Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend, the town of Vernon and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Wisconsin incomes behind the rest of the nation
By Mary Lazich
Friday, Oct 17 2008, 07:06 AM
I have blogged extensively about taxes and their relationship to Wisconsin incomes, some of the lowest in the country. Wisconsin’s ability to compete continues to decline as hard-working residents pay more and more of their income to the government.
More grim news from the non-partisan Wisconsin Taxpayer’s Alliance (WISTAX) demonstrates that this gloomy pattern continues. WISTAX reports, “Wisconsin’s economy has been lagging the nation for some time. A simple indicator of state economic performance is personal income, which includes wages, government payments, and investment earnings. During 2006, total state income rose 5.4% to $191.7 billion, while national growth was 7.1%. Reflecting the economic slowdown, 2008 personal income is estimated to increase 3.4% in Wisconsin vs. 4.3% nationally."
Here is the WISTAX release.
Next year, the governor and the Legislature will conduct their most important piece of state government business: crafting and adopting the next biennial budget. With Wisconsin incomes struggling to keep pace with the nation as a whole during rough times, it is imperative the state holds the line on spending and rejects any tax increase proposals.
