Last month, the world was introduced to what has become known among legislative circles as the Wisconsin Taxpayer Protection Act (WTPA).
If approved by the legislature later this spring and again next spring, the WTPA will most likely be placed on the April 2007 statewide ballot as a binding referendum question. If approved by the majority of Wisconsin’s voters, limits will be written into the Constitution that will restrict the amount of revenue state and local governments can collect from taxpayers without asking our permission first. It is similar but different than the previous Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) amendment the legislature introduced and debated for a time in 2004. The main difference is that WTPA seeks to control government’s revenue (how much we raise), while TABOR sought to clamp down mainly on expenditures (how much we spend).
Dozens of my constituents have already contacted me with their personal thoughts and opinions on the proposal to amend the state Constitution. Initial feedback from taxpayers has been mixed, while most of our locally elected officials and municipal employees have been highly critical of the effort.
I supported the earlier version of TABOR and have co-sponsored the WTPA resolution because I agree with the goal it seeks to establish. Wisconsin taxes its citizens too much, and every level of government needs to live within its means. High taxes are hindering Wisconsin’s ability to grow our business economy, create higher paying jobs and retain our retired population. Government spending must be brought back in line with the taxpayer’s ability to pay.
Many have questioned how schools would be affected. Because of their current law spending restrictions, school districts would be treated in much the same way they are now, certainly no worse. Every year, the legislature puts increasing K-12 education funding at the top of our priority list, and that will certainly not change if WTPA is enacted into law.
The message I believe the majority of my constituents have sent to me is this - get Wisconsin out of the top-ten taxed states, prioritize education but cut the overall size of government and make sure Wisconsin is on the right fiscal track.
In the end, if I am convinced that WTPA will slow down all levels of government spending by restricting revenues, but still include the flexibility government needs to maintain quality services; I plan to vote in favor of it.
To provide some feedback on this column, contact me at (800) 863-1113, or sen.darling@legis.wi.gov.
