GOP leaders: Plan long on taxes, short on stimulus
GOP legislative leaders derided the stimulus plan introduced by Gov. Jim Doyle and Dem lawmakers today as a collection of tax increases with limited capacity for job growth.
Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, said their members were unlikely to support the package, and Jeff Fitzgerald predicted Assembly Democrats would have to take a tough vote on the bill.
"As of 1:30 today, Gov. Doyle became a tax-increase governor," Scott Fitzgerald said.
He said the provisions to initiate the hospital assessment, combined reporting, the streamlined sales tax and reverse a court decision on the Menasha Corp. shouldn't be construed as anything other than tax hikes on businesses and citizens.
"They're just kick-starting the revenue early," Scott Fitzgerald said.
Jeff Fitzgerald wants strict oversight of the $300 million in the bill for new infrastructure projects, but both leaders said they'd endorse the use of one-time money for one-time projects. But both also said the bill's job creation potential is limited.
"How does the hospital tax create jobs? How does combined reporting create jobs?" Jeff Fitzgerald asked. "Combined reporting will drive business out of the state of Wisconsin."
