Beware: What John McCain Wants to Give Back, Jim Doyle Will Try to Take Away

Presidential candidate John McCain proposed, in a speech at Carnegie Mellon University this morning, that the federal government help to stimulate the economy by not collecting gasoline taxes from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon (24.4 cents per gallon of diesel). A good idea.

But beware. Considering the state's budget shortfall, and Jim Doyle's penchant for raising gas taxes, it would come as no surprise if Doyle or his friends in the Senate push to increase the state's gas tax by the amount of the savings. After all, the result would be a no net loss to Wisconsin consumers. It would, however, push Wisconsin from the 8th highest taxing state when it comes to gas taxes to the highest.

McCain's Senate colleagues should ensure that any such legislation offered in the Senate contains a provision that the gas tax moratorium would not apply in any state that raises its own gas tax in the year of the moratorium. McCain's proposal is intended as an economic stimulus, not a federal revenue sharing program.

Retraction of Doyle Kudos

I should know better than to give credit to Jim Doyle. As soon as I think he does something right, I learn I was misinformed.

Contrary to my prior post, WBAY-TV in Green Bay reports that Doyle has had little to do with the budget meetings he called. Doyle deserves some credit for getting his office involved, but not much - he clearly should have done that long ago.

H/T to Kathy Carpenter at Stepping Right Up! for being the first to report on Doyle's absence.

Budget Summit: Credit to Doyle and Huebsch

Gov. Doyle deserves credit for hosting this meeting (he should have done it long, long ago). Maybe he is realizing that Governor needs to lead, rather than just taking shots from the sidelines. And even greater credit to Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) for holding his ground and keeping his members together to get to this point.

As reported in MJS:

Maple Buff - Prodded by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, two legislative leaders met privately Monday at the governor's residence to try to develop a budget compromise that can pass the Legislature - something a committee couldn't accomplish this summer.

To break the impasse, Doyle promised Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) that the governor would tell Republican legislators what compromises he would sign into law and what he would veto.

"I'm not in this to pull some big surprise on somebody at the end," said Doyle, who appealed to Huebsch and Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) to negotiate a budget that can soon be on his desk.

Wisconsin is the only state whose spending year started July 1 without a budget.

Before the talks started Monday, both sides highlighted their differences. Doyle accused the Huebsch-led Assembly of passing "Draconian" spending cuts in July, and Huebsch said taxpayers can't afford tax increases the governor wants.

Aides said the talks went for hours Monday, but no deals were announced.

And We Wonder Why Our Taxes Are So High

Might it be the Spending?

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle continued his criticism of the budget adopted by state Assembly Republicans today, saying it includes too little for the Stewardship program that issues bonds to buy recreational land and keep it from being developed. ...

Doyle has recommended setting aside $60 million a year for three more years, then raising it to $105 million a year through 2020, for example. Recreational land now costs about 600% more than it did when the program started in 1990, according to Department of Natural Resources officials.

Assembly Republicans want to cut the funding authorization to $25 million a year over the next 13 years.

The Legislature provided $23.1 million annually for the inception of the Stewardship Fund in 1990 and increased annual funding to $46 million in 2000 and to $60 million in 2002.

Think about this. Janesville, the 10th largest city in Wisconsin, has a general fund budget of less than $40 million. Therefore, Janesville is able to provide its police, fire, ambulance, roads, parks and other services for two thirds of what Doyle wants to spend each year for "open space preservation." Even the Assembly's $25 million is outrageous.

Government's Idea of Economic Development

Governor Doyle announced today his economic development plan for northern Wisconsin. Lets' take a look:

Wisconsin Waterfront Initiative
Northern Wisconsin is home to thousands of rivers, lakes and streams. Revitalizing these waterfronts could hold great economic promise for the region and the entire state. Under Governor Doyle’s initiative, communities can go to one spot to marshal resources from the entire state to develop waterfronts.

The Department of Commerce will be the guiding force for communities, channeling resources from the Department of Tourism, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Administration, the Historical Society, and the Commission of Public lands. Governor Doyle’s initiative will target all of these state resources to create a one stop shop for communities looking to develop waterfronts and bring new energy to local economies.

Funny, but by all accounts, waterfronts have been developing at a record pace. Of course, that is precisely when government needs to step in. I am sure that the DNR and the Historical Society will ensure that it booms!

Expanding Cell Phone and Internet Access
For businesses, entrepreneurs, and families in Northern Wisconsin to be successful, they need access to cell phone and high speed Internet service. Governor Doyle is providing $7.5 million in sales tax exemptions and tax credits for businesses to expand broadband access, including $5.9 million for projects to bring cell phone and high speed Internet service to 75,000 customers in Northern Wisconsin.

Seven businesses have been certified to expand broadband access in Northern Wisconsin – 130 project areas in 21 counties.

Another example of government gunking-up the tax code. Rather than getting out of the way and letting the market do its thing, government creates another tax break in the guise of economic development. What's worse is that this boondoggle was prompted by Republican legislators like Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield). I expect Democrats to ignore the lessons of the Reagan administration, but Republicans like Kanavas, who grew-up in that period, should know better. Reagan's concept of economic development was to cut taxes, cut spending, deregulate and make a simpler tax code. That last element ("our tax system is unfair, inequitable, counterproductive, and all but incomprehensible") has been totally forgotten. Wisconsin wants economic development? Then use the recipe that works.

Northern Economic Development Conference
To drive Northern Wisconsin’s tourism industry, Governor Doyle will hold a Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Conference in mid November with local businesses, citizens and elected officials – providing ideas, networking opportunities and other tools to help grow the economy of Northern Wisconsin – building on the region’s tourism industry and developing other economic development opportunities.

This is part of Governor Doyle’s broad plan to grow Wisconsin’s state economy – from investing in industries, businesses and workers, to investing in education and providing access to affordable, comprehensive health care, Governor Doyle is creating opportunity for all hardworking Wisconsin citizens, and ensuring a bright future for Wisconsin.

Now that is beautiful! There will be all sorts of neat speeches, break-out sessions and seminars. Lots of important local officials and special interests will show-up. Everybody will be networking. Governor Doyle and his friends will have their pictures in all of the local papers. That will certainly jump-start the economy.

So, to stimulate the economy in our rural areas, the governor has designated bureaucrats as a "guiding force," has implemented a special interest tax break and will hold a conference.

Think it will work?

Van Hollen Exercises Appropriate Impartiality

For those who thought that JB Van Hollen would simply use his position to take swipes at Doyle and the Democrats, chew on this:

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen cleared Gov. Jim Doyle on Tuesday of any wrongdoing in an election-year controversy surrounding the approval of a state power plant sale.

The controversy centered on allegations of a connection between more than $40,000 in donations to Doyle's re-election campaign and the sale of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant.

In November 2004, the state Public Service Commission denied an application by two power utilities to sell a nuclear power plant. However, the three-person panel reversed its decision in March 2005. Around the same time, power utility executives from Wisconsin Public Service Corp. and Wisconsin Power and Light Co. donated $44,000 to Doyle's campaign, WISC-TV reported. ...

On Tuesday, Van Hollen bolstered Doyle's claims when he said that no evidence could be found of anything illegal. "After a thorough investigation, we have not found any evidence linking campaign donations to Gov. Doyle to the PSC decision to approve the sale of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant," said Van Hollen. "Nor did we find any evidence that the Governor's Office improperly influenced the PSC decision in any way."

Partisanship Should Not Cause Republicans To Reject Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement

Both parties are guilty of taking positions for partisan, rather than good policy, reasons. For example, Gov. Doyle vetoes voter id simply because Republicans have proposed it.

I suspect that is the reason Assembly Republicans reject the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. They can argue that they are fighting another Democrat tax increase

The Wisconsin State Journal has this one right when it endorses the concept.

The Agreement is a multi-state agreement that uniformly defines, for sales tax purposes, words such as "food" and "medical equipment" so that sellers know, with respect to any state with exemptions for such items, what is meant by the term. It allows sellers to have a single set of definitions with which to work rather than a different set for every state. The following states comply with the Agreement: Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia. The following states comply with most of the Agreement: Arkansas, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

I don't like sales taxes. Heck, I don't like any taxes. But, Republicans should embrace any effort that can make taxes more fair, simpler and less expensive (for both the state and private enterprise) to administer.

Is this a tax increase? Not really. It does not change the rate. There are some items that have not previously been taxed that might be taxed, and some items that have been taxed that might no longer be taxed. However, overall, it is not designed at making more items taxable.

Some Republican lawmakers have rejected the concept. Frankly, that appears to be nothing more than political demagoguery.

The state would collect more tax dollars; however, that in itself should not bother conservatives. Tax cuts usually result in government collecting more tax dollars.

The Agreement should reduce the cost incurred by businesses in complying with the various states' sales tax laws. As importantly, it prevents in-state merchants from unfairly being forced to collect sales taxes when their out-of-state counterparts do not.

WMC has taken a neutral position. They like the idea, but disagree with some of the definitions. I agree that it is not perfect but, overall, it is more fair than the current system.

Republicans should do one of two things. Either get rid of the state's sales tax altogether, or adopt the Agreement.

Only Some Kids Deserve a Great Education

From Patrick McIlheran's column:

Gov. Jim Doyle says he's mystified about why the Assembly is offering school choice in Racine.

I am mystified about why state government is not offering school choice to all children.

Apparently, kids in Wisconsin are not very important. Apparently, every kid does not deserve a great school.

"Forward" used to be our motto. Perhaps we should change it to "neutral."

Doyle '03 v. Doyle '07 (Thanks to Lance Burri)

For a great review of the contrast between Doyle's budget priorities four years ago and his priorities today, read this post by Lance Burri.

Short on Money? Let's Buy More Land

Proving that chutzpah knows no bounds, Governor Doyle announced major land acquisitions on the same day his cronies in the Senate were working to pass a budget that drastically raises taxes.

Biomass or Budget Mess?

Compare this:

Republicans on the Joint Committee on Finance have blocked Doyle's proposal to direct more than $30 million over the next two years to entrepreneurs and companies developing renewable technologies. ... Citing U.S. Department of Energy estimates, Doyle said Wisconsin could replace more than 13 million tons of coal if it converted the state's 15 million tons of biomass into energy. Sources of biomass include byproducts from corn and other crops, waste from food and beverage processing, pulp remnants from the paper and lumber industries, and switchgrass and other forest products.

With this:

Gov. Jim Doyle may have committed $250,000 in state funding to the development of a 62,400-square-foot biodiesel plant that will be built here over the next year, but it's Wisconsin investors that have really made it possible. The $60 million plant, to be developed by North Prairie Productions, LLC, an alternative fuel producer, will generate 45 million gallons of fuel per year. In addition to the state funding, the company has thus far raised more than $25 million, mostly from Wisconsin investors, in an equity drive. The $25 million threshold was the minimum amount needed to break escrowand begin construction. ... [A]bout 800 investors, all Wisconsin residents, have committed an average of $30,000 to the company as part of an equity drive that will close on April 5.

Biomass research might very well be a good thing (provided that it does not include mandated use of E-85 or other such intrusions). But if the private market is stepping forward (as described in the second story), why do we need the government to spend money (as described in the first)?

Private markets will step forward when there truly is a viable product to produce.

As importantly, should government really get involved to either prop-up or compete with the budding business North Prairie and others are creating?

The $30 million of government give-aways Doyle suggests violate The Crocodile Cage's fourth rule for new laws and spending (see, on the right, "Five Questions That Should Always Be Asked Before Enacting New Laws or Spending Programs"): If private industry or markets can do it better than the government, then the government should stay out of it.

Autism Mandate in State Budget?

What in the wide, wide world of politics does this have to do with a state budget?

Madison -- When they take up the budget next week, Senate Democrats will add to it a provision that would require insurance companies to cover treatment for autistic children, Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie) said today."Wisconsin families who are faced with the challenges of autism deserve the guarantee that their kids will be able to receive these much needed treatments without having to break the bank," Wirch said in a statement.The proposal was in the budget offered by Gov. Jim Doyle, but it was taken out of the two-year spending plan by the Joint Finance Committee because it doesn't have a direct effect on state dollars. Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) has also introduced it as a bill.

Et tu, Mequon? Tax Raisers Everywhere

A builder I know pointed out to me that the City of Mequon will probably raise one of its taxes by 50% this week. Anyone buying a new home will be paying at least $300 more. I have not seen this reported anywhere, but I have verified that the item is on their agenda.

For the past four years, Mequon has voluntarily imposed a tax levy freeze similar to the one Republicans in the legislature passed (and Doyle vetoed) four years ago. Mequon has one of the lowest tax rates for cities and villages in the five county area. It is one of the lowest spenders on a per capita basis. While it has a Democrat Mayor, it supposedly has a Council of Republicans. Yet, even Mequon appears to be caving to the tax addicts.

How does it justify this tax increase? I have heard two reasons. First, it has not raised this tax in many years. Second, people want more parks.

Their reasons sound a lot like those given for Jim Doyle's $1.75 billion in tax increases. And this is a community in which Mark Green handily defeated Doyle (and Jim Ott overwhelmingly defeated a well-funded and locally well-known Democrat opponent).

Hopefully, the people of Mequon will let their elected officials know that they do not approve, although I will bet not. Most voters are not buying new homes. Another case of people saying nothing, hoping the crocodile will eat them last.

Sen. Mike Ellis: Who is He, A Conservative Budget Hawk or a RINO?

Face it, most of our politicians are not particularly interesting.

Sen. Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) is different. Google his name and RINO, and you find dozens of articles. But he is also called a"budget hawk" or "fiscal hawk." He is often blamed for the defeat of TABOR, but WMC gave him a 95% approval rating in the past session, and 100% in the prior session.

Which is true? Some of his votes clearly indicate that he is, at best, an inconsistent conservative. Regardless of the reality, the following interview in the Appleton Post Crescent is worth reading (emphasis added).

We can only hope he does "the best thing we could do."

In his 37 years in the state Legislature, Sen. Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, has developed a reputation for being one of Madison's biggest fiscal hawks, because of his encyclopedic knowledge of the state budget and his willingness to speak his mind.

As the budget process continues — the Joint Finance Committee is discussing and voting on the various elements of Gov. Jim Doyle's proposal for the fiscal '07-08 and '08-09 years, we asked Ellis a few pointed questions about the governor's budget and what's wrong with it.

Plenty, in Ellis' mind.

What concerns you most about the Doyle budget proposal?

Over the next two years, under the governor's budget, more than $5.2 billion will be extracted from the private sector to grow government. I believe that's disastrous to our economy.

Government can't create jobs. Government's role should be to provide policies that stimulate the private economy and foster an environment that spurs growth through consumer spending, capital investment and makes Wisconsin competitive with other states in terms of taxes and regulations.

Doyle's budget does exactly the opposite.

Removing billions of dollars from the private-sector economy depresses consumer spending, dries up money available for capital investment and continues Wisconsin's place among the highest-taxed states.

Do you agree with continuing two-thirds funding of K-12 schools?

Yes, it's an effective mechanism to keep property taxes under control.

Why is the cigarette tax a bad idea?

As it's been proposed, the cigarette tax is dishonest. Although it's been touted as a means to pay for health care costs associated with smoking, very little of the new revenues are being used to enhance any health care programs.

Rather, the governor is proposing to replace existing state revenues being used for health care. The current health care dollars are then being used to repay the highway funds that were raided in the previous budget and to cover up for other past budget mistakes.

It's also fiscally irresponsible to use the cigarette tax — a diminishing revenue source — to pay for health care, which is the fastest-growing expenditure area in state government.

In the first year, $1 in cigarette tax will pay for $1 in health care. In the next year, because health care costs have been rising at a rate of 14 percent annually, the costs will rise to $1.14, but because fewer people will smoke and because fewer young people will begin to smoke, the revenue will drop to 91 cents.

As time goes on, the gap will continue to grow, creating greater budget problems over the years.

Why is the hospital tax a bad idea?

The hospital tax is unfair. It taxes people who already have to pay for health insurance to pay for those who don't. That amounts to double taxation for those
people, like most people in the Fox Valley, who have their own health insurance.

Although it's touted as a scheme to enhance federal dollars for health care, many hospitals will not only not see any additional funding, but they'll actually see a huge revenue loss due to the tax.

Those hospitals will have to make up that lost revenue by increasing costs even more to those who do have insurance.

In the Fox Cities, three hospitals will lose more than $11 million over the next two years as a result of this tax.

What in the current budget deserves increased funding?

K-12 education to maintain the state's commitment to two-thirds, medical assistance programs to keep up with rising costs and caseloads and the UW System to hold the line on tuition increases.

We have sufficient funds through natural revenue growth to make these expenditures without the need for new or higher taxes.

Likewise, what can be looked at for cuts?

Any other government program should be considered for cuts.

In basic terms, how can Doyle's budget proposal be fixed?

Frankly, I don't believe Doyle's budget can be fixed. Not only has he loaded it up with billions of dollars in taxes and fees, he has obliterated the lines between funds and accounts, using new taxes to replace current spending.

With his fund transfers and raids of segregated funds, Doyle's budget is a tangled mess.

The best thing we could do would be to ignore the governor's budget and work from the current budget, limiting our spending to our natural revenue growth.

Just like any family must do, Wisconsin government must learn to live within its means. We shouldn't spend any more than we're taking in under our current tax system.

If we limit our spending to natural revenue growth, we can provide necessary increases to education and health care. We would then need to find about $250 million in cuts in other areas to get our fiscal house in order.

Through a budget discipline of not spending more than we take in under our current tax structure, coupled with budget cuts to "pay the bills" left by previous bad budgets, the state can regain its fiscal health by the end of the biennium.

WMC: The Teeth of the Tiger

Despite the concerted attacks against it over the past month, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce is shooting back. WMC is launching a radio campaign against the $1.7 billion in new taxes proposed by Jim Doyle.

The Democrats attack against WMC reminds me of a line from Tom Clancy's book The Teeth of the Tiger: "If you want to kick the tiger in his ass, you better have a plan for dealing with his teeth."

Simplifying Government by Making it More Bureaucratic

On Tuesday, the Joint Finance Committee will discuss funding for Jim Doyle's new "Department of Children and Families." In announcing the new department, Doyle promised that the new department would streamline services and reduce duplication.

Since when does creating new bureaucracy streamline anything or reduce anything? Wisconsin already has a Department of Health and Family Services.

Only government would add bureaucracy in order to streamline and reduce duplication.

Roger Ervin: Doyle's Tool in His War Against WMC

For the second day in a row, Revenue Secretary Roger Ervin has received ink in MJS for attacking Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

Yesterday, MJS included the following in a discussion of Ervin's claims that people are not paying one-third of the taxes owed to the state:

One major force in tax discussions in the Capitol is Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state chamber of commerce.

Ervin was critical of the leaders of WMC for repeatedly saying that Wisconsin ranks among the high-taxed states nationally and that Doyle's proposed budget would worsen its ranking because it includes $1.7 billion in tax and fee increases.

"We need to have WMC in here as a positive partner that's willing to have a public debate about the economy in a very rational and mature way . . . ," Ervin said.

He said Wisconsin ranks in the middle of all states in taxation when factors such as low fees and relatively low college tuition are considered.

WMC's hammering on the message of how high taxes are in Wisconsin hurts his ability to get businesses to locate or expand here, Ervin said.

Today, MJS notes the following:

Madison - In an unusually blunt statement for a state government cabinet secretary, state Revenue Secretary Roger Ervin says the 4,000 members of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce should fire its Madison-based senior staff members.

In a Journal Sentinel interview this week, Ervin said this of the day-to-day managers of the state's largest business group, which pounds Wisconsin for having what they say is one of the sixth or seventh highest tax burden of all states:

"Let me separate the members from the staff, the employees. The members of WMC are the backbone of this economy. We need them as good solid partners to operate our government...They understand the things we need to keep our economy going -- education, jobs, infrastructure.

"I think the staff is not doing their members any good. The employees, they are seemingly very myopic on public policy, focusing only on taxes, when in fact taxes on its own are very complex. When you add in what you need to do for the economy to make our economy strong, it becomes even more complex.

"If we're really talking about strengthening the businesses we already have and bringing new investment in, do you thinks this kind of negative (high-tax) message helps people want to come to our state? Investment is based on 70% business model and 30% perception..."

Click here to hear the interview.

It appears that Doyle and his friends have decided, after the Democrats' triumphs last year, that they are in a position to take on WMC directly. They must also assume that they need to discredit WMC, the most potent proponent of fiscal conservatism in the state. Two weeks ago, the Capital Times started the assault, and the pounding will continue.

Doyle and friends presumably hope that, by discrediting WMC, their own special interest groups will have even more of an impact in the upcoming election. Obviously, the time to attack is now, before the pre-election issue advocacy starts in earnest. If WMC is rendered less effective, WEAC, the casinos, the trial lawyers and the unions will be much better able to control the message in the election.

Doyle must recognize the risk in this strategy because he has a non-entity such as Roger Ervin out front fighting his battle.

Apparently, Doyle does not recognize that the attacks on WMC give it more credibility in conservative circles, and that such attacks provide evidence to WMC's members that their organization is being heard.

As this blog discussed earlier, the underlying arguments (don't talk about out high taxes, and no one will know) is just plain ridiculous.

Travel Green Wisconsin

I came across the following site while following up on Governor Doyle's new "Manufacturing Certification Program."

Travel Green Wisconsin is a voluntary, affordable program that reviews, certifies and recognizes tourism businesses that have made a commitment to continuously improve their operations in order to reduce their environmental and social impact. This program helps businesses evaluate their operations, set goals and take specific actions towards environmental, social and economic sustainability.

I have not yet concluded whether there is any merit to the manufacturing program, but does anyone really believe that awarding tourism businesses for being "green" improves either the tourism industry in Wisconsin or the environment?

Even if it sounds good, there is a cost. It took many to create the program, it takes money to administer it, and it takes money to give awards.

Government should ask three questions when it spends money. First, is this really necessary? Second, can private industry or markets do it better than government? And third, is this really one of the state's top priorities?

In all three instances, the answer for Travel Green Wisconsin is a resounding "No." This is simply popular feel good legislation. Unfortunately, it takes money away from more important programs, such as schools and roads, and away from taxpayers. That should make no one feel good.

"Health Care For All": Republican Party - Wake Up!

Special interest support for Governor Doyle's "Health Care for All" plan is growing.

The name is itself is somewhat instructive. Government-run health care proponents across the country have been using the name "Health Care for All" for their plans. For example, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, Vermont and Washington all have "Health Care for All" plans under consideration. Ralph Nader used that title for his health care plan. "Health Care for All" plans in general look remarkably like Hillary Care.

The name is soothing. The concept is attractive. Even the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has used that as its health care motto. After all, who wants people to go without health care?

We all know people who have had catastrophic medical problems without adequate health coverage. We all know small business owners who have had to make the tough choice, in order to survive, of not carrying health insurance. We all know self-employed people who pay as much for health coverage as they pay for their home mortgage.

Health care is a real, and important, issue.

But is the Governor's plan the right solution?

Clearly not. Health Care for All, as proposed by the Governor, is just another expansion of government. It will increase costs, shift access away from those who have it, and create new programs and taxes.

Assembly Republicans have offered the Patients First plan. Some Senate Republicans, such as Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), have doggedly tried to make Health Care Savings Account tax-free and deductible.

But, overall, Republicans have failed to come together and, as a group, clearly and concisely articulate an overall vision of consumer-based health care. Even that term lacks, for most voters, much interest or meaning.

If Republican lawmakers do not make this issue their own, Republicans will truly have problems in next year's election. Not only do Republicans need to have a plan (perhaps "Patients First" is the right starting point, but it needs to go farther), but the need to sell their vision to the Wisconsin people. That involves creating allies in the medical community and harnessing the power of their own supporters (talk radio, bloggers, party activists and the like) and interest groups to get the plan across to the media and voters. It is not enough to just talk about the deficiencies in the Governor's plan.

Republicans are losing this battle. No battle is more important, not only for the party but also, and more importantly, for the future health (both physical and economic health) of this state. Waiting until the next election will be far too late. Republicans and their supporters must treat this with the same urgency as they treated, for example, this past Supreme Court race.

A Conservative Budget Plan

The Joint Finance Committee is at work muddling through the Governor's budget, reports from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau and a load of proposals. The JFC is made up of eight Republicans and eight Democrats. Therefore, it takes at least one Democrat to overrule anything the Governor has proposed. That will happen, but not in any significant way.

Republicans will have to wait until the budget bills get to the floor. They can make changes in the Assembly, although their margin there has gotten smaller, so on specific issues they will have defections. Of course, considering that they do not control the Senate, they will make little headway there.

So, what to do?

Go through the motions. Allow members to vote for individual spending initiatives without arm-twisting. That will affirm who the conservatives are, and save political capital for the finish line.

State law provides provides that, if the legislature fails to enact a new budget by July 1 of the odd-numbered year when the previous biennial budget is due to expire (July 1 of this year), the existing appropriations remain in effect until amended or eliminated by legislation, so government can continue to operate.

If the GOP leadership arm-twists throughout the process, many individual Republicans will at some point believe they have gotten the best deal they can, and decide to enter into a grand compromise to save the headway they have made. That would be a tremendous mistake.

Instead, let the current budget rollover, and hold tight. Eventually, the Democrats will be ready to engage in a true give-and-take. It makes the existing budget the base, rather than the disaster proposed by the Governor. If they want more money for X, they need to concede Y.

At the same time, conservatives should have their own agenda. Republicans need to make it an affirmative process, both because there are things government should do, and there are things voters expect. For example, Republicans can argue that they did not give in to the governor's spending increases so they could fulfill the state's commitment to fund 2/3 of the cost of local schools. Republicans can take that issue away from the Democrats, truly make a difference, and put a halt to the expansion of so many government programs and the myriad of tax increases the Governor has proposed.

This proposal is a bit Utopian. It could work, but too many Republicans believe there are "important" things they need to deliver back home (there are a few, but not many). And too many Republicans fear taking a stand. They fear the media backlash. They fear leading. They will cave, and we will have a compromise that is no compromise at all but, instead, a capitulation.

Republicans, do something different. Show you have a backbone. Voters will respect you for it.