Panzer Resuscitates TABOR, Calls for Extraordinary Session

Wisconsin legislators will continue to meet in an extraordinary session Wednesday (July 28, 2004) on the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). TABOR is a proposed constitutional amendment that would undermine local taxing authority and lead to a severe reduction in government services and education programs.

Sen. Majority Leader Mary Panzer also indicated she would ask legislators to consider a property tax freeze proposal and a reduction to the state's per pupil spending allotment for public schools.

"WEAC is part of a large coalition that will continue to battle any plan that threatens our schools, teachers and education support professionals," WEAC President Stan Johnson said. "The Republican tax scheme would cause immediate and massive harm to Wisconsin's great schools and staff. It is flawed fiscal policy that will not create great schools for any child."

Earlier versions of TABOR legislation failed to acquire enough votes to pass during the regular legislative session.

The Senate Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy Committee will hold a public hearing on TABOR and the other proposals at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Room 411-South at the State Capitol.

A coalition of education, religion, health care advocacy, domestic violence prevention, public employee and local government groups opposed to TABOR held a press conference at Tuesday at the State Capitol. More than 40 members of the coalition also testified against TABOR during the Senate hearing.

Gov. Jim Doyle called the hastily scheduled vote on TABOR a "cheap political trick."

"If any specific details of the Republican proposal exist, they are a closely held secret," he said. "When will they announce the proposal? The day before the vote? An hour before the vote?"

In order for TABOR to become law, both houses must pass it in consecutive two-year sessions before it moves to a statewide referendum. If the current proposal does not pass before August 3, it must wait until the January session for consideration. The earliest it could become law in that case is 2007.

"Not only are Republicans trying to amend our Constitution overnight, but they are now trying to reduce the amount that Wisconsin school districts can spend on each child," Doyle said. "With just a few weeks before classes begin, it will be virtually impossible for school districts to manage these cuts without direct and devastating effects on every child's education."

Resource page on tax gimmicks

Posted July 26, 2004; Updated July 28, 2004