt?”

By Seth, February 24, 2011 @ 9:55 am

I understand the need to cut taxes, but do you do it to the point where you create a deficit? And if you do that (roll back taxes) to support the point that the system needs changing, do you take a compromise that largely captures what you want (because the governor has largely won here, they’ve agreed to the pay, they’ve agreed to a two year hold on collective bargaining)? What’s going on in Wisconsin is a microcosm of American politics, we are wont to pendulum shifts rather than seeking the middle, and this invariably leads to another pendulum shift that is just as egregious. The teabaggers are idealogues who fail to embrace pragmatism. It’s too bad so many members of our society are so poorly educated, easily placated with simple pleasures, and can’t focus on anything more than a soundbite. If that were not the case, we might actually have a system that works and maintain our status as world leaders and innovators for several decades to come.
By Sonicfrog, February 24, 2011 @ 4:06 pm

What’s going on in Wisconsin is a microcosm of American politics, we are wont to pendulum shifts rather than seeking the middle, and this invariably leads to another pendulum shift that is just as egregious.

Agreed. But this isn’t “an American” thing by any means, it’s more a product of politics itself. This over-dominance happened when the Dems took the House, Senate and Presidency in 08, and it is happening now in Wisconsin. That said, no matter which side happens to be ruling the roost, neither is willing to make the really hard decisions needed to actually fix the systemic problems that are causing the economic crisis in the first place.

The teabaggers are idealogues who fail to embrace pragmatism.

Of course they are… And when the progressives form their version of the Tea Party, they will be ideologues too, and will also not embrace pragmatism!
By Seth, February 25, 2011 @ 2:14 am

I am not advocating a progressive counter to the tea party… that’s hardly the answer. Obama blew a ton of political capital on a health care bill that will never come to fruition (and as passed, that may be a blessing). He did the same thing as the Wisconsin governor in my eyes.

I feel like we have real problems but our politicians are so far in bed with special interests (and this applies to Dems and Reps), we’re screwed. each party appeals to the visceral issues that strike a chord with the uninformed and blissfully ignorant electorate.
By Sonicfrog, February 25, 2011 @ 7:16 am

I WANT to see it happen! Although they are not my political cup of tea… as it were… I love it when people finally stand up and demand to be heard. And the progressive side of the political spectrum deserves a better voice than the ones they’ve been saddled with.