Friday, November 04, 2005

Belling Gets It Right

Those who understand the Wisconsin Gas Tax (currently 29+ cents/gallon, PLUS a 3 cent/gallon 'cleanup' fee) understand that Lee Sherman Dreyfus, a hypocritical "populist" who was really a Big Government Republican, conspired with the Legislature to make gas tax increases automatic.

Nobody votes on the increases--the tax just goes up, and up, and up. Your Legislators pretend that they did not increase the tax.

One of my Legislators likes it that way, because he's (frankly) addicted to money from the road-builders, principally Payne and Dolan of Waukesha. The other one has stated that he will act to change the "automatic increase" legislation.

Senator Tom Reynolds (R-West Allis) has had a bill to do just that on the table in Committee for the last 30 days or so. Somehow, it has not emerged from Committee.

The fact that a very powerful Member of the Assembly is running for higher office has NOTHING (repeat, NOTHING) to do with this bill being stalled, of course. The fact that elections are coming up in a year (thus, campaign contributions are being collected) has NOTHING (repeat, NOTHING) to do with this, either.

Belling paid a little attention to this in the last few moments of his program on Wednesday, to his credit.

For the record, the following SUPPORT this bill: (Senators) Reynolds, Zien, Grothman, Lazich and Leibham; Representatives Wood, F. Lasee, Gundrum, Jeskewitz, Kerkman, Kestell, Lothian, McCormick, Pridemore and Vukmir.

Seems Kanavas has been AWOL, but we'll know more after this morning's Senate action.

2 comments:

Terrence Berres said...

Gov. Dreyfus pushed the merger of all the state colleges and universities into the "University of Wisconsin System." He said this would eliminate "destructive competition." I'm not convinced that the System has turned out to be a model of cooperative efficiency.

Dad29 said...

Dreyfus is a doofus, and damn proud of himself. Had to listen to him bloviate at a Pubbie dindin in 1980. Damn near puked.

On thinking about it, I should have puked, getting closer to him so that he could enjoy it...