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7/11/01

Wisconsin Senate President Fred Risser: Enemy of the Taxpayer 

WASHINGTON - This month the Wisconsin State Senate, under the leadership of Senate President Fred Risser (D- Madison), acted irresponsibly in the face of an economic downturn.  They voted to increase taxes $350 million, effectively taking this money out of much needed family budgets to feed the appetite of insatiable government.  These actions have secured Senator Risser the title "Taxpayer Villain of the Month," awarded to the person who does the most to harm the interests of taxpayers.  

Senate President Fred Risser solidified his complete disregard for taxpayers when he stated he has "no problem increasing so-called sin taxes." (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/20/01).  True to his word, the Senate voted to increase tobacco, corporate income, software technology, and landfill taxes.   

"It is the height of hypocrisy to use a slowing economy as a reason to raise taxes as this Senate has done," remarked Damon B. Ansell, VP for Policy at ATR.  "To take much needed income away from families by forcing them to pay higher taxes is ludicrous and only makes sense to tax and spend politicians who don't have to worry about balancing their own checkbook," concluded Ansell. 

Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, remarked: "If legislators were serious about balancing the budget they would reduce spending.  History has proven that Keynesian economics, that is, government spending its way out of an economic slowdown, to be fallacious theory."