State Spending
In the last State Budget, spending increased by $5.8 billion or nearly 10%. To pay for the spending increase, an additional $5 billion tax revenue was added. This is simply unacceptable. While families around the 37th district were losing jobs, taking furloughs, and taking no increases in pay, Governor Doyle and the legislature voted to increase spending and taxes. In the Assembly, I will fight for fiscal responsibility. Like the many families, government needs to tighten its belt and cut its budget. The government needs to look at non-essential programs as the first areas to cut.
State Budget
Governor Doyle and the Democrats raided segregated funds to fill budget gaps. In one instance, the Governor and Assembly Democrats raided funds raised by the Gas Tax, which lead to Wisconsin roads left in disrepair. I pledge to vote NO on any raids of segregated funds. These funds are for specific purposes and must used for the ways intended. Additionally, Governor Doyle and the Democrats included policy into the state budget. Car insurance minimums is just one of the many policy items that DO NOT belong in the State Budget. These items increased the premiums citizens pay for car insurance. In the Assembly, I will fight to make sure that these policy items are pulled out of the budget and put to up or down votes in stand alone legislation.
Jobs
For the first time in Wisconsin’s history, there are MORE government jobs than manufacturing jobs. Additionally, the State’s private sector has lost 170,000 jobs. The key to Wisconsin’s economic success and jobs for the 37th Assembly is for the government to create an atmosphere conducive to create jobs. Let me be clear government DOES NOT create jobs; rather the government creates an atmosphere that is good for business. In the assembly, I will fight for the worker. This includes lowering taxes on businesses and repealing combined reporting. If we do not improve our business environment, Wisconsin will lose more jobs to other states like we did when Briggs and Stratton left.
Taxes
Since Governor Doyle and the Democrats took office, the tax burden has increased. Even while the nation faced an economic crisis, the tax burden on the community increased. In the assembly, I will fight to lower taxes. When the citizens keep their money, they spend it or invest it. It is this type of activity that keeps our small businesses open and our economy booming. High taxes are hitting the pocket book too hard for many in the 37th. It is time we lower taxes.
High Speed Rail
While in office, the Democrats have gone “full steam ahead” on their plan to bring a “high speed rail” between Madison and Milwaukee. This is a plan that will negatively impact the 37th Assembly District and I am opposed to it. The $810 million dollars the State is receiving from the Federal Government is not “free” money. The State of Wisconsin must pay additional funds to complete the project and to maintain the rail for years to come. While attending a listening session in Waterloo earlier this year, I learned that other government agencies are being considered to fund maintenance costs. One agency is Jefferson County. The State cannot mandate other agencies to pay for things they cannot afford. Furthermore, estimated ridership is only 338,000 per year, a mere fraction of the State’s population. It is clear that many non-riding taxpayers will be paying for the upkeep for the track. The High Speed Rail is too much money for the citizens of the 37th District to bear.
Education
Every child in Wisconsin deserves a great education. In the Assembly, I will work with local school boards to ensure their needs are met. Unfunded and underfunded mandates from the State are detrimental to area districts. We also must make sure that our core curriculum meets our students’ needs. Furthermore, college students can no longer afford the constant increase in tuition. The UW System Board of Regents just increased tuition by 5.5%. This is a trend that needs to end, so that our students can afford college.
Second Amendment
As the owner of two hunting German Shorthaired Pointers, I strongly support the right to bear arms. I also support the right to concealed carry. The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the United States’ Constitution; in the Assembly, I will ensure that the citizens of the 37th Assembly keep this right.
Healthcare
I am opposed to the Federal Government’s takeover of healthcare and support the Attorney General in his efforts to get this overturned. We must use other ways than Federal take over to encourage affordable healthcare. We must do this through market-based initiatives like competition, transparency, and tax incentives. Medical decisions are best made by individuals and their doctor, not the government. In the Assembly, I will fight for the right for individuals to choose their own doctors.
Traditional Family Values
I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I do not believe in abortion or embryonic stem-cell research.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at vicki@vote4vicki.com.
Please click here for a printable version of my On the Issues page.