There were many important issues state government addressed during the past year. Here are some top 10 state government news stories of 2009.
No 10. "PUBLIC ENEMIES" - The long-awaited film, "Public Enemies" starring Johnny Depp that was filmed in several Wisconsin locations during 2008 opened in theaters July 1, 2009. Unfortunately the governor increased taxes for filmmakers in the 2009-2011 state budget.
No. 9. DEER HUNT - Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Matt Frank sent a letter to the Natural Resources Board removing a proposal to extend the deer season to 16 days from the board's December agenda. Angry hunters bagged the fewest deer in 27 years according to initial figures from the DNR. The 2009 harvest of 195,647 deer is a 29 percent decline from 2008's harvest of 276,985 deer.
No 8. AUTO INSURANCE RATES - Legislative Democrats and the governor pushed and voted for state budget provisions that are directly responsible for higher insurance costs that are making consumers angry. As a result, premiums and tempers are on the rise. Prior to approval of the 2009-2011 state budget, Wisconsin enjoyed some of the lowest auto insurance rates in the nation. Dramatic changes brought on by government mandates were unnecessary.
No. 7. LETTING PRISONERS OUT EARLY - The state budget allows the early release of certain felons. So far, inmates have not been released. I advocate as much delay as possible. The Capital Times this year examined a Council of State Governments Justice Center report, writing that, "A majority of inmates are incarcerated because they re-offend or violate the terms of their release. In 2007, 55 percent of prison inmates had violated terms of their parole, probation or extended supervision or were re-offenders who had committed a new crime."
No. 6. BUSINESS LEADERS SPEAK OUT - Republican lawmakers held listening sessions around the state giving business people an opportunity to share their expertise about the state's business climate. Some of the more noteworthy comments I heard at one session: "I have never felt welcomed by state government."
"We're being demonized as businesspeople for making profits. Being a success is not a crime. We're scared because we're seeing everything evaporate before our very eyes."
"Let me keep more of my money and I'll invest it and hire people."
No. 5. WISCONSIN SHARES - A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation turned up astounding levels of fraud in Wisconsin Shares, the state's child care program, identifying nearly $750,000 in suspicious child care disbursements. I requested an audit of the program that discovered problems including lack of documentation, illegal immigrants receiving benefits, and child care rings, with friends and family members paid by the state to take turns caring for each others' children. Eight instances were found in which convicted felons or individuals that abused or neglected children were employed by or reported living in child care facilities.
No. 4. WASTING STIMULUS MONEY - After the state Legislature approved a huge state stimulus package, I asked, "What happens when this one-time money dries up?" The stimulus did not solve our state budget problems, and it did not create sustaining jobs. If we could not use the stimulus money in ways that would actually stimulate the economy, then it should be used on infrastructure. Our water in various areas of the state is questionably unsafe. Uncontrollable contamination of Lake Michigan is profoundly reckless. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District continues to dump billions of gallons of raw sewage into Lake Michigan. We should have invested our stimulus package in our sewer and water systems.
No. 3 QEO - The 2009-11 state budget eliminated the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) that for many years kept Wisconsin property taxes somewhat in check. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) reports, "School property tax levies for 2009-10 are up 6.0 percent." Losing the QEO will hurt property taxpayers.
No. 2. EARLY VOTING - I was very disappointed to learn that a photo ID requirement was not part of the Government Accountability Board's 2009-2014 Election Administration Plan. The overwhelming majority of the public demands a display of a photo ID before being issued a ballot to ensure fairness and clean elections. Requiring a photo ID to vote would have fulfilled stated goals of the GAB plan including improving election administration and protecting voting integrity.
No. 1. THE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE STATE BUDGET - The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance notes the governor only vetoed about $10 million or less than 0.02 percent out of a bloated 2009-11 state budget during a recession. Only eight of 67 identified earmarks were vetoed from a budget crafted primarily in secret. The budget increased spending 9.4 percent. Out of all the tax increases, the largest was in individual income taxes totaling $529.8 million. Wisconsin's growth in per capita income ranking is one of the lowest in the nation.
- Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, serves the 28th Senate District.
No 10. "PUBLIC ENEMIES" - The long-awaited film, "Public Enemies" starring Johnny Depp that was filmed in several Wisconsin locations during 2008 opened in theaters July 1, 2009. Unfortunately the governor increased taxes for filmmakers in the 2009-2011 state budget.
No. 9. DEER HUNT - Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Matt Frank sent a letter to the Natural Resources Board removing a proposal to extend the deer season to 16 days from the board's December agenda. Angry hunters bagged the fewest deer in 27 years according to initial figures from the DNR. The 2009 harvest of 195,647 deer is a 29 percent decline from 2008's harvest of 276,985 deer.
No 8. AUTO INSURANCE RATES - Legislative Democrats and the governor pushed and voted for state budget provisions that are directly responsible for higher insurance costs that are making consumers angry. As a result, premiums and tempers are on the rise. Prior to approval of the 2009-2011 state budget, Wisconsin enjoyed some of the lowest auto insurance rates in the nation. Dramatic changes brought on by government mandates were unnecessary.
No. 7. LETTING PRISONERS OUT EARLY - The state budget allows the early release of certain felons. So far, inmates have not been released. I advocate as much delay as possible. The Capital Times this year examined a Council of State Governments Justice Center report, writing that, "A majority of inmates are incarcerated because they re-offend or violate the terms of their release. In 2007, 55 percent of prison inmates had violated terms of their parole, probation or extended supervision or were re-offenders who had committed a new crime."
No. 6. BUSINESS LEADERS SPEAK OUT - Republican lawmakers held listening sessions around the state giving business people an opportunity to share their expertise about the state's business climate. Some of the more noteworthy comments I heard at one session: "I have never felt welcomed by state government."
"We're being demonized as businesspeople for making profits. Being a success is not a crime. We're scared because we're seeing everything evaporate before our very eyes."
"Let me keep more of my money and I'll invest it and hire people."
No. 5. WISCONSIN SHARES - A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation turned up astounding levels of fraud in Wisconsin Shares, the state's child care program, identifying nearly $750,000 in suspicious child care disbursements. I requested an audit of the program that discovered problems including lack of documentation, illegal immigrants receiving benefits, and child care rings, with friends and family members paid by the state to take turns caring for each others' children. Eight instances were found in which convicted felons or individuals that abused or neglected children were employed by or reported living in child care facilities.
No. 4. WASTING STIMULUS MONEY - After the state Legislature approved a huge state stimulus package, I asked, "What happens when this one-time money dries up?" The stimulus did not solve our state budget problems, and it did not create sustaining jobs. If we could not use the stimulus money in ways that would actually stimulate the economy, then it should be used on infrastructure. Our water in various areas of the state is questionably unsafe. Uncontrollable contamination of Lake Michigan is profoundly reckless. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District continues to dump billions of gallons of raw sewage into Lake Michigan. We should have invested our stimulus package in our sewer and water systems.
No. 3 QEO - The 2009-11 state budget eliminated the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) that for many years kept Wisconsin property taxes somewhat in check. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) reports, "School property tax levies for 2009-10 are up 6.0 percent." Losing the QEO will hurt property taxpayers.
No. 2. EARLY VOTING - I was very disappointed to learn that a photo ID requirement was not part of the Government Accountability Board's 2009-2014 Election Administration Plan. The overwhelming majority of the public demands a display of a photo ID before being issued a ballot to ensure fairness and clean elections. Requiring a photo ID to vote would have fulfilled stated goals of the GAB plan including improving election administration and protecting voting integrity.
No. 1. THE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE STATE BUDGET - The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance notes the governor only vetoed about $10 million or less than 0.02 percent out of a bloated 2009-11 state budget during a recession. Only eight of 67 identified earmarks were vetoed from a budget crafted primarily in secret. The budget increased spending 9.4 percent. Out of all the tax increases, the largest was in individual income taxes totaling $529.8 million. Wisconsin's growth in per capita income ranking is one of the lowest in the nation.
- Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, serves the 28th Senate District.
