Extreme Legislative Makeover-Sheldon Wasserman Edition

Sheldon Wasserman can love to claim he rides the Badger Bus to save taxpayers money, but he has proposed certian items in his legislative career that claim to save taxpayers money, but do nothing to solve the problem.  It has been tried in other states, but it does not work.

1. Reducing Wisconsin Counties from 72 to 16

Wasserman has called for Wisconsin to reduce from 72 to 16 counties.  In 2007, the Wisconsin Counties Association railed against this ideal because the problem is that there would be too many inefficencies that would occur by having this method of counties.  There has been three attempts in the 1990’s to get Appleton out of Winnebago and Calumet Counties, but this idea failed because of three reasons.  One, counties like Calumet and Winnebago lose revenue from not having a portion of a major population center like Appleton boost their economy, second, if you consolidate counties it does nothing to control taxes, you could combine one county with a good budget, and another with a bad in which would create a lot of problems, and three there would not be efficent services provided as basically if you merged Washington and Ozaukee Counties together people would not have the access at the micro level to get the services they would expect from a county government.  Rep. Wasserman should look at what his colleauge Gov. Jon Corzine is doing right now in New Jersey.  What he can learn is that the only way to reduce taxes is to cut spending. 

2. Reducing the Wisconsin Legislature from 132 to 75

Wasserman tried to pass a joint resolution in 2005 to reduce the Wisconsin State Legislature from 132 to 75 and make it unicameral like Nebraska.  This is a totally extreme measure that would require a constitutional convention which has been rarely used in Wisconsin History, and it would take two (2) consecutive legislative sessions to pass the bill which is required of any constitutional amendment in Wisconsin.  Nebraska is still an unicameral legislature that works well for their needs.  Jesse Ventura tried it when he was Governor in Minnesota, but it failed.  This measure by Wasserman would unravel a living document like the Constitution of Wisconsin.

3. Eliminating the Lt. Governor

Yes, we can agree that a Lt. Governor only does a limited number of duties like a Vice President, but simply this is another extreme attempt by Rep. Wasserman to unravel our Constitution. 

While Rep. Wasserman can tell you his ways to reduce Government spending which do not work in the real world, still he fails to defend on why he supported higher taxes and breaking his Americans for Tax Reform No Tax Pledge.  Rep. Wasserman’s proposals are nothing but an extreme makeover by Rep. Wasserman that does not work in the Real World.

Wasserman’s Tax and Spend Liberal Record Exposed As Wasserman Violated An Americans for Tax Reform Pledge He Signed

Just today, the Alberta Darling campaign just released that Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has endorsed Alberta Darling calling her, “the only fiscal conservative in the race, period.”  That is because, Sheldon Wasserman signed during the 2006-2007 legislative session an Americans for Tax Reform pledge vowing he would vote no to ANY tax increases.  Well, we know doctors disavow smoking, but Wasserman forgot at the time he signed the pledge he was for the cigarette tax.  Later, in October 2007 he told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he said he was going to break his pledge and support the cigarette tax.  

What you may know about Sheldon Wasserman is he seriously violated the pledge he signed voting for tax increasing legislation and voting against comprehensive tax reform in Wisconsin.  As State Representative Wasserman abused the taxpayers trust by:

• In 2005, voting against a REAL property tax freeze that would keep property taxes in check with inflation, and would of have given Wisconsin the most comprehesive reform ever in state history (2005 AB 58).
• In 2005, Wasserman voted against the historic Taxpayer Protection Amendment on all versions in which could of have limited constitutionally the amount of money Wisconsin Government could spend (2006 AJR 77/SJR 64).
• In 2005, Wasserman voted against comprehensive tax reform on how Wisconsin collected taxes and revenue in which would put Wisconsin out of its tax hell (2005 AB 968).
• In 2005, Wasserman voted against giving Wisconsin Health Care Consumers medical choice by making Health Savings Accounts Tax Deductible (2005 AB 4).
• In 2007, Wasserman voted against a State Budget proposed by the State Assembly that would offer NO TAX OR FEE INCREASES (SB 40 2007-Assembly Version).
• Said in Front of a Town Hall in Shorewood in February 2008 according to Shorewood NOW that he would support the Hospital Tax and basically blamed popular talk show hosts Charlie Sykes and Mark Belling for rallying against tax increases during the town hall.

The difference is clear that Representative Wasserman claims he likes to call himself a fiscal conservative by saying he rides the Badger Bus to Madison as his number one rallying cry, but the record shows he is nothing but a fiscal liberal to vote against comprehensive tax reform that would make Wisconsin a better place to attract businesses and keep young people from moving out of state after they graduate from college.

http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes/15995962.html?blog=y When Wasserman Blames Charlie Sykes and Mark Belling.

http://blogs.shorewoodnow.com/forum/archive/2008/02/25/wasserman-addresses-the-village-board-slams-sykes-and-belling.aspx February 2008 when Wasserman Talks His Support in front of the Shorewood Village Board

http://blogs.jsonline.com/allpoliticswatch/archive/2007/10/01/27-assembly-members-signed-no-tax-pledges.aspx Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Article from 2007 when Wasserman Promised to Break Pledge

http://www.atr.org Americans for Tax Reform

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=132465 Press Release Announcing Scott Walker’s Endorsement of Alberta Darling.

Another Sheldon Wasserman So-Called Fiscal Conservative Lie

Just today Sheldon Wasserman issued a press release again putting again another false claim on being a fiscal conservative as he says

“Solid financial planning, prudent campaign spending and the support of over 1000 donors give me a strong overall advantage,” said Rep. Wasserman. “As the long time incumbent and member of the committee that writes the state budget, it is no surprise that Senator Darling out raised me in big money and special interest donations. She talks about being a fiscal conservative but has squandered her campaign resources. The only thing I can be accused of overspending on is shoe leather. I’ve worn through eight pairs since I first began going door to door and meeting with people in the 8th Senate District over a year ago.” -Wasserman Campaign Press Release-July 22, 2008

Represenative Wasserman before you talk again on being a fiscal conservative, please explain why are you holding onto $22,000 of our taxpayer dollars to pad your warchest to launch a dirty campaign on Senator Darling.  Undecided voters in Whitefish Bay, Meqoun, and Menomonee Falls would like to know why you are holding onto this money despite this money is supposed to go to candidates with limited financial resources.  Holding onto our taxpayer dollars for the purpose of waging a campaign of misinformation is NOT fiscally conservative. 

Also Represenative Wasserman why not explain your special interest contributions you recieve from big labor and the medical special interests too.  Voters would like to know too on your relationships with medical PAC’s and Labor Union PAC’s as you accuse Senator Darling of having special interest money.

Link to Wasserman PAC’s Report- http://www.wisdc.org/assm22.php

Link to WisPolitics Press Release- http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=131730