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Saving Medicare through financial solvency
By Rep. Dan Knodl
In recent weeks, Democrats have unleashed a vicious assault against Governor Scott Walker and Republicans in the State Legislature for implementing reforms that will bring fiscal solvency to the Medicaid program, ensuring its long-term survival. Their attack smacks of politics, because Medicaid would have run a deficit so big that leaving the problem unattended would have plunged our state back into fiscal crisis and endangered the future of the program.
I first ran for State Assembly in large part because politicians in Madison were making promises that any reasonable person could see were impossible to keep. The biggest of those was the massive Jim Doyle/Democratic expansion of the Medicaid program that provides health insurance coverage for low-income, disabled and elderly Wisconsinites. This promise was made at a time when recession and lower tax revenues loomed on the horizon ˆ a perfect example of foolish Washington-based budgeting coming to our State Capitol.
As a result, entering the 2011-13 budget deliberations, Medicaid was a staggering $1.8 billion in the red. The legislature was able to work with Governor Walker to find $1.2 billion in revenue to fill part of the Medicaid deficit, but that left well over $500 million in savings yet to be found. As such, the legislature gave the state Department of Health Services the ability to find these savings through reforms.
Since the Doyle expansion, enrollment in Medicaid has skyrocketed and state tax revenues have not been able to keep pace. Current enrollment in Medicaid is now 1.1 million individuals. Over the past 20 years, the total population of Wisconsin has increased 16 percent, but Medicaid enrollment has jumped 156 percent. To address these deep, structural issues, the following are among the steps we are proposing:
•Members who have access to reasonable-cost health coverage through their employer or parents rely on that coverage rather than Medicaid.
•Higher-income recipients (above 150% of federal poverty level) contribute a larger premium for their coverage. This would make their contribution closer to what their neighbors with private coverage might pay.
•Benefit coverage and co-pays for most BadgerCare Plus members above 100% FPL be aligned with most widely available commercial health plan in the state, with certain benefits added to reflect the special needs of the population.
•Phase out “presumptive eligibility” as the state implements “real time” eligibility determination for BadgerCare Plus. Currently, when someone applies for BadgerCare, it is assumed they are eligible and their coverage starts immediately — even though we may find out later that they are, in fact, ineligible.
Some have engaged in cynical scaremongering, accusing Republicans of slashing benefits to the poor, disabled and elderly. The truth is that, under the proposed changes, individuals would lose coverage only if 1) they make the choice to not pay a fair share to the cost of their care; 2) their income when properly counted increases above 200% FPL; 3) they have affordable private coverage available to them; or 4) they are not residents of Wisconsin.
The actions we are taking will keep Medicaid solvent into the future. It keeps the best coverage possible for members while treating taxpayers fairly. We can be proud of the many programs available to give the less fortunate the opportunity to improve their lot in life, but we must be careful to keep such programs financially sustainable and within taxpayers‚ ability to pay.
To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.
The capital gains tax: An impediment to recovery
By Rep. Dan Knodl
“The tax on capital gains directly affects investment decisions, the mobility and flow of risk capital… the ease or difficulty experienced by new ventures in obtaining capital, and thereby the strength and potential for growth in the economy.”
These words were spoken by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. He understood that an abundant supply of risk capital is the fuel required for a robust economy. When you tax capital at a higher rate, you get less of it. His words beg the question for us in 2011; with our economy struggling, are our tax policies having a good or bad effect on our prospects for capital formation and growth?
A capital gain is the financial profit derived from the sale of an investment like a home, an office building, a farm, a family business, shares of stock or a tangible object. Put another way, it is the appreciation in the value of an asset. Current state law allows individuals and certain types of businesses to exclude 30 percent of net long-term capital gains from income for income tax purposes. Long-term capital gains on the sale of farm assets are eligible for 60 percent exclusion. That’s on top of a federal capital gains tax varying between 10 percent and 39.6 percent depending upon circumstances. This combined burden discourages the risk capital investment spoken of by President Kennedy, reduces our global competitiveness and
encourages the flight of jobs overseas.
Some have also argued that this is an unfair double tax of investment returns since the government first takes money through corporate income taxes.
The tax on capital gains may be the most misunderstood tax in existence today. Its supporters say it’s a tax only on the rich, but that shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue. Capital availability is inextricably linked to overall wages. Historical evidence proves that reducing the rate of taxation of capital actually provides an upward boost to overall worker wages. Paul Samuelson, a member of President Kennedy's Council of
Economic Advisers, put it this way: “What happens to the wage rate when each person works with more capital goods? Because each worker has more capital to work with, his or her marginal product [or productivity] rises. Therefore, the competitive real wage rises as workers become worth more to capitalists and meet with spirited bidding up of their market wage rates.”
Historical rises in the rate of capital taxation have been followed by slower rates of capital formation and business investment – and economic slowdown. Furthermore, hikes in this tax have, without exception, been met with declining government revenues from it.
Conversely, cuts in capital gains taxes are followed by periods of growth and actually increased government revenues from this tax over time. That may seem counterintuitive on its face, but it is absolutely logical. When you reduce taxation of something, you get more of it, so it should surprise no one that reduced taxes on capital result in more capital being invested throughout the economy. That investment creates more and expanded businesses and jobs, which in turn causes increased economic activity – resulting in higher tax collections, even at a lower rate.
Much more could be said about the harmful nature of the capital gains tax, and I believe that the verdict of historical evidence is in; Wisconsin’s capital gains tax needs to be reduced – or eliminated altogether. That’s why I’ve co-sponsored Assembly Bill 6, a proposal that would phase out this tax by 2014. At a time when the lack of risk capital is a huge drag on the economy, we need to attack the problem head on. We know from past experience that such a tax cut would hurt no one and help many. If we’re serious about creating jobs in Wisconsin, we need to look at this serious solution instead of nibbling around the edges.
To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.
Guest column: State unemployment debt to hit employers
By Rep. Dan Knodl
One of the many consequences of our economic difficulties is the condition of Wisconsin‚s Unemployment Insurance (UI) system. The economic downturn of the last few years has caused a huge deficit in the state UI reserve fund that was addressed by borrowing money from the federal government, the interest on which is now coming due.
UI benefits do not come from general state tax dollars. The funds that pay UI benefits come from taxes levied on employers in Wisconsin. Then, when someone loses a job and is granted UI benefits, those benefits are paid out of the dollars collected from employers.
Because of the high number of UI applicants as a result of job losses over the last few years, so many people were laid off and collecting UI benefits that the state UI reserve fund went dry. In fact, the fund currently faces a deficit of about $1.3 billion.
As a result, Wisconsin borrowed money from the federal government — about $1.5 billion — in order to be able to continue to pay UI benefits for claims that continued to pour in. This was not free money — we have to pay it back.
Like any other loan, the funds we borrowed from the federal government need to be paid back with interest. In 2009 and 2010, the federal government agreed to waive the interest, but they did not grant the same waiver for 2011. Effective January 1, 2011, the federal government began charging interest on the UI funds that we borrowed.
Since the UI reserve fund is empty, where are we getting the money for interest? There is a process set in our existing State Statutes for such a situation. Beginning on September 9, 2011, employers whose taxable payrolls for calendar year 2010 were greater than $25,000 will pay a “Special Assessment for Interest” that is meant to begin the process of paying our debt to the federal government. Notices of this assessment were mailed in early August.
While the assessment will go away once the federal money is paid back, as a small business owner, I am not excited about another tax on job creators, however small. Now is the time when businesses need all the capital they can get to invest in their enterprise and grow. That is why a number of legislators and interested parties are looking into changes that will stabilize the UI reserve fund and hopefully avoid such tax increases in the future.
For example, discussions are underway that could result in changes to UI law — changes that will ensure UI compensation is awarded only to those who truly deserve it under the original intent of the law. As it stands today, I hear many troubling stories about employees receiving UI who engaged in misconduct on the job, habitually missed work, or outright quit their job (which is supposedly a disqualifying factor for UI). Integrity within UI is tantamount to its future success and solvency.
Furthermore, our efforts to spur a strong Wisconsin economic recovery will go far in helping the solvency of the UI fund. When we have more jobs and greater economic activity, it will result in more money coming into the fund and, over time, its outlook will improve.
I am open to your ideas on how we can improve our unemployment system. Please contact me if you feel there is an area where we can do better and shore up UI for the long term.
To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.
Guest column: DNR begins reform process
By Rep. Dan Knodl
Reforming government to move at the speed of our fast-paced society ˆ and operate within the financial means of taxpayers ˆ has been a top priority at the State Capitol this year. One recent reform effort occurred earlier this month, when the state Department of Natural Resources became our state government‚s first Enterprise Agency pilot.
The creation of DNR as a two-year pilot Enterprise Agency was the result of an agreement between DNR and the Department of Administration through a Memorandum of Agreement between the two agencies. The Enterprise Agency status will test a hypothesis offered by DNR leadership: Given increased operating flexibility, the DNR will be able to produce better outcomes for its customers at less cost than under the standard bureaucratic system.
The ideas for this pilot came from the professional employees within the DNR. Under the plan, DNR will be given increased operating flexibility to enable the agency to improve customer service and business support, as well as enhance its natural resources mission. It is anticipated that, with the Enterprise Agency designation and tools, DNR will be able to do much more with the staff and the resources it currently has ˆ and save millions of dollars in the process.
According to Secretary Stepp, under the agreement, DNR has committed to 1) Improve processes to reduce permit times by five percent for major air and water permits while upholding environmental standards; 2) Improve communication and interaction with the regulated community to assure environmental permitting requirements are widely understandable and are issued in a timely way; 3) Develop Internet-based tools to streamline and more effectively transmit and track permit applications; 4) Increase over-the-counter service at DNR facilities by 40 percent; 5) Improve cost-effectiveness by prioritizing work and eliminating duplicative systems for fleet and facilities construction and repair; and 6) Reduce costs by 2.5 percent for basic operations, and organize itself into a line authority organization to ensure DNR is making consistent decisions across the state.
To achieve these goals, DNR will be given management discretion in the areas of fleet operations and facilities repair and construction. This is in addition to the authority already granted under the state budget to manage and fill vacancies.
This is not a program being entered into lightly. If the DNR does not meet specific benchmarks outlined in its agreement with the DOA, the pilot program will be ended.
With supporters in both the business and environmental communities, the DNR Enterprise Agency pilot is a good example of how the two sides of the political debate in Wisconsin can move forward together. I will be watching the pilot closely over the next two years and look forward to learning what lessons we will be able to apply to other agencies of our state government.
To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.
State jobs outlook recovering
By Rep. Dan Knodl
This year, my #1 goal as your representative in the State Assembly has been to create an economic climate that is fertile for private sector job creation in Wisconsin. This has resulted in some very difficult decisions, like reforming the way government operates and making necessary spending cuts in order to balance the state budget. We have come a long way over the last seven months in partnership with Governor Scott Walker and more needs to be done, but we are starting to see the results of our work.
Last week, the state Department of Workforce Development announced that Wisconsin added nearly 13,000 jobs during the month of June, and had a net job gain of 9,500 ˆ the largest jobs increase in a single month in Wisconsin since 2003. This number is particularly impressive when you consider the fact that the entire nation's net job creation in June was about 18,000. National and state employment numbers are measured slightly differently, but the fact remains that Wisconsin‚s job creation is far outpacing the national norm.
Compared to a year ago, private sector jobs increased by 42,400 in June seasonally adjusted. Without seasonal adjustment, private sector jobs increased by 51,900 from May to June and 42,200 year-to-year.
Leading the way in June was Wisconsin‚s tourism industry, which added 6,200 jobs (seasonally adjusted). Some critics have leveled accusations that the June employment numbers are skewed and contain no reasons for optimism because of the seasonal nature of tourism jobs, but I disagree. While it is true that many tourism-related jobs are seasonal in nature, the June figures represent an increase of 3,300 tourism jobs over last year, and that is nothing to sniff at. That means more Wisconsinites are finding a few extra dollars to partake in summer leisure activities than last year ˆ a surefire sign that our overall economy is slowly coming back to life.
Our bedrock manufacturing sector also showed modest growth in June, bringing 2011 net manufacturing job gains to 14,000. This is twice the rate of the rest of the country, which has seen only 1.2 percent growth in manufacturing jobs for the year. Manufacturing nationwide is showing a stronger pulse and, according to Henry Moser, retired president of GF AgieCharmilles, manufacturing capacity utilization increased to 76 percent in June, which was an improvement over the same June 2010 number of 64 percent.
Overall, Wisconsin has added about 39,000 jobs in 2011. Our job growth percentage has been 1.7 percent, twice the national average of 0.9 percent. .Make no mistake ˆ we still have problems with unemployment and underemployment in Wisconsin. These numbers are encouraging and point to the fact that the pro-jobs policies enacted so far this session by Assembly Republicans are working. But there is still much work to be done.
To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.
The EPA’s ethanol boondoggle
By Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner
Congress has recognized the absurdity of subsidizing the ethanol industry, but unfortunately the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has its own agenda.
In January, the EPA issued a waiver to allow E15 (gasoline with a 15 percent ethanol blend) to be sold for vehicles with model years 2001 and later. This decision was made at the behest of the ethanol industry but it will come at the expense of American drivers.
While the EPA deemed E15 environmentally safe for models produced after 2001, this higher blend of gas could seriously damage cars.
I sent letters to the major US automakers to investigate how E15 would affect people’s cars. Overwhelmingly the automakers complained that E15 would void warranties, damage engines, and lower fuel efficiency. To date, I have received 12 responses, and all 12 oppose EPA’s waiver. According to Honda, “Vehicle engines were not designed or built to accommodate the higher concentrations of ethanol. . . . There appears to be the potential for engine failure.” Chrysler wrote, “We are not confident that our vehicles will not be damaged from the use of E15.”
It is summer time and we don’t just use gasoline for our cars. Boats, motorcycles, ATVs, and lawnmowers all use gasoline. The EPA did not approve E15 for small engines, but small engine manufacturers are worried that E15 will find its way from gas pumps to small engines, where it can do significant harm.
Thus far, the EPA’s only solution to consumer confusion is to impose more regulations and rules on manufacturers and business owners.
The decision to increase the allowable blend appears to have limited environmental benefits with huge costs for American consumers. According to Volvo, “the risks related to emissions are greater than the benefits in terms of CO2 when using low-blend E15 for variants that are designed to E10.”
The government has artificially propped up the ethanol industry with a 45-cent- a-gallon subsidy to oil refiners and a 54 cent-per-gallon tariff on imported ethanol. The ethanol lobby claimed the biofuel would reduce our dependence on unstable sources of oil and reduce greenhouse gas. After 6 billion dollars per year of taxpayer money, ethanol has achieved neither goal. Instead, research and analysis shows that increased ethanol production raises the cost of food and emits more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels.
In southeastern Wisconsin, we already have to deal with the consequences of the EPA-imposed reformulated gas. Despite history’s warnings, the EPA has allowed E15 to be widely available in the marketplace.
Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding a hearing to examine the science behind the EPA’s decision to allow E15. While the political tide on Capitol Hill is turning against prolonging the ethanol boondoggle, the Administration seems to have missed the memo. The EPA is moving forward with a bad policy that will cost consumers dearly.
A smarter budget sends Wisconsin in the right direction
By Sen. Alberta Darling
Once facing $3.6 billion in red ink, Wisconsin’s finances are now back in the black. Last week, the Wisconsin State Senate gave final approval to a two-year budget that cuts taxes, freezes property taxes and put the state back in the black for the first time in more than 10 years.
In the six months, we’ve managed to clean up the mess that was made of our finances over the last eight years. This budget delivers real reform, protects taxpayers during these tough economic times and provides a stable environment to grow jobs. We were able to do more with less, just like families throughout Wisconsin are doing in this tough economy. Our budget plan means more jobs, more money in the classroom, more teachers, more accountability, more reform, more local control.
To put this budget in perspective, it’s important to look at the last state budget passed by the Democrats. Their budget increased spending $3.6 billion, raised taxes $4.7 billion including a $1.2 billion hike property taxes. Where did it leave us? When we started the two-year budget plan, we first had to fill a $3.6 billion hole.
I’m happy to report we did it and without raising your taxes. In fact, this budget cuts taxes $24 million, creates the first permanent property tax freeze and cuts credit card spending by nearly $2 billion. Taxpayers scored another victory in the budget with the elimination of Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs). However well intentioned they were, the RTAs were unelected, unaccountable boards yet could raise taxes.
We had to make tough, but necessary cuts. However, the budget protects and funds important programs like SeniorCare, Family Care, recycling and provided more money for school kids. We dug ourselves out of a $3.6 billion deficit left by Governor Doyle and the Democrats, protected our most vulnerable and did it without raising taxes - Just like we promised.
Like most families, the Wauwatosa school district is using the tools passed in Wisconsin Act 10, the budget repair bill, to have employees contribute more to their health care and pensions. With those savings they are launching a new second language program, opening a Montessori school and exploring hybrid classes which combine online learning with classroom instruction. They are doing all of that without raising taxes. In fact, some residents will see their bill go down. The Wauwatosa Superintendent told Wauwatosa Now; "All of these things would not be possible, if we weren’t able to get those types of concessions."
Lower taxes and a stable economy send a strong message that Wisconsin is open for business again. By contrast, Democrat lawmakers in Illinois passed massive tax hikes and are still facing an $8 billion deficit. Now, not surprisingly, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is supporting legislation to scale back collective bargaining powers of state unions.
Wisconsin is headed in a smarter direction and the rest of the nation is paying attention. We’ve already seen some companies move from Illinois to Wisconsin. I expect that trend to continue. Wisconsin is open for business and this budget proves it.
Senator Darling represents portions of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties.
State tax burden shows need for budget reform
By Rep. Dan Knodl
While the national media had their attention turned to our State Capitol over the last several weeks, the troubling results of a recent study on state and local tax burdens around the country seems to have evaded most people’s attention. I believe, however, that it is critical for every taxpayer to hear about it because it further emphasizes the massive economic and budgetary challenges we are facing and why Wisconsin desperately needs to change course.
The study, conducted by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, revealed that Wisconsin has the fourth highest combined state and local tax burden in the country as a percentage of income. For fiscal year 2009, the most recent year that a full data set was available, per capita income in Wisconsin equaled $40,321, 25th highest in the nation. 11 percent of that income, or $4,427, went toward state and local taxes of all kinds, such as property, income, sales, capital gains and many others – the fourth highest percentage in the nation.
Considering the billions of dollars in tax and spending increases passed in Wisconsin over the last few years, I am concerned that the 2010 data could be even worse. As we seek to move ahead as a state, it is crucial to ask where big government and high rates of taxation, spending and borrowing have gotten us – and what we need to do to set things straight.
The consequence of our budget carelessness is a looming $3.6 billion budget deficit. This came as a result of the fundamental dishonesty with which recent budgets have been balanced – using things like illegal fund raids and one-time federal money. This dishonesty has given birth to a state government that has become a burden and an enemy to economic growth and job creation, rather than a partner.
Then, as our economy deteriorated, it became evident that our state policymakers were utterly incapable of seeing what their errors had wrought and adjusting accordingly. Instead of focusing on what it would take to get government out of the way of private sector growth and get Wisconsin back to work, politicians in both parties focused instead on how to expand the size and scope of our government. The cost has been traumatic for our economy, with the most recent quarterly U-6 underemployment index still hovering close to 15 percent.
By now, everyone knows that our current trajectory is fiscally unsustainable. The inadequate “solutions” we have undertaken over the last few years have amounted to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic – or have actually made the ship sink faster. But the legislature, in partnership with Governor Scott Walker, is finally turning the corner from a policy standpoint and moving back in the right direction. We’ve passed a number of bills aimed at restoring a climate of growth and job creation and, just a few weeks ago, Governor Walker introduced a 2011-13 budget bill that makes adult decisions and begins the task of fixing Wisconsin’s fundamental financial problems. It accepts responsibility today for the careless decisions of the last several years and ensures that our children and grandchildren are not left with a crisis to deal with.
Employment is now making a modest rebound, but getting Wisconsin fully back on track is not going to be easy. Every citizen of our state will be called upon to share in the difficult choices that lay before us. And many citizens already have – with lost jobs, shuttered businesses, foreclosures and other financial difficulties. But in the end, the responsible decisions that we’re making today will reward our shared sacrifice with a shared prosperity down the road. And that’s something we can all look forward to.
To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.
Cleaning up the deficit by tackling the budget
By Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner
This week, the House and Senate passed, and the President signed, a Continuing Resolution to keep the government running another two weeks. This action was needed because last session, under Democratic leadership, Congress failed to act – it never brought a budget to the floor for a vote, despite passing a bill to keep the federal government running being one of the most important duties of a Member. It was the first time since the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, that neither the House nor the Senate were able to pass a budget.
The two-week budget cuts $4 billion from last year’s spending levels and also gives the Senate additional time to consider the House-passed H.R. 1 – a budget bill that would fund the government through September while also cutting spending.
The United States does not have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. Our nation has a $1.65 trillion deficit. We spend way too much at the expense of our children and grandchildren. Over the next few weeks, the budget, and all this spending, will continue to be a hot debate topic. To get our fiscal house in order, the House majority has pledged to cut up to $100 billion from the budget. I fully support this. All cuts help get our national deficit under control, but we need massive budget cuts.
In contrast to our spending cuts, President Obama recently released his budget, which increases spending. We have a large amount of debt; we pay interest on that debt, so I don’t understand why the President wants to spend more money when we continue to borrow nearly 42 cents on every dollar we spend – most of that being borrowed from China.
Cutting spending and getting our debt under control must be our priority. Since Republicans regained the majority we have honored our pledge to cut five percent from our own congressional offices, saving $35 million at the top, in addition to the money many offices, including mine, return to the treasury at the end of each session.
Furthermore, my colleague from Wisconsin, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, has been granted the power to impose spending limits, which will return agencies to pre-bailout and pre-stimulus levels. I pride myself on being fiscally responsible, and a key way to continue to be fiscally responsible is to rein in spending, cut the budget, and ultimately cut our deficit.
We have staked the well-being of our nation on irresponsible spending. We run the risk of defaulting on our debt; we need to solve this issue. We must tackle the budget so that we may rein in federal spending.
Explaining changes in the elementary school curriculum
By Keith Marty
Superintendent, School District of Menomonee Falls
Dear Residents,
I want to respond to a recent question from a resident inquiring about the present curriculums for elementary (PreK-5th Grade), middle level (Grades 6-8), and high school (Grades 9-12) students. In this edition I want to report on our elementary curriculum.
Much has changed for our youngest learners. Just ten years ago, Menomonee Falls had a half day five-year-old kindergarten program. Five-year-olds now attend school full days and we’ve instituted a four-year-old half day program. These young learners are given a literacy rich in reading and writing preparatory curriculum. Basic numerical and math concepts are introduced and practiced through real-life applications.
Once students begin their first grade experiences, they are provided reading, language, speaking, spelling and writing content that is both isolated around skill development and integrated to support the application of other curriculums and understandings. Progress is monitored and assessed regularly by our teachers. In our elementary schools, literacy (reading, writing, etc) and mathematics are the core and basics in which all other curriculums and experiences expand. Our math curriculum provides for the understanding and application of numerical values, algebraic components, geometry applications, measurement, estimating, and the analysis of mathematical practices.
Social studies and science provide students with a foundation of the physical and background world in which they live, as well as give students historical, geography, economics, and world culture perspectives. Our students also have the opportunity to engage in physical education, health, music, art, keyboarding, and guidance/personal growth contents. Our goal is to have 5th grade students exit to middle school who have proficiencies and successful learning assessments in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. We want students who have begun to develop appropriate physical and health habits, appreciate the fine arts, and have a strong foundation in technology applications. Students should have initial academic and career goals from their elementary experiences and counseling time.
We do have a most notable void in our elementary curriculum. We ought to be instructing students on second and third world languages. In the competitive world in which we live, world language instruction at the earliest possible age has become a core curriculum.
Our school district mission states that we will provide students with the best comprehensive and personalized education. Our elementary students are given many opportunities, and our efforts are to personalize each student’s education around the assessment and personal information provided on each student. We must recognize that our young learners are getting much of their information from hand-held devices, constant stimulations from media and technology, and a social network that is non-stop. Given the tremendous flow of information to a child’s mind, the school and educators must keep students fully engaged and evaluate this rapid and excessive amount of data, information, and literature. We cannot assume that students, while highly exposed, have mastered the basics and can apply their learnings to the world around them. Elementary school education is vital so students have a foundation in the core curriculums that will become their middle level experience.
Changing the direction and debate in Madison
By Rep. Dan Knodl
Ever since I was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2008, I have been arguing that our state is badly in need of a change in direction in the State Capitol. From the legislature to the governor and the many executive branch state agencies, our state government has served as a punisher of businesses large and small – not as a partner. It is imperative that our businesses thrive and develop the jobs of the future. It will be these jobs – and the income and sales tax revenues they create – that will fund the priorities of our state government into the future. To put it bluntly, our state finances are only as secure as the private sector businesses and taxpayers who pay the bills.
I am hopeful that this negative attitude toward private sector growth and development is finally ending. As soon as he assumed office on January 3, 2011, Governor Scott Walker called a Special Session of the newly-elected State Legislature in an effort to address our state’s ongoing economic problems. I am pleased to report that this Special Session has been a tremendous success thus far, and I wanted to share a list of bills that have been approved by the Assembly and are awaiting the consideration of the Senate or Governor Walker’s signature:
Lawsuit Reform (Special Session Senate Bill 1) – Reforming Wisconsin’s legal climate to discourage damaging, frivolous lawsuits that hurt small businesses and discourage job creation in our state;
HSA Deductibility (SS SB 2) – Making Health Savings Accounts more affordable by creating a nonrefundable individual income tax deduction of 6.5 percent for HSAs that may be deducted or exempted from federal income taxes (signed into law by Governor Walker);
Wisconsin Business Relocation Tax Holiday (Special Session Assembly Bill 3) – Allowing for a two-year tax holiday for businesses that relocate to Wisconsin;
Additional Economic Development Fund Credits (SS AB 4) – Increasing by $25 million the amount of credits available under Wisconsin’s economic development tax credit program;
Two-Thirds Supermajority for Tax Increases (SS AB 5) – Requiring that increases in state sales, excise and income taxes be approved with a two-thirds supermajority in the Assembly and Senate. Under current law, a simple majority of legislators may pass tax increases; and
Small Business Tax Credit (SS AB 7) – Incentivizing small business job creation with a new direct tax deduction of $4,000 per-job for businesses with less than $5 million in gross receipts and a $2,000 per-job tax deduction for businesses with more than $5 million in gross receipts.
I anticipate that the Special Session will continue with additional proposals from Governor Walker being deliberated in the Assembly and Senate over the next couple of weeks.
No single one of these proposals is going to magically turn around our ailing economy. With the deep and lasting damage that was done by our state government over the past few years, it is going to take some time to restore widespread prosperity. But needed changes are happening in Madison as we speak, and the debate is shifting. We are beginning an exciting time for Wisconsin.
Repealing health care
By Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner
This week, the House voted to repeal the health care law. If you recall, this was the approximately 2,000 page piece of legislation that was voted on almost one year ago with no Republican input, and had many of us questioning whether mandating that citizens purchase health insurance was even constitutional.
After the House voted 245-189 on Wednesday to repeal the legislation, on Thursday, the House began working to draft replacement health care legislation. We did this for two main reasons: first, because it’s in the best interest of our country, and second, it’s what our constituents wanted. In town hall meeting after town hall meeting, constituents have repeatedly told my colleagues and me that this new Congress should focus on legislation that encourages job growth, cuts spending and shrinks the size of government.
Repealing the President’s trillion-dollar health care law— a massive and expensive government intrusion into the health care of Americans –demonstrates that we are listening.
This is not to say that health care reforms aren’t necessary. Republicans and Democrats agree that our health care system should be improved. However, we must enact sensible reforms that address the core problem – the rising cost of health care— without increasing the size of government. For example, we need real medical liability reform; we should allow Americans to purchase health coverage across state lines; health care reform should empower small businesses to have greater purchasing power; incentives should be offered that encourage saving for future health needs; and we also must ensure that individuals with pre-existing conditions are not denied access.
Republicans want health care reform. However, we want reform that makes sense and is done the right way – not creates one more open entitlement program that our country can ill-afford. This week’s votes to repeal the law and replace it with something better are much-needed first steps.
It is my hope that my colleagues in the Senate will consider similar legislation because we need a real health care law that lowers costs and improves access while helping our economy prosper.
By Rep. Dan Knodl
At one time, Wisconsin was known nationally for having an exceptional legal climate without the massive lawsuit problems that plagued other states. Over the last several years, however, a number of crucial decisions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, coupled with bad policies enacted by the State Legislature and the former governor, have eroded our legal system and opened the doors to a glut of frivolous and predatory lawsuits.
This massive expansion of lawsuit liability, set in motion by liberal Democrats in Madison, has invited trial lawyers seeking a big payday to declare open season on businesses, medical professionals and local units of government in Wisconsin. The increase in litigation exposure has become one of the major factors in the bleeding of good-paying jobs away from Wisconsin to other states with better legal and tax climates.
In response, Governor Scott Walker has introduced a set of reforms aimed at curtailing Wisconsin’s growing lawsuit liability problem. Some of the changes that the new governor has proposed are:
• Require plaintiffs to prove that damages were actually caused by a manufacturer’s product;
• Protect retailers from liability for defects caused by manufacturers or distributors;
• Require a plaintiff to prove that the defendant acted with intent to cause injury in order to collect punitive damages;
• Discourage plaintiffs from filing frivolous claims;
• Cap non-economic damages for medical malpractice;
• Improve rules of evidence; and
• Protect best practices peer review information from being subpoenaed.
These proposals, I believe, will be a good first step in curbing the growing power of the trial lawyers and restoring Wisconsin’s standing as a state with a common-sense legal climate. Further, the creation of a friendly legal environment will be a big help with job creation and economic growth in Wisconsin.
Reforms like this are what voters demanded in last year’s elections, and I look forward to fighting for their passage.
Changing the club
To the Editor:
Tuesday (Dec. 14) the Washington County Board of Supervisors decided to not cut the size of their Count Board. Twenty-four members of the County Board like the way things are. Two main arguments were advanced.
One, on a smaller Board each Supervisor would represent a larger geographic area making it impossible to properly represent the different towns encompassed in a larger District. This is a great point used as a scare tactic that more rural areas would invisible to the ‘big city’. Lost in this discussion was the fact that smaller towns such as Barton are not presently represented by their own Supervisor. Even if the Board were increased in size to 42, Barton would still share representation. Walworth County is one example of a rural urban mix and the citizens, by ballot initiative, downsized their Board to 11. When I asked the Walworth County chair about this, she claimed it was not a problem.
Second was the massive work load of a Supervisor would increase with one Supervisor saying he would not run for reelection if the Board were cut to 23. Washington County has 55 Committees and Boards that account for over 1,600 meetings for the 30 supervisors. That would translate into 4.6 meetings per supervisor per month with each meeting lasting about two hours. From the discussion, it was clear would be sacrilegious to change this organizational structure. The fact that other counties that have reorganized such as Waukesha, Walworth, and St. Croix which have 10-11 committees with an average of 65 percent of the meetings in Washington County was not a topic. If Washington County embraced a reduction, my estimates are 19 supervisors would have the same workload as 30 today.
At the County Board meeting, I patiently waited as the group pontificated about amendments proposing 27 or 29 supervisors until we got to the actual resolution for 23. I did ring in to speak but the Board voted to end all discussions. As the vote was 24-6, it appears I would have been wasting my time.
Most County supervisors run unopposed term after term so it would appear voters are content with the current status quo which the Board voted to maintain Tuesday. I wonder if Washington County’s taxpayers are aware that under County's present system, the tax levy has increased 47 percent from $25.5 million in 1996 to $38.4 million by 2009 (2010 numbers are not finished). With the vote, the current process of the supervisors deciding how much of our money to spend in the summer and then approving the tax increase in November will remain unchanged. County’s checks and balances are our checkbooks and our bank balances.
Admittedly, as one of the founders of Citizens For Elected Executive, I see room for improvement in County government. Our petition drive happening right now is to place before the voters a yes or no choice to create an office of County Executive. It is pure speculation but I have to wonder what our County taxes would look like if we had Scott Walker at the helm.
Speaking as member of the County Board, I can say the County Board is a “good old boys (and girls) club”. Voters may remove one or two but, just like cutting the head off a hydra, the beast remains. As a Supervisor, I have tried cut our taxes, have County employees pay for their own pensions and reduce the size of government. I have fought against secret meetings and spending like the taxpayer bailout of a private business. My “reward” has been repeated calls from former supervisors telling me I should be “thrown off the Board” for what I do and that they were working to run someone against me in the next election.
I guess I’m just not “club” material.
Supervisor Bill Meyers, District 24
Washington County Board of Supervisors
School District grateful for community and parent engagement and involvement
By Keith A. Marty
Superintendent, School District of Menomonee Falls
Research and studies on successful and great schools suggest that a constant ingredient is parental and community engagement and involvement. As you read studies and research, you find that engagement and involvement are more than school newsletters, occasional Open Houses and meetings or attendance by the community at concerts and athletic events. While these are important, they are part of a bigger commitment for both the schools and community to engage in deeper discussions, relationships and ongoing partnerships for the achievement and growth of our students.
One of our three strategic objectives of our strategic plan is a strategy to cultivate community resources and build collaborative partnerships to support the mission of the school district. I believe we have a wonderful tradition of community and business partners, volunteers in our schools, parent organizations (PTA/PTSA’s) in all the schools, booster clubs for music and athletics, and community and parent support when it is most needed.
The School District is taking steps to enhance and grow even greater engagement. The Community Survey conducted this fall allowed residents to weigh in on the critical issues facing the district now and in the future. Having nearly 20% of our community participate in the survey demonstrates how much care and concern there is for our schools. 20% greatly exceeds the return rate average.
The Board of Education has initiated two new opportunities for involvement and engagement. Each quarter of the year, the Board will hold "Roundtable" discussions – informal opportunities to bring issues or concerns to the Board in an informal setting. The next such Roundtable is scheduled for Monday, January 31st at the North Middle School Library, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The Board has also begun a School Finance Study Group. Thus far, nearly 25 residents and parents have come together for the purposes of learning about the Wisconsin Financial System, the Menomonee Falls financial and budget process, and to look collectively on how the district can develop fiscal strategies to ensure the district’s commitment to all students. This group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., Room 3344-3345 of the Village Hall. The next School Finance Study Group is scheduled for Tuesday, January 18th, 6:30 p.m. We welcome others to join us.
Ongoing efforts to involve realtors, business leaders, pastors, service clubs, military service groups, and senior citizens continue to be a focus of the school district.
What are we trying to achieve in our engagement and efforts to involve our publics? We believe an informed citizenry is vital; as are specific opportunities to welcome those whose interests, talents, and skills may be an asset to the district and our students. With 32,000 plus residents in Menomonee Falls, we certainly have uncultivated resources that in some way can be an asset to the district and students.
I encourage all of you to reflect on how you can be involved in the education of our children and in the School District of Menomonee Falls activities. We welcome volunteers, speakers in classrooms, advisory group members, committee members, and many more to be part of our total educational community.
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