Wisconsin governor signs bill to make tax rise tougher

[The Northerner]

MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) – Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed into law on Tuesday a bill to make it tougher to approve state tax increases, a measure that is not related to the protests over attempts to curb the power of public unions.

The new law, which was proposed by the Republican governor, requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate and Assembly to raise income, sales or franchise tax rates instead of a simple-majority vote.

"I went to work today, met with my cabinet, and signed legislation that will help government operate within its means," Walker said in a statement. "Wisconsinites can't turn to raising taxes to balance their own family budgets when times get tough. This bill will ensure that we don't kick the can down the road for a quick budget fix only to slap a long-term tax hike on the backs of Wisconsin taxpayers."

The Republican-controlled legislature gave final approval to the measure on February 8, three days before Walker announced his controversial plan to curb public sector union bargaining rights as part of a plan to tackle a $3.74 billion, three-year budget deficit.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110222/us_nm/us_wisconsin_taxes1

[deminks]

1. Think he has crossed that line between toughness and meanness yet?

I do.

[PA Democrat]

5. He's beyond mean; he is cruel and vindictive.

How DARE those unions not bow at the feet of almighty lord and master Walker!

[damntexdem]

2. Anti-democracy all the way.

Wisconsin will rue the day they voted GOP.

[okieinpain]

6. once again when I go and find the results for the midterms

there is no large number of people voting, it's usually below average and wisconsin is no different

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/106661438.html

"The base turns out for the GOP. The heavily Republican suburban counties outside Milwaukee were unmistakably heard from on Tuesday. Voters there delivered unusually lopsided margins for Walker and Johnson and turned out in higher numbers than they did four years ago.

Unofficial statewide turnout was 49%, just shy of the official prediction of 50%. Close to the same number of people voted Tuesday - about 2,142,000 - as four years ago."

"In looking at these two base counties, the story in 2010 was not that Democrats stayed home, but that Republicans were motivated in the extreme."

that why I hate to hear people say they are going to stay home because we didn't get everything we wanted. i hate to say it but president obama hate him or love him is way freakin better then the alternative.

[Bandit]

3. Wisconsin is in for a world of hurt

They used to receive a lot of Federal dollars to help- support things like education and roads and such. Now they are not going to recieve very much at all and without the ability to raise revenues they are going to be hurting. The wealthy will do just fine though..I heard Walker was elected with 61% so I guess Wisconsin will get just what they voted for..

[The Northerner]

4. Walker was elected with 52% of the votes to 46% for Barrett

[Geoff R. Casavant]

7. Riiiiiiiiight. Because that worked so well for California. n/t