CouleeConservatives.com

Is Land Purchase a State Spending Priority for You?

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this week that the State of Wisconsin approved spending $18.5 million for the purchase of 24,922 acres through the State Stewardship Fund.

Wisconsin’s general fund balance is at $25 million.  While this might seem like a lot of money, it’s not.  Our state is mandated to maintain an ongoing balance of $65 million.  A general fund balance is much like a checking account balance.  In other words, this would mean that the state of Wisconsin’s checking account is dipping precariously low - low enough that we should wonder if we may be hit with some overdraft charges.

New Tax Increase on Senior Citizens Starts July 1

Anyone with a family member currently residing in a nursing home, please take note – a tax on nursing home beds increases again in July, to $170 per month.  If you are a private – pay resident you should expect to pay an additional $2,040 a year.

Protecting senior citizens has always been a priority of mine, which is why I have repeatedly fought against this tax, and a major reason why I voted against 2009 Wisconsin Act 28 (State Budget bill) that included this nursing home bed tax increase.

The nursing home bed assessment (tax) was created in 1991 as a way to support medical assistance (MA) nursing home rate increases.  All nursing home facilities are required to pay the Department of Health Services (DHS) a monthly assessment per licensed bed.

Unnecessary Fee Increase Creates More Uncertainty for Main Street Businesses

Agency officials could not have picked a more devastating time to increase the cost of weights and measures fees for businesses across the state.  A proposal tucked inside last year's budget bill included a fee increase by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and authorized the Department to determine the increase through the administrative rule process.

The administrative rule process is now underway and DATCP has approved a 300 percent increase on weights and measures fees from $100 to $420 that will target the pocketbook of grocery stores, co-ops and manufacturers in my district and throughout the state.  Businesses simply do not have unlimited resources to absorb this drastic increase from the state and ultimately the consumer will pay for it.

2009-2010 Legislative Report

It is a common practice for businesses to present a comprehensive annual report to their customers and shareholders.  Its purpose is to provide a summary on the company’s activities over the past year and its financial performance.  As taxpayers of the 32nd District, you deserve a report of the state government’s financial performance and its activities over the 2009-2010 legislative session as the general-floor period comes to an end.  A complete listing of all the bills that were signed into law is available on the Legislature’s web site at http://www.legis.state.wi.us.

Despite being a member of the minority party, I was able to find some common ground with my fellow democratic colleagues and author some important bills that were signed into law.

It’s Time to Reform Wisconsin’s Budget Laws

Why does Wisconsin need to change its budget laws?  The question can be answered with this parallel: as an individual budgeting for my personal expenses, it would be outrageous for me to think that I would have access to my neighbor’s finances in order to fill holes in my own budget.

On a larger scale, this is exactly what some State government leaders have been doing.  The State has been budgeting without restrictions and taxpayers are paying dearly for these undisciplined and short-sighted budget methods.

In last year’s budget, a total of $240,031,800 was taken from segregated funds such as the Transportation fund, Wireless 911 fund, Recycling fund and the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund to be used for purposes other than what they were intended for.

This is neither a fair nor sustainable method of budgeting.

Protecting Wisconsin’s Sovereignty and Citizens

This week I authored a Senate Resolution that would give Attorney General JB Van Hollen the authority to file a lawsuit against the Federal government challenging the constitutionality of the new Federal healthcare law.  I believe our country has lost sight of our focus on achieving true health care reform. 

After reviewing President Obama’s healthcare law, Van Hollen has indicated that he found considerable evidence to commence a lawsuit on the individual mandate to carry health insurance or pay a penalty.  Currently, 14 attorneys general including one democrat have filed a lawsuit against the Federal government.

Time to Learn from Europe on Raw Dairy Benefits

It's not often I would recommend that the United States follow the policy initiatives of our friends in Europe, but on the issue of legalizing raw dairy milk, I would advise Wisconsin consumers and legislators to take a critical look at what European countries  have been doing for years - selling and consuming raw dairy milk.  In Italy, consumers can actually buy raw milk from vending machines!

Not that I am suggesting Wisconsin goes as far as that, but I do think Wisconsin could join Europe and 25 other states in legalizing the sale of raw milk.   I signed on as a co-sponsor to a bill that would legalize the sale of unpasteurized (commonly called raw) milk and other milk products.   I became aware of the growing support for legalizing the selling of raw milk after meeting with about 60 raw dairy supporters in my district back in October.