The Truth about Scott Walker’s ‘Taxpayer Funded’ Arena

National Review ^ | August 13, 2015 | Christian Schneider, columnist for the Milwaukee Journal

[TADSLOS]

Why are you supporting such twisted logic? Taxpayer money is being given away. Are you so in the tank for a GOPe candidate that you are blind?

Yes, it's an every fourth year phenom here on FR, like recurring herpes.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Are you supporting Trump?

[Wolfie]

Yes, I read it. I know this...Walker’s your guy and you’ll excuse anything because of that.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Who is your candidate?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Who do you want in the WH?

[TADSLOS]

Yes, I read it. I know this...Walker’s your guy and you’ll excuse anything because of that.

It's an established pattern.

[onona]

I did read the article. Why does the state government have to fund this ?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Who’s your candidate?

[TADSLOS]

I did read the article. Why does the state government have to fund this ?

Because Walker's crony capitalist donors said so.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Who is your candidate?

[gov_bean_ counter]

Quid pro quo???

[onona]

Thank you. A simple, clear answer, and easy to understand.

[Dr. Sivana]

Anti-Walker activists can put that in their pipe and smoke it!

I'm no anti-Walker activist. Vicki McKenna, who is an exceptional radio hostess and generally VERY supportive of Walker not only thinks that it is a bad deal, but sets a precedent for every sports venue in the state (including schools) to stick out its hand for money. Previous deals were city or countywide. This is the first statewide sdeal.

I'm of the mind that at the state level and below, tax payers can spend their money on what they want, though I believe the returns on sports investments, ESPECIALLY football, are exagerrated.

Sarah Palin was okay with a local arena in Wasilla. I wouldn't support the Bucks deal, but I don't particularly blame Walker for going with it. Pretending that it isn't costing taxpayers in Wisconsin, however, is nonsense.

[TADSLOS]

Quid pro quo???

It's how things get done with the GOPe. Just ask Jeb, Rick Perry, McCain and every other cheap labor Chamber of Commerce sock puppet who runs for high office. Walker is just another paper cut out from their player roster.

[Dr. Sivana]

Except that the NBA players have been paying that since the Bucks entered the league and I assume it's gone into the general revenue fund.

There was an agreement to raise the fee, so there is more income, but not nearly enough to pay for the building.

[centurion316]

In general, I oppose government subsides for commercial enterprises, but politicians are particularly attracted to these schemes. It has been going on forever in one form or another. If people don’t like it, they should vote out the bums, but most people seem to like these deals which, of course, is why politicians do it.

In our fair city, Wal Mart has been negotiating for tax abatements when they build a Wal Mart building. No one complains. When the abatement is scheduled to expire, Wal Mart builds another structure. We have had three different locations in 15 years and we will see another before long I am guessing.

[Catsrus]

That’s how Trump built so many of his enterprises - with tax abatements, and usually with no money down on the deals. He is actually very conservative with his money.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Anything Walker does in WI is OK by me as long as he stays there. :-)

[Carry_Okie]

The rest of the bonds will be financed with state tax revenues, but there’s an important catch — the remaining $3.5 million per year the state will pay over the next two decades is more than offset by the annual income taxes the Milwaukee Bucks franchise pays the state. According to state records, the Bucks pay $6.5 million per year in state income taxes. Every NBA player who comes to Milwaukee to face the Bucks pays a portion of his income to Wisconsin. This isn’t expected revenue from future economic development — this is money already being paid to the state. Thus, “taxpayers” won’t be paying the state’s portion, the Bucks will be.

As if all the Buck's taxes would go to the arena and not have been used for something else? This argument is patently absurd. Walker made the decision that a half a loaf is better than none. The Bucks are still getting the other half.

[RKBA Democrat]

So sorry. All that article does is spin. Here are two more basic questions: why should taxpayers be on the hook to build a private sports stadium at all? And, Secondly, if its such a smashingly good deal, why would taxpayers in the state of Wisconsin need to be involved at all?

But its not crony capitalism. Oh no. Not that. Anything but that.