Taxman Doyle's Plan to Screw Big Oil

The reality has become painfully clear.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle is hopelessly addicted to raising taxes.

He can't control himself. It's like a sickness.

Doyle is the same guy who was reelected in November on his "no new taxes" promise.

Hey! Wisconsinites! Doyle supporters!

Do you recognize that you were duped and your governor is a liar?

Remember during the campaign when Doyle bragged about his "tax freeze"?

Apparently, Taxman Doyle has decided that major "accomplishment" wasn't worth maintaining.

Property taxes are sure to rise, thanks to Doyle.

And of course, he proposed his cigarette tax.

I think he was inspired by Hillary Clinton's vow to take Exxon's profits in his latest tax scheme.

MADISON, Wis. -- Gov. Jim Doyle proposes taxing big oil companies more than $270 million over the next two years to help pay for the state's transportation needs.

Doyle said the assessment will equate to $1.50 per barrel of oil sold in the state, and the companies would be prohibited from passing the tax on to customers at the pump. Violations carry a criminal penalty of up to six months in prison.

What a joke!

Prison time for violators?

Good grief.

Yes, that will protect us.

ALL COSTS ARE EVENTUALLY PASSED DOWN TO CONSUMERS.

The plan is a way to get oil companies to contribute to the rising costs of the state's infrastructure, Doyle said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"This is not the total solution but this is a significant part of it," said the governor, a Democrat. The proposal will be a part of Doyle's two-year budget he delivers to the Legislature on Tuesday.

Another part of the solution will be an increase in vehicle registration fees, Doyle said. He wouldn't say how much that will be, but he has previously said he would support about a $10 increase. Registering a car currently costs $55.

What a load!

Semantics.

A fee by any other name would smell as bad as a tax.

Money ripped out of the pockets of citizens and into the hands of the government financially burdens the people.

I've got an idea!

I propose a "fee" for casino patrons.

That would bring in a lot of revenue.

Will that be tomorrow's new money-raising proposal?

Do you think Taxman Doyle would ever consider picking the casinos' pockets via a fee or tax?

No chance.

An oil industry spokesman said companies will be lobbying heavily against the proposal, which he described as a veiled way to raise the gasoline tax.

"The average legislator will read through the fine lines and see what this is," said Erin Roth, spokesman for the American Petroleum Institute, which represents the five largest oil companies in Wisconsin. "It's punitive to oil companies, and it's something that we will fight and hopefully we will prevail."

Wow.

Doyle knows how to create a welcoming business climate, doesn't he?

Unbelievable.

Destroying a State's Economy for Dummies by Jim Doyle.