http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/category_rss/taxfairness Last week I wrote about Republican State Senate candidate (18th SD) Randy Hopper and how he was complaining about taxes and suggesting that the current tax structure has been unfair to him. In that blog, I wrote that he has a credibility problem on the issue since he only paid Wisconsin personal and business income taxes once since 1997. Now we have another conservative candidate, Tom Tiffany (12 SD), complaining about the burden of taxes while having not paid state income taxes since 2005. Not only did Tiffany manage to avoid paying individual taxes for two years but at least one of his businesses also didn’t pay income tax last year. Given that record on taxes, it is really no surprise that he was a former spokesperson for the Big Oil financed Americans for Prosperity. That extremist right wing group would just as soon have corporations contribute absolutely nothing in the form of income taxes. If Tom Tiffany is going to run around his district complaining about a tax burden, he should probably say, “I don’t mean me, though, because I haven’t had to pay state income taxes for a number of years.” http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHV2 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHV2/commentary#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:08:50 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHV2 Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHV2/ There’s been a noticeable silence on the part of the right wing Wisconsin blog community about the vanished postings of the previously-oft frothing Jo Egelhoff, who regularly peppered liberals and pro-family economic and social policies on her FoxPolitics.net blog-n-site. For a walk down memory lane, you can visit One Wisconsin Now’s http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/content/foxpoliticsrevealed/ to see all of her gems of yester-month. And if you can’t stand reading them, by all means, check out our new web ad “Say It Ain’t So, Jo.” http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHVL http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHVL/commentary#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:36:19 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHVL Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHVL/ Republican State Senate candidate (18th SD) Randy Hopper is running a pretty standard campaign for a conservative. In a recent debate he complained about taxes and suggested that the current tax structure has somehow been unfair to him. The only problem with that claim is revealed in a report today by the Fond du Lac Reporter . It shows that Hopper has only paid Wisconsin personal and business income taxes once since 1997. It is outrageous that Hopper would try to play the role of some sort of a tax victim in public while in reality he has managed to use every loophole in the book to avoid personal and business taxes on a regular basis. Even though Hopper owns 5 separate businesses and is quite successful, the lowest paid worker in his district probably pays more personal taxes in one paycheck than Hopper has for several years. If Hopper can afford high-priced tax attorneys to figure out ways of avoiding Wisconsin income taxes and business taxes most of the last 10 years, that’s nice for him, but he should be willing to admit it. When he talks high taxes from now on he should qualify his comments by saying “but I don’t mean me, because I’ve only had to pay income taxes once in the last nine years.” Unfortunately that may give him a big credibility gap with the hard working people in his area, but at least it would be honest. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHVH http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHVH/commentary#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:44:56 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHVH Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHVH/ Despite his long fealty to an annoying no new taxes pledge, Sheldon Wasserman discovered the hard truth that Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform is nothing but a shill group for Republicans. Y’know, Republicans like convicted crook Jack Abramoff and moral sleazebags like Ralph Reed, and well, Norquist himself – all long associated with ATR. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHVZ http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHVZ/commentary#comments Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:47:16 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHVZ Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHVZ/ I was recently reminded that during the 1950s, the marginal tax rate was over 90%. Yet the 1950s were a period of tremendous economic growth for the US. Clearly, high tax rates are not, in and of themselves, a growth killer, as many folks proclaim today. In addition, due to the growing strength of the union movement in the post-war period, median income was growing rapidly in this period, truly establishing a "middle class" in America. Today, the situation is far different. The benefits of economic growth are increasing being distributed to the upper income brackets, the CEO's, etc and median income, the income for the middle bracket of our population, is stagnant or falling. Many economists have identified income inequality as one of the factors in the Great Depression of 1929. Basically, if more and more people have less and less to spend, the economy grinds to a halt. The current income inequality has been masked by the prevalence of credit, via credit card debt or home equity loans. In recent years, the growing use of credit by Americans has propped up the economy, even as median income stagnates or falls. What we need is a change in direction for our nation and the economy. We need a real economic stimulus plan that goes beyond rate cuts. We need to put more money into the hands of the average American and the average American family who will spend that money. If we give Bill Gates an extra million dollars, will it change his spending? Certainly, not. On the other hand, if middle income Americans get additional income, they are much more likely to spend that money, thus stimulating the economy. In addition, we need longer term changes in public policy, such as the Employee Free Choice Act, which will work to make it easier for worekrs to form and join union, thereby increasing the bargaining leverage for working people, and thus, increasing their share of national income. That way, Joe the Plumber doesn't need to dream about being a small business owner, he can earn a living income through his work ! http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/Badger%20WI/CHVh http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/Badger%20WI/CHVh/commentary#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:54:39 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/Badger%20WI/CHVh Badger51 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/50dbad471b32812f49_7b8dmv86j.jpg Badger51 2 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHVh/ Early in the third 2008 Presidential debate, John McCain introduced Joe, an Ohio plumber who wanted to buy the business in which he had worked for many years. He was supposed to become the poster child for all that was wrong about Obama’s policies. But on health care reform, Joe became a poster child for the sad fact that John McCain doesn’t appear to listen to what anyone except his advisers and supporters are saying. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/qualitycounts/CHVS http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/qualitycounts/CHVS/commentary#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:06:10 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/qualitycounts/CHVS Quality Counts http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b050b888bd9acc7e8d_n4m6iyp37.jpg Quality Counts 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHVS/ As the stock market continues to crash at historic rates , John McCain refuses to talk substantively about the issues that are most affecting American families. His lack of a coherent response to the economic crisis shows once again just how out of touch he is with the economic issues that concern the average American. John McCain supports tax cuts for millionaires, but provides no relief for 100 million middle-class Americans. He has repeatedly said that the Bush tax cuts for the rich must be made permanent and even expanded. As CNNMoney.com has reported, “President Bush’s tax cuts for investment income have significantly lowered the tax burden on the richest Americans.” Unfortunately it has done next to nothing for everyone else. McCain’s economic plans, like Bush’s, put CEOs, multibillion dollar corporations, and lobbyists before the interests of American families. His stated plans do more for the Fortune 200, who would get $45 billion in tax cuts , than they for families struggling just to get by. As a result of McCain’s policies, Big Oil would receive nearly $4 billion in tax breaks . He makes this proposal at a time when average Americans have been getting gouged at the pumps and are worrying about heating their homes this winter. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHVC http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHVC/commentary#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:09:40 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHVC Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHVC/ While America’s attention was riveted on hunting trophies and beautified pigs, Wall Street decided it was time to distract us with some melodrama of its own.  The recent financial meltdown was not the work of foreign enemies, though it may give them great comfort to learn how adept we have become at producing self-inflicted wounds.  All of a sudden, John McCain is a regulator who will protect us against the unrestricted free market he denies he ever advocated.  But who will protect us against John McCain and his running mate, who have replaced the now discredited financial derivative with an even better instrument of economic mass destruction, the budget neutral tax credit. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/qualitycounts/CHjs http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/qualitycounts/CHjs/commentary#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:28:24 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/qualitycounts/CHjs Quality Counts http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b050b888bd9acc7e8d_n4m6iyp37.jpg Quality Counts 1 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHjs/ State Rep. John Murtha recently made statements to a newspaper reporter that he believes he owed state taxes in 2007 - but he didn’t have any additional details to offer or know the amount paid. Given that he has paid no state income taxes during the last several years, Rep. Murtha’s inability to recall whether he owes taxes in 2007 raises questions about his candor and credibility. An article in Monday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the Baldwin Republican paid no state income taxes in 2004, 2005 and 2006. When asked whether he paid in 2007, as no records were available at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, “Murtha said he believed he owed taxes for 2007, but he didn’t know the amount.”  How can Rep. Murtha not recall if he owes taxes this year or not? One would think that he would know if after several years he suddenly had to pay state income taxes again. If he did want to clear up this question, it would appear to be a simple task in that he could have opened his checkbook or called his accountant. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBd http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBd/commentary#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBd Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHBd/ We have seen the Bush energy policy at work now for nearly eight years, it seems to be a plan based on not leaving any big oil and gas company behind. The policy appears to be the following simple formula: give a free pass to these massive special interests in any way possible, give them record amounts of handouts from the public and then allow them to “thank” the public by gouging them at every possible turn. This energy free-for-all has most definitely had an impact, unfortunately it has been a hugely negative one for individual citizens and the entire economy. Consumers are paying record amounts at the pump, while Big Oil pulls in record profits . This has a major impact on the price of things like food and other essentials. In many ways it is responsible for a 17 year record high in inflation. As if working people weren’t hurting enough in this Bush economy, now we are getting early warnings about just how much more it will take to heat our homes this winter . Estimates from the Department of Energy project that heating costs will climb 21 percent in the Midwest this year. There is an expected 26 percent increase for homes that stay warm with heating oil. Even with all of the bad news, John McCain has decided to follow the Bush economic and energy “plans”. As it has been previously documented, McCain has already learned how to roll over for Big Oil interests by reversing his own positions. Actually, McCain plans to go even further than Bush in many ways when it comes to appeasing Big Oil. He has not only decided to back Bush’s irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy but he also gives away the treasury on even more tax cuts for big corporations. Big Oil would receive some $4 billion in additional handouts . It would be difficult to imagine, but such a McCain economy could make a terribly bad situation much worse. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBS http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBS/commentary#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:28:59 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBS Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHBS/ Once again, elected officials have pounced on a report by the Tax Foundation to mislead taxpayers into thinking that Wisconsin can't afford to adequately fund its public institutions. The latest cases are Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) and Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), who separately cited a new study by the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation, claiming Wisconsin is among the top ten states in tax effort. Not so! Indeed, the latest U.S. Census Bureau data show that taxes and fees for state and local government are 3% lower in Wisconsin than the national average. The national average is $5,803 per person; Wisconsin's figure is $5,607. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/iwf/CHBj http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/iwf/CHBj/commentary#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:41:22 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/iwf/CHBj Institute for Wisconsin's Future Institute for Wisconsin's Future 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHBj/ Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty is making his second trip of the summer to Wisconsin. He will be going to John McCain fundraisers in both Madison and Milwaukee that will cost $1,000 per couple. Rather than run around Wisconsin trying to raise money for campaigns, it might be advisable for Pawlenty to go back home and fix the mess that he has made in Minnesota. Under Governor Tim Pawlenty Minnesota’s property taxes are up even though he made a campaign promise not to raise taxes. The Gopher State has actually endured a 70 percent rise in property taxes since 2002. [Sticker Shock, Minnesota 2020, 2/10/2008; Star Tribune, 3/30/03] Not only has Pawlenty’s tenure resulted in higher taxes but also in overcrowded schools and bad roads that are the worst that they have been in decades. In addition, Pawlenty’s signature job creation plan was totally panned by an independent auditor as useless and a waste of money. Even though Minnesota’s housing foreclosures are up to some of the worst levels in the nation, Pawlenty vetoed a bill that would have helped hundreds of families facing the loss of their homes. [Star Tribune, 5/29/08] Given Pawlenty’s terrible record in Minnesota on issues from A to Z, it is a bit surprising that he has been chosen to be a lead cheerleader for John McCain. On the other hand, McCain is the same U.S. Senator that has eventually adopted almost all of the failed policies of the Bush Administration. Those are policies which have led us to economic, health care, energy and foreign policy disasters. It makes you wonder if John McCain has made failure a prerequisite to being one of his key advisors. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBG http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBG/commentary#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:55:50 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHBG Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 1 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHBG/ The Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF) has done an analysis of Senator John McCain’s oil industry subsidies plan and it doesn’t look pretty. At a time when Big Oil has all of us over a barrel and is making such obscene profits , John McCain is proposing massive tax giveaways and other hand outs to them. McCain’s proposals would give $39 billion in federal help for oil and gas companies over the next five years. These subsidies and tax breaks could be used in many different ways to help support a serious long-term solution to our energy crisis. The CAPAF analysis outlines how McCain’s $39 billion for Big Oil could be invested in renewable energy and it estimates how many tax dollars from each state will be spent subsidizing Big Oil. CAPAF estimates that Wisconsin’s share of McCain’s $39 Billion giveaway to Big Oil is $640 million! That is enough to weatherize 230,000 homes, power 98,000 homes with wind, and create 155,000 homes powered by geothermal technology. Doing all of those things would also create an estimated 2,750 new jobs in Wisconsin. Instead of taking such a long-term and forward thinking approach, John McCain is suggesting that Wisconsin keep using the same old model that keeps enriching the same folks that repeatedly gouge us. Apparently Wisconsin is just supposed to thank Big Oil and hand over it’s share of the $39 billion in extra giveaways. Exactly what kind of energy policy is that? The simple answer: it’s McSame as Bush and it won’t yield any different result.  More pain at the pump and more record profits for Big Oil. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHGS http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHGS/commentary#comments Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:55:37 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHGS Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHGS/ Over the weekend the Wisconsin State Journal ran a story about the search for a new head for the Department of Commerce. It addresses how the right choice for the job is particularly important right now, during a challenging economy. The story goes on to quote state Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) who trots out the right wing's one trick pony on the economy, endless corporate tax cuts. We have seen how good that approach has worked nationally, but apparently old habits (and knee jerk reactions) die hard for the Brookfield Senator. OWN Executive Director Scot Ross was also quoted shortly after Kanavas saying that tax cuts shouldn't be the first choice in creating a strong economy. He went on to say the following: "The next commerce secretary needs to support spending on roads, schools, universities and municipal services because that infrastructure makes businesses want to stay and move here. Experience shows both in the state of Wisconsin and the rest of the country that tax cuts won't buy loyalty from corporations." Most corporations rely on a decent infrastructure to carry out their normal operations (roads, educated workforce, safety ect) . Most of that infrastructure is provided as a result of taxpayer investment. Blindly cutting away at it or finding ways to keep corporations from paying their fair share is actually counter productive for everyone. There are countless areas where public investment has spurred both the development of new technology and entire industries. Hopefully the new Secretary of Commerce will be a person that approaches the economy from a fresh perspective. Hopefully they will be an advocate for bold and broad solutions rather than joining the overly simplistic "tax cut choir" headed by partisans like Kanavas. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHGV http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHGV/commentary#comments Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:25:22 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHGV Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHGV/ In anticipation of Senator John McCain’s Racine town hall meeting Thursday, several concerned Wisconsinites that will be unable to attend offered five questions that they would like McCain to answer. John Valko, President of UAW Local 180 in Racine is concerned about the loss of good paying, family supporting jobs. He wants to ask Senator McCain why the country should continue the harmful policies that he supports which have caused our current economic crisis. This crisis includes the loss of some 92,000 manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin during the Bush administration. Specifically Valko cites John McCain’s support for disastrous Bush policies including unfair trade deals, and massive tax cuts for big corporations and the wealthiest individuals. John Valko's question: “The policies you have championed have resulted in an economic nightmare for families across Wisconsin, so my question is: Why would we want to continue your failed policies which have devastated our country?" http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMk http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMk/commentary#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:59:42 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMk Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 33 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHMk/ State Senator Kathleen Vinehout wrote a column in the Tomah Journal recently. It debunks the conservative talking point that lower business taxes are a cure-all for everything that ails us. Conservatives have relentlessly parroted the talking point so often that some just accept it as fact without even looking at the actual data. The right wing has also changed the meaning of a “good business tax climate” from one that is simple, fair, and transparent to one that basically doesn’t exist at all. In her column, Senator Vinehout exposes conservative groups, like the Tax Foundation and its Tax Climate Index. She correctly points out that it only measures the level of taxes but fails to give a more complete picture by including the economic growth of each state. Do the states with the lowest business tax actually bring economic growth and prosperity? Vinehout tries to answer that question by comparing the Tax Foundation’s ratings with the latest growth rates in state gross product. Here are just a few of Senator Vinehout’s findings: http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMd http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMd/commentary#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:59:30 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMd Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHMd/ As a top advisor to predatory lenders, as well as John McCain ex-Texas Senator Phil Gramm has been taking heat for calling people concerned about the tanking economy and the loss of the homes, jobs and futures as “whiners” experiencing a “mental recession.” Having studied the career of Gramm as part of a research paper I had to write in the mid-90s, it was like a trip down memory lane when I heard the Huffington Post had posted something about Gramm investments in a couple failed Russ Meyer-inspired soft-core porn flicks . To be certain, in the hypocrite hall of fame, Gramm’s got his wing. The smaller government, except when it comes to giving taxpayer money to my corporate clients, Gramm made a career of railing against “guvment” spending. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHMW http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHMW/commentary#comments Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:47:05 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/scotross/CHMW Scot @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/b15bea43ee26199f1d_l7awmvb5t.jpg Scot @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHMW/ Last Thursday I found myself at a press conference held by local McCain supporters. The topic was generally about the economy and “small business” and was hosted at a company that had just moved to Milwaukee’s Fifth Ward. When I arrived at the location I was given a packet of information and led to the waiting area for the press. While waiting, I shared an OWN press release with the media on how McCain votes have been a disaster for women and the economy in general. First Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker spoke and then handed it off to the host CEO. The last scheduled speaker at the press conference was former State Senator Cathy Stepp. She largely focused on her business and how the out of control gas prices are hurting it. Frankly, I was surprised that she would make energy policy her central theme at this press conference given John McCain’s awful record in both the U.S. Senate and in recent policy statements. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMn http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMn/commentary#comments Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:09:24 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHMn Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHMn/ The Wall Street Journal is reporting on the prospect of $200 a barrel price for oil by the end of the year. The price has shot up over the last 7 years but that increase has been much more rapid in the last six months. During that time we have seen it go up from $100 to $150 a barrel. If the price actually hits the $200 prediction, that will translate to well over $6 a gallon for gasoline at the pump. The pain at the pump is only the beginning of the budget crunch for the average working family. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported today that natural gas is also at a high for this time of year. Experts in that industry are predicting major sticker shock for energy customers, especially when we try to heat our homes in winter. Natural gas futures have jumped 82 percent since just the start of the year. The story reports that increases in the price of natural gas have already driven up electricity bills twice since March. All of these costs are overburdening working families and impacting our already fragile economy. This is where the failed Bush policies of irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy, coddling Big Oil, and lacking a forward thinking energy policy has brought us. U.S. Senator John McCain has been a rubber stamp for those polices in the Senate. He supported Bush as much as 100 percent in 2008 and 95 percent in 2007. In addition, McCain now says that he will make Bush’s tax cuts for the rich permanent. Actually he will go even further by offering unprecedented tax giveaways to some of the biggest corporations in the country. Under this economic scheme, Big Oil would get some $3.8 billion in tax giveaways. To the average person, such a massive giveaway to the very industry that has us over a barrel makes no sense at all. To John McCain it’s just business as usual. http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHjK http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHjK/commentary#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:17:58 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHjK Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHjK/ Over the last few days Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has been getting more underserved love from the media. They called him everything from a “ rising star ” in the Wisconsin State Journal to a “ medicine man ” in a Washington Post column by the infamous right winger Robert Novak. In both stories there seems to be an attempt to hold Paul Ryan up as some sort of last hope for the withering conservative movement. The big problem is that Ryan doesn’t stand for anything new at all. He has been one of the most reliable rubber stamps for the Bush Administration and most of its failed policies. Yes, many of the same policies that have brought us to a place of near economic disaster. During his first eight years in Congress, Ryan voted in favor of every single budget – joining the then-Republican majority in increasing the federal budget by more than $1 trillion. Ryan has been a loyal foot soldier for the Bush Administration on issue after issue. He provided the deciding vote for the middle-of-the-night passage of the disastrous Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan . This from a guy that is now calling for a leaner government? Ryan talks ad nauseam about fiscal responsibility but this is a guy that has fully supported the Bush disaster in Iraq costing taxpayers some $1.7 trillion dollars. This is money that we simply don’t have. At the same time, he has been a big cheerleader for irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest, even if we have to charge it all to the taxpayer credit card. In whose world is any of this sound economic policy? How is this record any different than the Bush Administration and their failed policies? Exactly how can Paul Ryan be perceived to be above the Bush disaster when he has been shoulder to shoulder with him for the entire time? http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHjx http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHjx/commentary#comments Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:52:06 EDT http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/post/coryliebmann/CHjx Cory @ One Wisconsin Now http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/profile_picture/9ad40ac09a26a36f86_dlqmv2gn9.jpg Cory @ One Wisconsin Now 0 http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHjx/