WI State Budget: Drag Me to Hell

On May 29, Drag Me to Hell was released.

No, I'm not talking about the new horror film. I'm talking about the Wisconsin state budget.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Facing a record $6.6 billion deficit, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee on Friday passed a budget crafted late at night and largely behind closed doors that included tax increases, trims in state aid and millions of dollars in pork-barrel projects in Democratic districts.

Working overnight Thursday until 5:30 a.m. Friday, lawmakers included provisions that would impose a tax on oil companies, increase the cigarette tax, release prison inmates early and reduce funding for local governments and school districts.

The committee wrapped up its work after a 12-hour session with a 12-4, party-line vote to close the shortfall over two years.

Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature, are expected to pass the package of tax and fee increases and spending cuts, with few changes. Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle praised the deal, suggesting he would use his vast veto powers sparingly.

...Democrats said the two-year plan would cut state spending while keeping down taxes for average Wisconsin families. Doyle and his aides said they were pleased the committee largely went along with his proposals.

"They made some hard decisions," Doyle said Friday after a workforce summit in Kenosha. "They protected the middle class. I think they've done a good job."

Republicans ridiculed the process of crafting the budget behind closed doors, voting in the middle of the night and having Senate Democrats hold a Lake Geneva fund-raiser four hours after approving the budget.

"These changes will have a dire impact on our state," Senate Republican leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau said in a statement. "The budget's tax and fee increases will worsen Wisconsin's already poor business climate rating and increase the burden on taxpayers. It will serve as a disincentive for families and employers to live here while prolonging our state's recession."

Overall spending would rise 7% because of federal economic stimulus dollars, but spending of state tax dollars would decline as much as 3.4%. There are no general or sales tax increases in the budget, but it does include targeted tax and fee increases on such things as phone lines, cigarettes and hospital revenues. State agencies and workers, aid to local government and schools all saw major budget cuts.

This is a disaster.

Doyle's claim that the budget protects the middle class is total BS, just another Doyle lie.

Middle class families are affected by the targeted tax and fee increases. It's crazy to suggest otherwise. I believe they have phone lines. They have cell phones. The cigarette tax hits lower income people much harder than the rich. There are too many specific tax hikes to mention, but there's no question that middle class families will be hit hard.

In addition to all the tax increases, the budget pushes through measures that will increase crime and welfare dependence.

The Democrats have crafted a budget that is a repellent to business owners and a magnet for criminals, illegal aliens, and welfare dependents. The budget guarantees to step up the pace of the state's brain drain and wealth drain.

It's suicidal.

What are the Democrats and Jim Doyle thinking?

More, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The budget includes an array of fiscal and non-fiscal items:

Early release: Doyle first proposed allowing nonviolent offenders to shave up to a third off their prison sentences if they obeyed prison rules. Officials could release the elderly, the disabled and those with debilitating illnesses. Doyle has said 500 to 1,000 inmates would be released over two years.

Republicans said releasing inmates would endanger the public. But Democrats said the measure was part of a broad effort to reform the state's 22,500 inmates so they would get jobs, pay taxes and stay out of trouble when they're released.

...Lawmakers also went along with Doyle on a plan to change how child sex offenders are monitored with global positioning systems. The most dangerous offenders would be monitored continuously, but lower-risk offenders would wear tracking devices that reported once a day on where they had been the last 24 hours.

Cigarette tax: The committee voted to raise the cigarette tax by 75 cents a pack, to $2.52, starting around Sept. 1.

Oil tax: Democrats agreed to impose a new tax on oil companies to help pay for roads. Oil companies would be barred from passing on the tax at the pump, but critics say that measure won't withstand a court challenge and drivers will end up paying the tax.

Income tax: The panel voted to raise the income tax rate to 7.75% for the richest 1% of Wisconsinites.

Driver's licenses: The committee adopted a provision that would allow illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses. The licenses could be used for driving, but not for other purposes.

...But Republicans said they thought the provision would make it easier for illegal immigrants to get government services and commit voter fraud.

License plates: The committee decided to keep in place a requirement that vehicles display two license plates and that drivers get registration stickers to put on their plates every year. Doyle wanted to eliminate the stickers and allow one plate to save money.

W-2: The committee agreed to overhaul Wisconsin Works, the state's welfare-to-work program. Among other changes, the committee approved eliminating a program that reduces parents' benefits if their children aren't attending school.

Debt: The state would delay $285 million in payments, helping the budget immediately but increasing long-term interest costs, under the committee's plan.

Tax credits: Democrats put off scheduled tax breaks for health insurance premiums and child care, having them take effect in 2011 instead of this year.

QEO: The committee voted to eliminate, in July 2010, the qualified economic offer used to settle labor contracts and restrict teacher compensation. Teachers have long argued the policy has kept their salaries lower than their counterparts in other states, while others say the QEO helps keep local property taxes in check....

Auto insurance: The committee recommended increasing the minimum amount of car insurance people would have to buy. People would have the option to drive without insurance, but if they did buy it, they would have to purchase more coverage than they do now.

I don't know where to begin.

Drag me to hell.