One Wisconsin Now Will Ask RPW Convention Goers to Sign ‘Responsible Budget’ Petition

MADISON, Wis. — Attendees at Friday’s first night of the Republican Party of Convention will be given the chance to sign a One Wisconsin Now petition in which participants can offer their support for responsible budgeting that focuses on the state’s critical priorities, or for exploding the deficit with unpaid tax cuts that benefit the rich and big business.

“The ‘Party of No’ has been complaining about deficits from the moment George W. Bush left the White House,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director. “One Wisconsin Now’s petition will let them at long last put their money where their mouths are.”

Both Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann have called for a series of tax cuts which would overwhelmingly benefit big business and the wealthiest Wisconsinites. The tax cut packages could top $1 billion in the next budget.

Neither, has however, detailed exactly how he would pay for these tax cuts. With Wisconsin facing a $2-billion deficit, these additional $1 billion in cuts would require them to drastically slash education, health care and police and fire protection. [Source: Legislative Fiscal Bureau, 2/23/09, 7/8/09]

The choices being offered for convention goers to sign include:

I say ‘No’ to the irresponsible tax cut plan that would cut income taxes only for those in the top one percent of income earners and for reopening the Las Vegas Loophole that allows big businesses and banks to avoid their responsibilities to the taxpayers of Wisconsin. I will not support these tax cuts until I am told in detail how they will be paid for in the next budget.

OR

I say ‘Yes’ to the irresponsible tax cut plan that is not paid for and would require cuts to education, slash health care for children and expectant mothers, pull police officers and fire fighters off the streets and ultimately cause property taxes to skyrocket.

“We are certainly excited for the opportunity to see whether the Republican Party has turned the corner and supports sensible fiscal policy,” said Ross. “Otherwise, they can join Scott Walker and Mark Neumann’s budget-busting tax cut plan that will benefit almost none of the rank-and-file members of the Republican Party.”

One Wisconsin Now will release the results of its petition drive over the RPW convention weekend.