*** Racine Taxpayers Association ***

This fall, Senator Van Wanggaard is planning to co-sponsor the Next Generation Jobs Reserve bill. This bill would create a fund that provides grants, loans and direct investments to selected companies in the Bioscience industry. This is a high paying industry and it has significant growth potential. However, this industry currently employs 24,000 individuals which is a small fraction of Wisconsin’s 2.7 million workforce.

UW Madison recieves significant tax dollars and grants for their extensive bioscience research and programs. Act 255 offers credits to investors in young, high growth companies and the legislature is currently working on a new venture capital proposal. Additionally, the following jobs bills have been introduced and are looking for passage this fall:
AB 20: Makes certain tax credits refundable for investments in small, high-technology businesses.
AB 90/SB 40: Entrepreneurial tax credit: increasing access to capital for small businesses.
AB 179: Creates multijurisdictional TIF districts.
AB 211: Creates tax credit for investments in community development financial institutions. 
AB 97: Increases advanced manufacturing skills grants for technical colleges.
AB 145/SB 102: Authorizes the Public Service Commission to approve temporary electric rates to promote economic development.
AB 220: Creates a tax credit for workplace wellness programs.

This is starting to look eerily reminiscent of the federal governments desire to pick winners and losers. Which industry and what companies within that industry.These programs require tax dollars, personnel to administer and probably more lobbyists to chase the money.

Wisconsin needs only one program for all businesses, be they hi-tech, young start-ups or old mundane manufacturers. Create a tax , regulation and energy climate that is conducive to all companies that want to relocate and/or expand.

The Racine Taxpayers Associiation presented the following statement to the RUSD School Board at the September 26, meeting:

Wisconsin Statute PI 119.32 outlines the selection of a Superintendent of schools or Business Manager. Section 7 states, the board may elect a superintendent of schools or may employ a business manager, who are not licensed by the department. This allows you, the School Board, latitude to elect any individual you deem qualified to meet the districts unique challenges.

Faced with projected revenue reductions, loss of students and a past decade of minimal improvement in student performance, the job requires an individual with a record of achieving results in an organization that must become smaller, more flexible and more efficient.

The Racine Unified School District does not need another individual who is only educated and experienced in education. Business and leadership attributes will be essential to evaluate, refine and streamline what is currently in place. A leader committed to look at every system, procedure, process and program and eliminate all that do not produce classroom results.

The district has always had a significant number of qualified and dedicated teachers. Central Office should be reduced to the lowest number of employees possible and those resources, authority, responsibility and accountability given to the teachers and school principals’.

Future resources are limited and downsizing is imminent. Do not hire another leader who is invested in the bureaucracy of education.

RUSD will purchase 210 iPods for about $100,000. Most of the money will be federal Title 1 Funds which are targeted for schools with large populations of low incomer students. This allows RUSD to experiment with iPods in an effort to improve student performance. Hopefully results will meet expectations.

According to JT article 9-27-11, "the iPads will use Unified wireless Internet, which is up and running in all district buildings."  It is interesting to note how that contradicts RUSD’S presentation, January 2010, promoting North Star vision and the much needed referendums. "Several RUSD schools dating back to the Civil War era simply can’t be efficiently reequipped to accommodate current technology."

Barney Kilgore, the man who made the Wall Street Journal a national publication, was once asked why so many rich people favored higher taxes. He replied; That’s easy, they already have their money.

Warren Buffet’s call for higher taxes on the rich gives the president and congress a smoke screen to avoid making tough decisions to reduce the size, scope and spending of the federal government. Warren Buffet has sheltered the bulk of his vast fortune from federal taxes. He has put it into foundations run by his daughter, two sons and Bill & Melinda Gates.

In 2007, he was asked why he simply didn’t give his money to the IRS if the government’s purposes are so vital. He answered; "I think the foundations will do a better job with lower administrative costs and better selection of beneficiares than the government."

Should the tax code be revised to eliminate loopholes available only to the wealthy? - Absolutely Yes! Should the tax rate increase from 35% to 50% for the wealthy? It doesn’t matter. That would cover less than 1/10th of the budget deficit and would probably end up with more investment going outside of the U.S.

Until the use of Class Warfare is eliminated, congress will not face the neccessity of a smaller, more efficient and less intrusive federal government.