Higher taxes ultimately destroy jobs.
Look at your states with the highest taxes, and you'll find they also have the highest rates of unemployment, and debt. CA, MI, and NY are good examples. California is so screwed that their bond rating is at near junk status. The state literally has no way to even finance debt without paying a massive interest rate. Complete bankruptcy is almost certain now. Many high taxing states will follow. WI very well may be one of them, as our reckless tax and spending policies simply lag behind those of CA. Not that it really matters any more; the feds will of course bail everyone out. Hell, who has NOT got bailed out other then Lahman Brothers? We're only $13 trillion in the hole, what's a few more hundred billion to bail out reckless state governments?

I don't want to pay more taxes, and I am stomping my feet about it darn it!!!! Urgh. This is sickening.

Silly article, really. Is it any surprise that these "advocacy groups" (i.e. special interests) will do whatever they can to stay in business? As others have said, jobs solve a lot of society's ills. Whether higher taxes or lower taxes are required, the first priority should be more jobs, not just endless spending.

Not everyone that is on assistance is unemployed. However, how long should one be on assistance. It should be for a short period of time and then you no longer qualify for it. There are many people who have worked to get off it and others who only make so much money so they can stay on them. I'm all for the government helping but it shouldn't be for a lifetime.

If you want to see your tax dollars at work,take a drive towards the Dells on 94/39 and see the bridges around Madison and the new rest areas by the Wisconsin River that are under constuction these will be Diamond "BINGO" Jims legacy.

I heard someone say that if all our government officials took a 25% pay decrease,the US would have paid off all it's debt within one year.

not everyone on assistance is unemployed. Some people on assistance work numerous low paying jobs that don't offer benefits. Many of you are fortunate not to deal with that.

Nik--P.S. Rather than threaten people with crime, how about making an effort to get a job and get off of the assistance programs? I know it's more difficult to take on the responsibility that employment brings your way, but please give it a shot--it will be much more rewarding in the end. You'll thank me later:)

nikkiz242001 you said "IF YOU THINK THE CRIME RATE IS HIGH NOW?? ... JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU CUT THE STATE AID PEOPLE WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES!!"

don't forget that works both ways.

Nik.....Please push down on the button that says "caps lock" one time. A green light will probably go off letting you know that it is deactivated. Thank you.

So the last posters idea is to threaten in order to solve a problem. Yea real good thinking there. No wonder we're in the mess we're in.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAD A ONE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE TODAY ME AND MY FRIEND TAMRYN RING WENT TO MADISON SO SHE COULD SPEAK ON BEHALF OF US POOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE FACING THE BUDGET CUTS! ONE THING SHE DID FORGET TO MENTION THOUGH IS... IF YOU THINK THE CRIME RATE IS HIGH NOW?? ... JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU CUT THE STATE AID PEOPLE WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES!! I KNOW I WILL!! BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD JOB TO EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE IN THE SENATORS PARLOR TODAY AT THE CAPITOL EVERYONE MADE VALID POINTS!! LETS HOPE THEY ALL MADE A DIFFERENCE!!

We'd all be better off if we could persuade Madison & Milwaukee to secede from the state. That's the only way you're going to break the Democratic stranglehold on state politics--& end our heritage of high taxes.

I agree 100% Rocky--Lower the corporate income taxes even further. We need to draw business to this state. The money made up with the income and property taxes as well as the money injected into the communities in which the corporations operate will more than offset the corporate taxes lost. I also think we need to revamp our assistance to the poor. It's a complete joke. I just had a conservation with a friend about her cousin. She is 19 and has 1 kid, pregnant with another, not with either father and has the vast majority of her health care, food expenses, and housing covered by the state. She is completely unmotivated--has never held a job, nor does she plan on getting one anytime soon. Programs that enable such apathy need to be done away with......

We have no one to blame but ourselves, we voted them in. Look for the candidate who will reduce government spending, not just talk the talk. When the time comes put reality back in Madison.

Biggrl - It sounds great - doesn't it: "Raise taxes on corporations". But think it through.

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Step 1: Corporations will just pass on the added tax expenses by raising prices.

Step 2: Corporations that cannot pass on the expense easily will reduce costs to cover the loss - cutting more workers. Those workers, who pay personal income taxes and spend their money here and buy houses and pay property taxes, then do none of the above - resulting in a net reduction in revenue.

Step 3: Corporations simply move to a lower tax state or country - taking their jobs and all the above mentioned taxpayers with them. Huge loss to the economy

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No - the solution is exactly the opposite. Reduce or eliminate corporate taxes on corporations. . This encourages them to come to Wisconsin, bring the jobs and the employees - who pay income, sales and property taxes.

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What we need are jobs - not higher taxes.

Raise taxes?...now?... is this a sick joke?

Did anyone heard that the tax man is coming. Blame the state for all that woes they have created. Programs that are out dated or not working should be on the chopping block and now. Forget about raising the taxes, and spend less.

"Clap Clap Clap" Boo Boo Boo. Thanx Diamond Jim.........I Hope You DON'T Get Re-elected..

STAY SAFE!!

Let's hear it for the folks who've given us 6+ years of Diamond Jim Doyle...

Having lived in both Indiana and Wisconsin, I can state that Indiana is very nice, tax-wise, and the schools, fire departments, etc. are as good or better than those we have here. In fact, the only thing that I can think of that lags behind in Indiana is road repair.

Personally, I'd rather have a few more bumps in my roads and enough money to feed and clothe my family than struggle to pay the huge amounts that Governor Doyle and his cronies want to support their often wasteful programs.

I'm broke and have no more to give. End of story.

We have one of the lowest taxes on corporations. I say raise their taxes. They just pull out anyhow, and then they don't even pay to remove their unsightly buildings.

It sounds like Indiana is low rent.

It's funny how many Kool-Aid drinkers there are in WI. I moved from there 4 years ago and only then was I really awakened to how much of a tax hell that place is. My income taxes here in Indiana are HALF of Wisconsin's - 3.5%. Property taxes are 2/3 at most (capped by law at 1% of assessed value). Gas taxes are less by a quarter per gallon. And there are no tax increases being talked about (mainly because we have a GOP governor).

Wake up cheeseheads: you can't afford your own government!

All states are hurting, especially Illinois. People with money are moving to states that have the lowest taxes. A chemist from California said it best. "California income tax cost me a $1,000. a month, Texas 0. A small apartment in CA $1750, Texas we get a 3000 sq. ft. home $1400.00". With Illinois raising taxes people are looking for a low tax state but still be close to visit family.

State and Federal workers will never be laid off. and they do not deserve a raise at this time. They are falling over each other,

We should not have a shortfall to begin with, if the state at been managed right we would not be in this fix. Several states have lived within there budget. Forget the tax increase, We have lost so many freedoms in this country. There will be more and more tea parties, people are fed up.. We have so many government programs now we can not keep track of them. Lets revert back to the 1930's

jviers77 - I got a 5% salary decrease this year plus layoff days, so maybe you better think before you comment.
On another note: Are there any groups working to reduce all the entitlements? Does it say in our state Constitution that the government is responsible for health care insurance? If it doesn't, then it's not the job of the state to provide it for everyone. Just one example

Their 2% pay increase is 2% more than I've had for 3 years.

Also, the vehicle registrations went up in 2008. That's when mine first increased. This year, I believe it was the same as last year.

jviers- Why do I have to cut my expenses? Where's my handout? Why can't government make cuts when we all have to? If you have no trouble paying more tax then return any refunds you get and write the government a little extra and then you can stuff your tax hike up your you know where! Cut things!!!!!

You want more tax's,the guy or gal below me,then you must have a job,a lot of people don't! Join the real world,we're all broke. Wouldn't it be nice if we could go to our employer(if you have one)and say i'm a little short,i'm raising my wages & you have nothing to say about it. And like Arnold would say,I'LL BE BACK,FOR MORE LATER FORSURE>

I'd have no problem paying slightly higher taxes. With State employees already being forced into furloughs and most likely having to give up the scheduled contract pay raise, it's only fair the rest of Wisconsin's citizens step up and do their part. Just because a government says it's not going to raise taxes doesn't mean we aren't paying for it somewhere else. Have you gotten your vehicle registration yet this year? That cost went up because nobody wants to pay more in taxes. No matter what, we're all going to pay for the budget deficit one way or another.
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Before you go bashing State workers, the scheduled pay increase is 2%, which doesn't even cover the cost of increased insurance premiums and the increase in cost of living, which is typically 3%-4% anually.