Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Major tax reform being considered, not here, but in Florida
By Mary Lazich
Thursday, Feb 14 2008, 10:58 AM
For too long, there has been an out of control tax and spend mentality in Wisconsin that continues today.
Cut taxes? We can’t even consider freezing or slowing the growth of taxes and spending without screams of doomsday predictions.
Contrast Wisconsin’s inability and/or refusal to engage in fiscal responsibility with reforms being examined in Florida.
Florida has created a special panel called the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. It meets every 20 weeks to examine the state’s tax and budget system. According to tampabay.com, the Commission is proposing a far-reaching plan to put the brakes on taxing and spending.
The St. Petersburg Times reports the Commission is supporting a constitutional amendment that would impose taxing and spending limits:
“Only voters could give permission to break either the spending or revenue caps set by the proposal. The measure would also require the public to approve any new tax or fee. New revenues would have to be reapproved by voters every four years.
The plan also calls for limiting state government spending and revenue, indexed to inflation and population growth. However, it allows the Legislature to exceed those caps with a supermajority vote of lawmakers. Excess revenue would have to be put into an emergency fund or refunded to taxpayers.”
The timing could be right for the constitutional amendment in Florida where voters a few weeks ago okayed a tax-cut package totaling $9.3 billion.
Here are more details from the St. Petersburg Times.
Florida is not only talking about major tax reforms but is poised to take action. In Wisconsin, the mere mention of cuts sends the tax and spenders into a frenzy. The weather isn’t the only reason Wisconsinites are moving to the Sunshine State.
