The beer tax should be raised to equal that of neighboring states, and the penalties for OWI should be raised to actually cause some major "pain in the pocket" (or increased jail time) for those who drink and drive. We need to get them off the road!

"Should state raise tax on hard liquor?" No. The current tax on hard liquor should be repealed. State government needs to shrink at at annual double-digit pace. Cut 10% now, 10% next year, etc. until all the budget problems are solved.

carguy - big government will find a way to tax the things you like soon enough. Did you ever about how the person that was not worried as long as they didn't come after him, and by the time they came after him, there was noone left to defend him ?

Tax'es are good for thoses that can't control there spending

mat as well because the government spent all the rest of the money they received.where is our stinulus check.sorry we would use it too wisely and not hoard it away on stupid unwanted items.think of the voters first next time not your wallet

The fines for DUI are already high enough. The punishment more than fits the crime.........

I agree with lots of you, 'toasty'... raise the fines on the actual act, fine those @ fault, not the innocent ones that behave or don't drink in the first place! Stop raising taxes the wrong way!

I agree totally, good post!

No. Taxes are getting way out of hand. People cannot afford to enjoy life anymore. Isn't that the reason people came to this country in the first place, to escape all of the high and outrageous taxes? Wow - we truly are going back to a time when individuals had no rights and were being taxed out of their own homes. Sound familiar?

Here's an idea, why not massively increase their drunk driving fines? Why not penalize those breaking the law, than those obeying it? If anyone really believes that the money from that tax will go to pay for the cost of holding these people, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Anyways, how are those revenues from the lottery helping in lowering our property taxes like they were intended for?.....Exactly! Another government smoke screen,

yes raise the taxes,then everyone can go to other surrounding states to buy their booze,just like they do with cigerettes.let the other states collect the revenue and then we can listen to state of wisconsin whine about how the sales tax revenue is down and the stores are closing its doors.

garyprimer, I'm not entirely sure, but I think gazette13 was being sarcastic.

If you tax stores, bar owners, and suppliers, they will just raise their prices to cover the extra cost.

I know it won't be used for the designated purpose but I don't drink and there is too much alcohol consumption in this state so I'm in favor of the increase.

I agree with Rexkramer. I have not done a cost-benefit analysis on the subject (i doubt the legislature did either), but shouldn't increasing penalties also decrease the amount of offenders? Isn't decreasing the number of offenders the main goal? Increasing a tax does not accomplish this. IMO, they should increase fines majorly take away licenses longer and then ADVERTISE this fact. People are more likely to change behavior if they worry about their pocket book and lifestyle, at least with potential 1st or 2nd time offenders. If it can be demonstrated that he tax would solely be for locking up multiple offenders and it is absolutely needed, I would also be for it.

Absolutely not!!!! This is yet another "sin tax" that the legislature has cooked up to victimize an easy target group, "drinkers", to fleece money so they can have yet another slush fund to take from to faux balance the budget when they need to. Anyone who doubts this, follow the money trail from the tobacco settlement money, the highway/gas tax money, then get back to me. If they made this a segregated fund, that could only be used for OWI related stuff, I'd be OK with it, but it's not, it's just another reason for the tax and spenders in Madison to bleed the taxpayers because they know if they put a pretty face on this tax (i.e. "it'll prevent drunk driving") they know less people will speak out against it for what it is, yet another tax.

Prices aren't hurting me since I don't drink liquor or smoke. just hurts the retailers and Rock County sales tax. And when tax is raised on beer, I'll make my own. As far as the 25 million, when the $1.00 cig tax kick in almost 2 years ago, the state doubled the tax income but sales revenue dropped 13% hurting tax revenue for Rock County and retailers. Since Rock County borders Illinois where a cartoon of smokes are $7-10 dollars cheaper.

They're going to use that money to to help keep more drunk drivers in prison? Like the tobacco settlement money, and the increased cigarette tax going to help offset the increased health care costs of smokers? The settlement went to balancing the budget, and the taxes go to Badgercare. Oh ya, and the unconstitutional robbing of the patient compensation fund to balance the budget? They can't fool me anymore with their lies.