Racine TEA Party Forum Focuses on Balanced Budgets

The levels of focus were different, but both Congressman Paul Ryan and State Senator Van Wanggaard say the path to properity for the country and the state relies on a balanced budget.

They were making their remarks at a balanced budget forum hosted by the Racine TEA Party on Nov. 9 at South Hills Country Club.

While is the right way to craft a balanced budget amendment on the federal level, Wanggaard talked about Wisconsin. Both agreed that reducing spending and maximizing revenue without increasing taxes is the most sound way to go.

"And it's working," Wanggaard told the crowd of about 250. "Unlike the last budget cycle that cut $730 million from schools and then put the burden on the backs of property taxpayers, this budget has tools that benefit everyone."

Despite the potential of being recalled, Wanggaard said he can't afford the time to think about it.

"I have to be really serious about job creation," he continued. "But we also need to get our message out."

Wanggaard pointed specifically to the MacIver Institute, a Madison think-tank, that is airing commercials in Wisconsin touting the successes of the budget repair bill.

Healy showed a 60-second commercial that highlights communities throughout the state and how the biennial budget is helping them. See the video with this story to watch the commercial.

"This is the first budget in as long as I can remember without a structural deficit," Healy said during his remarks.

But when an audience member asked why the state was picking on unions and used his brother-in-law as an example of a public employee working two jobs to make ends meet, Healy said it's a dirty secret that public workers have never paid into their pension.

"In this economy it's not too much to ask for them to make this change," he said to applause.

Wanggaard concluded the evening by reiterating his committment to bringing and growing jobs in Wisconsin.

"Government doesn't create jobs, but we can create an environment that is welcoming," he said. "In the past, we used to cheer for 10,000 or 15,000 jobs, but those days are gone. I am not ashamed to be happy if five or ten jobs are created because that means five or ten people are back to work."