If you feel like the little guy continues to draw the financial short stick in Wisconsin, there were a couple news stories Wednesday that will bolster your point.
A study released by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy (ITEP) shows that low- and middle-income families in Wisconsin pay a greater share of their income in state and local taxes than do the richest families in the state.
Also, a new survey done by benefits consulting firm Mercer shows that Wisconsin workers and companies pay about 22 percent above the national average for their health insurance.
Angry yet?
The ITEP study showed that families earning $20,000 pay 9.2 percent of their income on state and local taxes. Middle-income taxpayers - those making between $35,000 and $57,000 - pay 11.2 percent. The richest taxpayers - averaging $1.116 million in income - pay only 8 percent.
"No one would ever design an income tax with lower tax rates for the best-off taxpayers," said Matthew Gardner, ITEP's executive director and lead author of the study. "But that is exactly what Wisconsin's tax system overall does: It allows the very wealthiest individuals to contribute less of their income ..."
The state's regressive tax policies must be reversed by the state Legislature. It is unfair to continue to ask those with less to pay more for state services.
Meanwhile, as national reform efforts purport to be aiming at lowering health insurance costs, Wisconsin evidently could benefit more than most. The Mercer survey shows Wisconsin companies and their employees pay an average of $10,888 per worker on health insurance. The national average is $8,945. And the gap between the state and national average widened last year.
For the state to recover economically, those with less financially - the majority of residents, incidentally - must begin to be helped, rather than hurt, by policy makers.
A study released by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy (ITEP) shows that low- and middle-income families in Wisconsin pay a greater share of their income in state and local taxes than do the richest families in the state.
Also, a new survey done by benefits consulting firm Mercer shows that Wisconsin workers and companies pay about 22 percent above the national average for their health insurance.
Angry yet?
The ITEP study showed that families earning $20,000 pay 9.2 percent of their income on state and local taxes. Middle-income taxpayers - those making between $35,000 and $57,000 - pay 11.2 percent. The richest taxpayers - averaging $1.116 million in income - pay only 8 percent.
"No one would ever design an income tax with lower tax rates for the best-off taxpayers," said Matthew Gardner, ITEP's executive director and lead author of the study. "But that is exactly what Wisconsin's tax system overall does: It allows the very wealthiest individuals to contribute less of their income ..."
The state's regressive tax policies must be reversed by the state Legislature. It is unfair to continue to ask those with less to pay more for state services.
Meanwhile, as national reform efforts purport to be aiming at lowering health insurance costs, Wisconsin evidently could benefit more than most. The Mercer survey shows Wisconsin companies and their employees pay an average of $10,888 per worker on health insurance. The national average is $8,945. And the gap between the state and national average widened last year.
For the state to recover economically, those with less financially - the majority of residents, incidentally - must begin to be helped, rather than hurt, by policy makers.
