Fiscal Budget


Wisconsin Budget Woes

“I see a gun constantly aimed at our feet, wondering when our next self-inflicted wound will occur...” Kirk Bangstad, small business owner and political activist. Mr. Bangstad was talking about education funding in the state budget but his comments apply to the rest of the budget and the budget process itself. Too often the important, long term investments needed by the state and the people of Wisconsin are lost in the political wrangling and ideological power struggles. Governor Evers and the Republican controlled legislature are busy maneuvering to achieve ...

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JUST MONEY THREE

One of the most pernicious myths regarding US Federal Government monetary operations, is that our Federal government budget is like a household budget – it must get money before it can spend money. This leads to another deeply ingrained, and equally false belief – that our taxes pay for Federal Government spending. Let these two myths, these two falsehoods, sink in - - - our Federal government has no money of its own and, like our households, it must get money before it can spend money - - - and the way our Federal government gets money is to collect taxes from us, ...

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Madison Action Day

Many of us from the Wausau area attended Madison Action Day on April 27. We were in full force with many other WISDOM affiliates throughout the state. Thank you to Ron Alexander and NAOMI for providing bus transportation. We heard from many speakers, we watched a Drum Circle and a stellar performance from the Raging Grannies. In the afternoon we met with our elected officials to talk about issues we care about and that affect all of us! The following is a few of the issues in the state budget: Restoring driver's licenses for all Wisconsinites Accepting the ...

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SEEMS OBVIOUS – PART ONE

We once again witness the “Parade, the Charade, of Charlatans” (the PCC). Another “Brilliant Batch of Politicians” (the BBP) threaten to shut the US Government down over the “debt ceiling.” “America has overspent! Something must be cut!” The next paragraph is technical. Try to stay awake. This has a huge impact on your life, whether you know it or not. Article I, Section 8, Clause 5 of the US Constitution says: [The Congress shall have the Power] To coin Money and regulate the Value thereof In other words – the US Government is the creator, ...

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Minocqua Joint Finance Committee Hearing

Minocqua Joint Finance Committee Hearing WHEN: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM WHERE: Lakeland Union High School Theatre, 9573 State Highway 70, Minocqua, WI 54548   Governor Evers' state budget includes accepting the federal dollars to expand Badger Care, which would give more than 90,000 Wisconsinites access to healthcare. This is the perfect opportunity to spend the day with likeminded friends and to make your wishes known that we want a healthier Wisconsin that we all can thrive in. *Be sure to get there early to sign up to speak.

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Social Security

Established in 1935 under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), social security has kept millions of retired and disabled Americans out of abject poverty. But we hear a repeating refrain from politicians – currently Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson – that the program is “going broke” and needs “reform.” History says otherwise. Luther Gulick was an aid to FDR and an expert in public administration working for the Treasury Department. The following conversation from the Social Security historical archives took place between Gulick and FDR in 1941: “In ...

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Surplus another ‘golden opportunity’ Republicans are determined to miss

The announcement Tuesday that Wisconsin’s projected surplus is $2.9 billion higher than the already “unprecedented” June surplus projection was hailed by Republicans and Democrats alike. 

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Neighborhood Investment Program is meant to fund needs, not wants

The Economic Development Committee (EDC) has told the city of Wausau that it has applied for $10.5 million from the Neighborhood Investment Program to fund a pretty pedestrian bridge in Wausau’s Opportunity Zone (WOZ) "vision” for the redevelopment of the former Wausau Center Mall.

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Counting all the costs of war

On Memorial Day we remember the veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in our many wars. We should mourn the fallen. We should mourn because they did not die for their country.

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Waste not…

I was just a low level “grunt,” but I saw and participated in a lot of waste. So when I write about waste in the military budget it is not based on political opinion or cherry picking the numbers.

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