Mark Green's "Tax Hell" Speech

Today, Rep. Mark Green forcefully came out for tax and spending controls. It's the first time I can recall a major statewide politician calling Wisconsin a "tax hell."

Many outstate Republicans will be grumbling silently while Southeast Wisconsin conservatives will be cheering. Green sounded like one of "Charlie Sykes Stormtroopers."

I'm stealing the speech from Boots & Sabers since I haven't found it on Green's campaign website. Here's the press release version if you're in a hurry.

In recent weeks, a number of startling statistics have come out that all say the same thing – Wisconsin’s tax burden has us at a competitive disadvantage as we try to attract good-paying jobs and grow our economy.

As thousands of Wisconsinites bring their tax returns to post offices around our state today, they continue to see more and more of their paycheck going to the government.

Our state and local tax burden is one of the worst in the country – nearly ten percent above the national average. While today is tax day, our tax freedom day – the day we stop working to pay taxes and start working for ourselves – is still eleven days off.

When Jim Doyle took office in 2003 our tax freedom day was April 19…this year it is April 28.

We’re going in the wrong direction….and it is affecting our economy.

Only three metropolitan areas lost more jobs last year than the Milwaukee area – and two of those were hit by Hurricane Katrina.

Our workers make less than the national average and our state lost $4.7 billion in net worth in just five years because some of our best and brightest decided to go elsewhere where they can earn more and pay less in taxes.

It’s time to draw a line in the sand. We should no longer allow our tax burden to block our path to prosperity.

Today, I am unveiling both a long-term tax relief plan and a commitment to provide some immediate relief. Elect me governor, and Wisconsin’s days in “tax hell” will be coming to an end.

To ensure the long-term economic prosperity of Wisconsin I believe we need a constitutional limit on taxes and spending.

For generations in Wisconsin, our tax burden has taken too much out of our family budgets and it has literally driven people out of our state.

If we are going to compete for good jobs here, we simply cannot have taxes that are ten percent above the national average.

Constitutional limits are a long-term commitment to lower taxes to ensure better jobs and a brighter future.

A future where Wisconsin is no longer listed among the top taxing states. A future where government spending is finally in line with our families’ ability to pay. A future where our seniors won’t flee Wisconsin’s high taxes, but retire here to spend their golden years with their family nearby.

And, by slowing the growth of government spending and limiting taxes, our children and grandchildren will be more likely to stay here, earn a good living here and raise their family here.

As a dad with young kids, I want that more than anything else.

While constitutional limits are a long-term commitment to lower taxes, taxpayers are in desperate need of protection right now.

Since he took office, Governor Doyle vetoed the property tax freeze…not once…but twice.

The result was an increase in property taxes of over eleven percent in two years and $600 million since Doyle took office.

He shouldn’t have vetoed the freeze…and taxpayers paid the price.

To make matters worse, Governor Doyle’s decision to increase spending by ten percent in his latest budget has left us with a $2.1 billion deficit – one of the worst in the nation. Jim Doyle got elected on a promise to solve the state’s fiscal problems…he’s clearly failed to do so.

Governor Doyle has raided every cookie jar he can find and maxed out the taxpayers’ credit card. He’s spending well above his means and he’s putting our future prosperity at risk.

I’ll take us in a different direction.

The first budget I present to the legislature is going to include a property tax cap. Local units of government will be able to increase their tax levy only to account for inflation and growth – in population, new construction or students. Of course, voters can choose to spend more if they agree to in a referendum.

At the same time we limit local taxes, we’re going to shake things up in Madison by capping state taxes. Any additional tax revenues the state receives above the previous year will be plowed into finally balancing our books and providing tax relief.

If we want to increase spending on a program, or start a new initiative, we’ll have to find the funds by cutting other spending.

Yes, we’ll have to make tough decisions. And yes, government will have to do more with less. Families all across Wisconsin are faced with those same decisions every single day.

But, don’t forget, we’re Wisconsinites.

We have the ingenuity, the imitative and the work ethic to blaze a new trail. Together we’ll reshape our government to make it leaner and more efficient. We’ll demand accountability and we won’t accept mediocrity.

Voters have a clear choice between Governor Doyle and me when it comes to limiting taxes and spending.

I support tax limits – Governor Doyle does not.

My plan will get Wisconsin out of the heat of tax hell, and into a much more comfortable, and prosperous, climate!

If you agree with me that we need tax limits, then I hope you join our Green Team. Together, we’ll make Wisconsin great again.