News and information for staff members and the Madison community
Vol. I No. 6 - May 2, 2006
After a resounding 32-66 defeat of a constitutional amendment (the so-called Taxpayer Protection Amendment) that would control revenues at all levels of government, GOP Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) spent the night cobbling together a bill and support for it that passed 50-48 at 4:30 a.m. Friday morning, setting controls only on state spending.
State Rep. Tom Nelson (D-Kaukauna), who voted against the measure, said the Assembly's action in the dark of night did not serve Wisconsinites well. "This version was introduced, debated, amendments were offered and voted on between bar close and sunrise," he said. "This is not just any other bill. This is an amendment to our state constitution."
The proposal moves to the state Senate, where several GOP senators have publicly stated that taxing and spending measures should not be part of the Constitution. It's been a rocky road for the proponents of a concept that purports to control government spending at all levels.
Trying to gather support among GOP colleagues, Rep. Jeff Wood (R-Chippewa Falls) and Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) have modified the bill several times, leading to confusion about what the proposal will actually accomplish and what is or isn't contained in the bill.
At a recent "invited-only" hearing on the bill, Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison) complained, "Why are we spending all this time to help you fine-tune legislation that is flawed?" Democrats disparaged the proposal with Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) termed it the "Taxpayers Deception Amendment" and Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) called it the "cousin of TABOR" (the previous incarnation was dubbed the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, but dumped because of negative connotations associated with the moniker).
Madison Schools is part of a broad coalition of K-16 educators, members of the religious community, health care providers, protective service employees, the tourism industry, the elderly, students, labor representatives, conservationists and others opposing any measure that puts fiscal policy formulas in the constitution.
The Madison Board of Education has also unanimously gone on record opposing the idea. Over 80 organizations have registered against the bill with the State of Wisconsin Ethics Board; five, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, support the bill.
Last Updated: Fri Sep 7 03:02:58 2007
Comments: comments@madison.k12.wi.us
Web Publisher: Chris Burch, cburch@madison.k12.wi.us
Technical Issues: webmaster@madison.k12.wi.us