Wisconsin (and Wis. Lovers). Help me prepare for Joint Committee on Finance Public Hearings.

[Scuba]

I'll be attending the State Budget Joint Committee on Finance Public Hearing Monday at State Fair Park. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to ask a question. I welcome all your input in preparing for this opportunity.

I'd like to incorporate a comment in my question to give me a "double" when I get my chance. I'm leaning toward a "tax the rich" theme, but remain open to any suggestions. I very much appreciate any and all input.


Any local DU'er want to meet, share, find synergy... please sent a note to my inbox.

thanks,

Scuba


Here's the scoop on the upcoming hearings.

These scheduled public hearings are the only time when public comment is taken in open hearing format in the entire budget process. If you can make it to a hearing please attend. If you cannot you may submit comments to committee members.

Senator Alberta Darling, Co-Chair Representative Robin Vos, Co-Chair
Senator Luther Olsen Representative Dan Meyer
Senator Sheila Harsdorf Representative Dan LeMahieu
Senator Joe Leibham Representative John Nygren
Senator Glenn Grothman Representative Pat Strachota
Senator Randy Hopper Representative Joel Kleefisch
Senator Lena Taylor Representative Tamara Grigsby
Senator Robert Jauch Representative Jennifer Shilling

Thursday, April 7 (10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)*
University of Wisconsin -- Stevens Point
Lee S. Dreyfus University Center
Melvin R. Laird Room (Room 230)
1015 Reserve Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Friday, April 8 (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)*
Northwood School
The Richard's Auditorium
N14463 Highway 53
Minong, WI 54859

Monday, April 11 (10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)*

Wisconsin State Fair Park
Expo Center, Hall A
8200 W. Greenfield Ave.
West Allis, WI 53214
(Enter Gate 4 for Parking)


Wednesday, April 13 (10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)*
Arcadia High School
Auditorium
756 Raider Drive
Arcadia, WI 54612

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Perhaps ask why the wealthiest pay 2/3rds less taxes today,

while the average American pays twice as much?

http://fdrdemocrats.org/the-common-sense-guide-to-social-security/5/

And the economy was fine back then, but is a catastrophe now?

[HereSince1628]

2. I'd ask about unsustainable cuts in the revenue stream

Avoid saying "tax the rich." Ask for evidence that cutting the revenue streams strengthens communities and the state. How can public services such as highways and sewers without a revenue stream?

[madrchsod]

3. finally i can use this and hope you can too...

after searching through 8 pages on google i found this.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-13/wisconsin-suffers-as-build-america-bonds-demise-raises-costs-muni-credit.html

not being a econ major i have no idea what all this means so maybe you can find someone that can.

i also searched at least 10 google pages on the so called debt amount and i`d say 95% of what i read parroted the same talking point amount then low and behold i ran across this

http://community.livejournal.com/madison_fights/12305.html

[MoDupey]

4. I would like to know

What programs they (R's) have proposed in the last 10 years that directly helped the middle class and or created jobs. :shrug:
I wish I lived closer to one of those locations.

[highplainsdem]

5. I hope you'll mention ALEC. Robin Vos is ALEC state chair. And ALEC is involved in the transfer of

wealth from the middle class and poor to the rich and corporations.

DOA Mike Huebsch and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald were previous ALEC chairs.

http://uppitywis.org/blogarticle/doa-sec-huebsch-sen-fitzgerald-both-served-state-chairs-corporat

I just posted a separate topic about ALEC's YouTube channel that quotes a speech Boehner gave to ALEC members that made it clear he views the corporate, private-sector members as more important than the legislators.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x832483

If you look through my long compilation topic on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), you'll find a number of replies referring to Wisconsin legislation that originated with ALEC, including broadband and health bills.

You could make the point that you don't want corporations, who are doing free lobbying through a national group trying to control state legislatures across the country, to have so much influence on Wisconsin's laws.