Age: 58
City/town of Residence: Spring Green
Family: Wife, Peggy, two children, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren
Education: River Valley High School, Class of 1972
UW-Whitewater, Class of 1976, Major in Accounting
Occupation: State Representative, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Website: www.howardmarklein.com
Previous elected positions held: Elected to State Assembly in 2010
What is the top issue facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?
Creating good-paying jobs for our district is my number one priority. This past session, we were able to improve the jobs and business climate in the state of Wisconsin. We passed comprehensive legislation that offered incentives to businesses that created jobs in our state and made Wisconsin their headquarters. I was also very supportive of extending the Livestock and Dairy Production Credit for our farmers. By investing in successful industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, we will be able to create good paying jobs for people in our community. I have maintained a close relationship with our employers, and have assisted them in resolving various regulatory issues so that they could continue to grow. For example, I have worked with the DNR and our local cheesemakers in obtaining the necessary permits to expand and grow their business. Jobs and improving the economy are an important issues in our district.
What are other key issues facing the district and how would you work to resolve them?
Another priority is rooting out fraud and waste in our state government, for which our taxpayers are footing the bill. Finally, our communities have a vested interest in ensuring that our fiscal house is in order.
As a Certified Fraud Examiner, I see the importance of rooting out wasteful spending in our government. Our community's taxpayers are footing the bill for those that would defraud our programs. Last session, I sponsored a motion in the state budget that would create a photo ID study committee in the Department of Health Services for those in BadgerCare and Food Share programs. This committee would study the impacts of using a photo id system for those who receive state benefits to prevent fraud. I believe in helping those who truly need it, not those that would cheat the system. I supported legislation that provided consequences to first time cheaters, unlike the old system where one would not have any consequences for cheating the first two times.
This budget, I voted to eliminate a $3.6 billion deficit and to hold the line on property taxes. Our state's property taxes have not seen a decline in over 13 years. Our state's families should not be on the hook for inaccurate accounting in our state government. As a CPA, I support the use of accurate accounting in our state's books. In the past, the state has not been honest with its accounting. This has resulted in past raids of the Transportation Fund, Patient Compensation Fund, etc. The state should have to balance its budget the way families do in our community - with real dollars and numbers.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I have a wide variety of experience in helping businesses, schools, and non-profits manage their finances. I have been on the Board of Directors for two different hospital boards and multiple non-profits. These experiences have been useful in the time I have been in office. I have real-world business experience. I have had to meet a payroll. I am one of the legislators with an in-depth knowledge of our state budget and finances.
This past session, I have proven that the constituents of our district are my first priority. I have supported legislation that provides them with more jobs and a better job climate, a balanced state budget, and a freeze on their property tax bill. I have worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to introduce legislation that creates jobs and eliminates unnecessary waste in our state's government.
I was one of the authors of the bill that would require that the state use generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in its budgeting. As a CPA, I am concerned about our state's financial future as well as our bond rating. I will re-introduce the GAAP requirement legislation next session. If re-elected, I will continue my work to make sure our budget is balanced and we continue on our path of improving Wisconsin for job creation.
City/town of Residence: Spring Green
Family: Wife, Peggy, two children, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren
Education: River Valley High School, Class of 1972
UW-Whitewater, Class of 1976, Major in Accounting
Occupation: State Representative, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Website: www.howardmarklein.com
Previous elected positions held: Elected to State Assembly in 2010
What is the top issue facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?
Creating good-paying jobs for our district is my number one priority. This past session, we were able to improve the jobs and business climate in the state of Wisconsin. We passed comprehensive legislation that offered incentives to businesses that created jobs in our state and made Wisconsin their headquarters. I was also very supportive of extending the Livestock and Dairy Production Credit for our farmers. By investing in successful industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, we will be able to create good paying jobs for people in our community. I have maintained a close relationship with our employers, and have assisted them in resolving various regulatory issues so that they could continue to grow. For example, I have worked with the DNR and our local cheesemakers in obtaining the necessary permits to expand and grow their business. Jobs and improving the economy are an important issues in our district.
What are other key issues facing the district and how would you work to resolve them?
Another priority is rooting out fraud and waste in our state government, for which our taxpayers are footing the bill. Finally, our communities have a vested interest in ensuring that our fiscal house is in order.
As a Certified Fraud Examiner, I see the importance of rooting out wasteful spending in our government. Our community's taxpayers are footing the bill for those that would defraud our programs. Last session, I sponsored a motion in the state budget that would create a photo ID study committee in the Department of Health Services for those in BadgerCare and Food Share programs. This committee would study the impacts of using a photo id system for those who receive state benefits to prevent fraud. I believe in helping those who truly need it, not those that would cheat the system. I supported legislation that provided consequences to first time cheaters, unlike the old system where one would not have any consequences for cheating the first two times.
This budget, I voted to eliminate a $3.6 billion deficit and to hold the line on property taxes. Our state's property taxes have not seen a decline in over 13 years. Our state's families should not be on the hook for inaccurate accounting in our state government. As a CPA, I support the use of accurate accounting in our state's books. In the past, the state has not been honest with its accounting. This has resulted in past raids of the Transportation Fund, Patient Compensation Fund, etc. The state should have to balance its budget the way families do in our community - with real dollars and numbers.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I have a wide variety of experience in helping businesses, schools, and non-profits manage their finances. I have been on the Board of Directors for two different hospital boards and multiple non-profits. These experiences have been useful in the time I have been in office. I have real-world business experience. I have had to meet a payroll. I am one of the legislators with an in-depth knowledge of our state budget and finances.
This past session, I have proven that the constituents of our district are my first priority. I have supported legislation that provides them with more jobs and a better job climate, a balanced state budget, and a freeze on their property tax bill. I have worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to introduce legislation that creates jobs and eliminates unnecessary waste in our state's government.
I was one of the authors of the bill that would require that the state use generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in its budgeting. As a CPA, I am concerned about our state's financial future as well as our bond rating. I will re-introduce the GAAP requirement legislation next session. If re-elected, I will continue my work to make sure our budget is balanced and we continue on our path of improving Wisconsin for job creation.