Posted on 02/22/2009 8:55:21 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Make that a dozen.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said late last week he is giving back his legislative pay raise.
That means 12 of Wisconsin's 132 lawmakers are now returning their 5.3 percent raise in the face of a record $5.9 billion state budget deficit.
Davis originally told the State Journal he was going to take his pay raise and donate it to charity.
Davis said feedback from constituents and a proposed 0 percent pay increase for state employees in the next two-year state budget persuaded him to return his raise to state coffers instead.
"Given the conditions of the state budget, and knowing what's happening to the state employees, we've got to do everything we can to help the state's bottom line," Davis said.
He pledged to pay back to the state the first monthly installment of his raise, which was issued Feb. 1. He then will have the rest of his annual $2,530 raise deducted from future monthly legislative pay checks, Davis said.
Congratulations to Davis for leading by example during these tough economic times. Other lawmakers tightly clutching their 5.3 percent raise should follow Davis' example.
It's not too late to do the right thing.
This one is a Keeper, too. :)
Wow! There are actually reps in this state who do the right by us tax payers??!
any list of the 11 others and party affiliation ?
Few and far between...that’s why they stand out. :(
This is interesting. Last summer the Louisiana Legislature tried to raise its pay by a factor of THREE. Yes, a tripling of their pay.
Obviously, the electorate was outraged. We heard all the excuses - how much time they spent on state business, it was “costing” them to serve, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Finally, enough hell was raised that Gov. Jindal vetoed the pay raise. Not a single Lege has resigned since, despite their claims of poverty.
Still looking...no summary that I can find so far...
“...despite their claims of poverty.”
Poor babies, Eh? ;)
Did you notice they have him listed as a dim at the bottom of the article where they list the twelve?
The distinguished dozen
The 12 lawmakers returning their pay raise to state coffers:
* Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills
* Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee
* Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield
* Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse
* Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan
* Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center
* Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon
* Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville
* Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown
* Rep. Margaret Krusick, D-Milwaukee
* Rep. Keith Ripp, R-Lodi
* Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, D-Manitowoc
I didn’t! Good catch. e-mail going off to the Editor right now! :)
Thanks, Diana .. more D’s than I’d have suspected, but would bet they’re ‘blue dawgs’ or maybe ‘blue badgers’ from rural areas that haven’t yet realigned.
Erpenbach and Ziegelbauer are Dems, but not total lunatics. We still have a few true blue Catholic Dems left in this state. But just a few... ;)
Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse
Alright. Kapanke got on the boat also!
Small victories! :)
Diana- What is the background on this guy?
Can we get him into higher office and get Wisconsin out of the welfare state of mind they have sunk into?
He ‘cut his teeth’ so to speak, on Tommy Thompson. Love him or hate him, Tommy got things done, and we were SWIMMING in money back then.
http://www.votebrettdavis.com/about.html
Bring Truth To Budgets
Davis Proposes Plan to end State’s ‘Credit Card’ Spending
February 16, 2009
By Brian Gray, The Monroe Times
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, has joined three Republican colleagues to improve state accounting methods and allow more public scrutiny of the state budget.
Davis plans to introduce the measure this week as the Legislature begins to work on the 2009-10 budget.
The plan, the Truth in Budgeting Act, calls for the state to stop putting off some budget issues until future biennial budgets.
Davis said that for the past 20 years the state has pushed out bills until future budgets, which makes the state look like it’s in better financial shape than it really is.
“It’s paying for it later,” Davis said. “Like putting things on a credit card. The bills still need to be paid.”
Davis said if the state adopts the measure, there will be tough choices for the Legislature but it will have long-term benefits for the state. He said that when the economy recovers the state will be in a better financial situation.
“Just like families all across the state, state government needs to tighten its belt and make responsible decisions regarding the upcoming budget process,” Davis said. “We need to stop putting spending on the state’s credit card and need a plan to eliminate the deficit.”
The Truth in Budgeting Act also requires the state to make sure funds from the federal stimulus funds are used responsibly.
Davis said the economic situation creates a sense of “urgency” to make sure any federal money given to the state is used to create jobs.
The proposal also includes two bills to increase public knowledge of how tax dollars are spent.
The Government Checkbook Disclosure Act would create an easily accessible state database and Web site that is fully interactive and searchable. The database will disclose all state expenditures over $25, from supplies to salaries and contracts. Other states have similar laws and programming and software can be shared to reduce the cost to Wisconsin taxpayers.
The second bill, known as the Earmark Transparency Act, requires a report listing all earmarks be made public at least 48 hours before any votes are cast.
“By approving this package of legislation, we can finally put Wisconsin on the fiscal road to recovery,” Davis noted. “As we work hard to create jobs and get our economy back on track, I believe we owe it to the taxpayers to adopt these common sense measures that will improve our state’s accounting practices and increase government transparency.”
Davis was joined by Reps. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, Bill Kramer R-Waukesha, and Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee, in announcing the package of legislation.
Davis said he hopes Democrats, who control both the Assembly and the Senate, will join him in support of the bill.
“I think good budgeting practices should be bipartisan.” he said.
http://www.leahvukmir.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=20898&mname=Article&rpid=4876
Why would a guy from Oregon return his pay to Wisconsin ?
*ducking*
I’m must admit I’d clutch my pay hike.
Remind me not to vote for you, LOL!
I think I might do the same, depending upon the circumstances. We have so few solid Republicans left in our state that this makes quite a statement, though. It is sort of buying votes by returning the People’s Money...and it’s a refreshing new strategy!
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