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Health & Fitness

The New Radical Republicans

It’s very sad and a little ironic that Republicans in state government who have long preached frugality and personal freedom have grossly violated these good Wisconsin values with their recent backroom “agreed upon” deals.

Whatever happened to paying your bills before you go on a spending spree? The signature piece of the budget is $651 million in tax breaks to mainly the rich while creating a projected $560 million hole in the next budget (structural deficit). In fact, 58% of the $651 million goes to the wealthiest 20% in Wisconsin.

And what happened to the Grand Old Party of local control and freedom? Republicans hosted backroom, closed-door meetings with their special interest friends and rammed through statewide private school vouchers, bail bondsmen for Racine and Kenosha and numerous other strictures on local government. Who asked for this onerous stuff?  In fact in statewide hearings (and in Racine) the vast majority of folks said Republicans have screwed up state government so bad that they said, “Stay away.”

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Why not allow citizens to have access to health care? Republicans recently rejected a move to save our state approximately $119 million federal dollars (that we all paid) that would have offered 85,000 Wisconsinites health insurance. Instead of ensuring that people have health care, Republicans focused their energy on proposing the liquidation of state properties. Power plants, heating and cooling plants, university buildings and state highways are all subject to sale. In both of these efforts the Republicans betrayed frugality and commonsense values.

Coming on top of the power grabs of the Governor, the insults to worker fairness and numerous scandals at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, we certainly have new proof that this Republican controlled state government has wandered miles from the old GOP values. Frugality, efficiency, personal freedom and respect for the individual are all out the window.

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And what about the Republican smokescreen? Republicans say, “We are the party of jobs.” Mr. Vos, Mr. Walker, Mr. Fitzgerald, wake up! You’ve dropped us from 17th to 44th in job creation, 49th in the nation for economic outlook and when you claim the ‘reforms’ are working, what are you referring to?  The only thing working in the Wisconsin is your vindictive and gerrymandered redistricting plan. 

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