In his State of the State message this evening, Governor Walker reiterated his intent to cut the state income tax for “middle class” Wisconsinites. We won’t learn any details until the Governor’s 2013-15 budget is introduced next month, so it’s hard to critique the plan now. However, it’s not too soon to raise the sorts of questions and concerns that state policymakers should be considering in the months ahead, as they debate the budget bill.Can Wisconsin afford Gov. Scott Walker's proposed tax cuts?Can the state afford a significant cut in the income tax?Policymakers need to carefully...…In his State of the State message this evening, Governor Walker reiterated his intent to cut the state income tax for “middle class” Wisconsinites. We won’t learn any details until the Governor’s 2013-15 budget is introduced next month, so it’s hard to critique the plan now. However, it’s not too soon to raise the sorts of questions and concerns that state policymakers should be considering in the months ahead, as they debate the budget bill.Can Wisconsin afford Gov. Scott Walker's proposed tax cuts?Can the state afford a significant cut in the income tax?Policymakers need to carefully...WW…

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) announced last week that the state finished the 2013-14 fiscal year with a budget balance of almost $517 million, and many state lawmakers were quick to congratulate themselves for having a budget “surplus.”  I don’t fault them for that; I think I would have done the same thing. However, the fleeting existence of a budget balance doesn’t support the argument some lawmakers have made that Wisconsin has turned a corner with respect to careful budget stewardship and long-term planning.There are a number of reasons why I think it’s...…The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) announced last week that the state finished the 2013-14 fiscal year with a budget balance of almost $517 million, and many state lawmakers were quick to congratulate themselves for having a budget “surplus.”  I don’t fault them for that; I think I would have done the same thing. However, the fleeting existence of a budget balance doesn’t support the argument some lawmakers have made that Wisconsin has turned a corner with respect to careful budget stewardship and long-term planning.There are a number of reasons why I think it’s...WW…

We got more evidence last week that rich Americans are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. A released August 21st by the Census Bureau shows not only that the top 20% of Americans have been enjoying most of the economic gains over the last decade, but the median net worth of most Americans has actually decreased (for those in the bottom, second and middle quintiles). The following graph illustrates that trend.Coincidentally, the new report was released a day or two after Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan told a reporter at the Weekly Standard that cutting tax rates for the...…We got more evidence last week that rich Americans are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. A released August 21st by the Census Bureau shows not only that the top 20% of Americans have been enjoying most of the economic gains over the last decade, but the median net worth of most Americans has actually decreased (for those in the bottom, second and middle quintiles). The following graph illustrates that trend.Coincidentally, the new report was released a day or two after Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan told a reporter at the Weekly Standard that cutting tax rates for the...WW…

Wisconsin Pro-Workers RallySmall Disagreement Suggests Deep Dispute over Role of Unemployment Insurance Advisory CouncilThe Wisconsin State Assembly passed a bill Wednesday to approve a bipartisan idea, but in the process rekindled debate about respect for collective bargaining.  What made the debate interesting and significant is that it could have been avoided by simply passing the version of the bill approved by the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Advisory Council, with the full support of the labor and business groups on that advisory body.The substantive merits of the debate, which...…Wisconsin Pro-Workers RallySmall Disagreement Suggests Deep Dispute over Role of Unemployment Insurance Advisory CouncilThe Wisconsin State Assembly passed a bill Wednesday to approve a bipartisan idea, but in the process rekindled debate about respect for collective bargaining.  What made the debate interesting and significant is that it could have been avoided by simply passing the version of the bill approved by the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Advisory Council, with the full support of the labor and business groups on that advisory body.The substantive merits of the debate, which...WW…