What started out as a breeze has bogged down as both sides dig in over Gov. Doyle's budget proposals.
The latest is Doyle's proposal to charge a $5 fee to small businesses who file sales tax returns by paper was roundly criticized by Republicans. The proposal, called the "tax tax" by some Republicans, is aimed at encouraging electronic filing. (Budget paper
688.) The fee is expected to generate an extra $2.8 million in revenue for the state annually.
Republicans moved to eliminate the proposal.
Rep. Jeff Stone, R-
Greendale, said some small businesses don't have access to the Internet, and he also has privacy concerns "if you're like me and the Department of Revenue shared your Social Security number with the rest of the world."
Rep. Scott
Suder, R-
Abbottsford, said the proposal punishes those who don't have Internet. "Let's be honest, this is a tax on a tax."
Rep. Dan Meyer, R-Eagle River, said the session was shaping up to be "a great day for government" with the number of spending fee increases the committee has already approved.
But co-chair Sen. Russ Decker, D-
Wausau, said filers can also avoid the fee by filing by phone.
Suder replied that not all residents, such as the Amish, have telephones.
Sen. Bob
Jauch, D-Poplar, said we are moving toward an electronic society, and that there is efficiency to be gained by technology that reduces the need for staff and bigger government.
Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, said Republicans are "making a mountain out of a mole hill."
"It's really simple, you make a phone call, you don't have to pay an extra fee."
Labels: Decker, Jauch, Stone, Suder, Tax Tax, Taylor
