12/26/2015 ... Be aware - anytime Walker takes something away from one group, say your School Board, County Board, Teachers or state employees he is lowering the common denominator. Others not in those groups have less control of their lives. Your benefits or privileges are affected too.
1/1/2015 - MJS: The myth of Scott Walker as a budget guru
... The process is ingenious in an underhanded kind of way. You see, if government is working smoothly and efficiently, it’s difficult to make the case that cuts need to be made. As the old adage goes, if it ain’t broken, don’t try to fix it. Republicans now realize that first you need to swing a bat at the government’s knees and cripple it before you’re allowed to put it down. If it isn’t broken, well then, break it yourself. But how do you break government without the public blaming you for being the problem? Well, that’s easy: you starve it with tax cuts. ...
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1/22/2014 Walker's "State of the State" essentially meaningless. Who paid the $1 billion in taxes collected that now may be distributed. By that I mean incidence - wealthy or poor, elderly and/or rural residents?
1/24/2014 - The top 20% of Wisconsin wage earners — those making more than $88,000 a year and paying the most in taxes now — would receive 44% of the benefit of Gov. Scott Walker's latest proposed tax cuts, a new analysis shows.
The bottom 20% of state residents by income — those making below $21,000 a year and paying the least in taxes now — would receive 5% of the $504.6 million Walker wants to cut in property and income taxes, according to the review by the liberal Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy and the Wisconsin Budget Project.
Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/headlines/top-wage-earners-taxpayers-get-biggest-benefit-from-walker-tax-cuts-b99191408z1-241905661.html#ixzz2rXvWTJZE
Scott Walker: Eliminating income tax, raising sales tax on the table
In the printed version of WSJ under the label "Tax Reform" the Wisconsin State Journal headlines "Gov. Walker eyes more cuts". The subtitle "His administration is exploring the idea of eliminating income tax while raising sales taxes in Wisconsin".
I don't know whether this is just another trial ballon or just an illustration of Governor Walker continuing to pander to the elites and 1%.
Who would such a change harm or have the greatest impact on.
- Middle and low-income families.
- Those living on fixed incomes, i.e., pensions, Social Security, et al, (double whammy).
- Those generally living in rural counties and communities
I suspect a lot of people do not realize that those on Social Security in this state pay practically no income tax - this "perk/subsidy" was passed by Democrats and signed by Governor Doyle.
All social security benefits that are taxable for federal purposes. Up to 85% of social security benefits are subject to federal tax, but Wisconsin does not tax social security benefits. For taxable years beginning in 2008 or after, all federally taxable social security benefits are allowed as a subtraction. page 5 of report in the link
Income tax in this state is mildly "progressive" which means the more you earn you pay at a higher tax rate by brackets. Everybody pays on earned income at the low end.
I will probably add to my comments and observations as this "topic" continues to evolve.
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12/21/13 some data
Governor Walker’s Tax Shift Plan Would Raise Taxes for Most
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