The fact that there is another overage in state tax collections giving Scott Walker the political advantage of proposing another form of tax relief close to his re-election suggests to me that the Wisconsin Department of Revenue has low-balled the collection estimates. Intentionally, or not, but there is a pattern of 'rising' collections even in a stagnant economy.
Somebody should look further into this.
The numbers may be legit (revenues are up nationwide with the stock market booming), but your skepticism is good to have. With the Kleefisch/Eisenga story and another United Sportsmen revelation, the timing interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's quite reckless, too. We don't even know what effect this first round of tax cuts will have on the budget, and we've got huge W-2, Medicaid and Transportation Fund deficits to deal with
More revenue comes from more jobs created which has a ripple effect in spending.
ReplyDeleteI wounder how much revenue and subsequent tax relief would have been generated had Walker hit his pledge of 250,000 new jobs?
Whether the estimates were low, or not, you have to think Wisconsin is on the right path to economic recovery.
"Right path to recovery"? Uhhh, no. Being last in the Midwest for job growth and having massive increases in debt along the way is not the right path.
DeleteMore accurate to say that Wisconsin is being dragged along by a growing US economy and a booming, bubbling stock market. And when that bubble bursts.....YIKES!
Don't worry, Walker will just fund future deficits through more borrowing and then proclaim the need for harsher austerity. His clear goal is the complete destruction of government institutions that make society livable. If he can bankrupt the state and every city in it he will consider it his greatest success. Like his hero Margaret Thatcher, he believes that there is no such thing as society, only a social Darwinian struggle of individuals against each other in the survival of the fittest.
ReplyDeleteUnder Jim Doyle we had over 100,000 less people employed in Wisconsin than under Scott Walker.
ReplyDeleteNo tax revenue was generated, no ripple effect in spending, and increases in federal and state assistance prevailed.
Amazing what a guy without-so-much-as a college degree, yes, Scott Walker, can do to turn our state around. Why bother with a masters degree, right Jake?
Was there something going on in the U.S. Economy from 2007-2009, kiddo? Please refresh my memory.
DeleteNo wonder you don't have the guts to put your name on an economically illiterate take like that.
Sounds to me that Walker's 'success' is due to Pres. Obama and the stimulus. Walker's numbers would have been better if he hadn't blocked Milwaukee streetcar installation, killed Amtrak rail construction, Amtrak train mfg. and maintenance, and slowed wind turbine construction, mfg, R&D, maintenance...
ReplyDelete5.4 million people are on extended unemployment benefits because of inability to find a job. After a second term and massive new federal debt, not to mention more massive debt due under socialized medicine, the President has had little to no success in jump starting the economic engine of America.
ReplyDeleteWhat Scott Walker understands in about the above mentioned programs is that they are government created jobs with attached unfunded liability for government. it's permanent debt begetting debt.
Jake@9:34
ReplyDelete"Was there something going on in the U.S. Economy from 2007-2009, kiddo? Please refresh my memory."
For starters, In 2007 Presidential candidate Barack Obama promised young people a future of "Hope and change." In 2008 he began his first term. In 2009 Congress passed the Affordable Care Act and thus the beginning of new and massive federal debt.
I've yet to see you use anything other than a sudo nym on your posts, brother. When you point at others 3 fingers point back at you.