Walker would change Doyle tax, budget policies

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La Crosse Tribune                

By Richard Miall

Scott Walker is “not satisfied with the direction that Wisconsin is headed,” and the former legislator and current Milwaukee County executive wants to do something about it.

The Wauwatosa Republican is running for governor, and he promises to reverse Democrat Jim Doyle’s taxing and budget policies.
Specifically, Walker would abolish the combined reporting tax system that charges corporations for activities in other states. He opposes insurance changes in the current budget — including reversing auto insurance rule revisions from 1995 that trial lawyers say reduced consumer protection.

He also would end the practice of taking money from the state transportation fund and from the patient compensation fund used in malpractice cases.

Walker would eliminate Doyle’s oil franchise tax, which he said would create problems for companies such as the La Crosse-based Kwik Trip, which has 5,400 employees, including about 1,000 in the Coulee Region.

And Walker said he would reduce state spending, giving as an example juvenile corrections institutions, which have raised the rates counties must pay for delinquent youths.

He said the institutions have had fewer inmates, but have not reduced staff or consolidated institutions.

Asked for more examples of specific programs to reduce or change, Walker said he would provide more details as his campaign proceeds.

“Gov. Doyle puts more of his faith in government,” Walker said. “I put more of my faith in the people and employers who have made this state great.”

On health care, Walker called for more transparency in costs. Health care institutions could advertise their rates for specific procedures, and consumers could use that information to make decisions about where to go for elective work.

Walker also said consumers need to pay their fair share — what he called “having more skin in the game” — so that they will make wiser health decisions.

He also criticized Doyle for his opposition to health savings accounts, and said Wisconsin should eliminate taxes on health savings accounts, which help consumers save money to pay for future health care.

Doyle’s proposal to eliminate the “qualified economic offer,” which allows school districts to avoid arbitration if they agree to a specified amount for teacher compensation benefits, also drew Walker’s criticism.

Eliminating the QEO without doing anything about school revenue limits would just cause more problems, Walker said.

Walker blamed Doyle’s policies for making Wisconsin’s economic condition worse than it otherwise would be. He also said he was “underwhelmed” by Democratic President Barack Obama’s borrowing to fund stimulus programs.

The Republican candidate likely will face primary opposition in 2010 from former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann. Walker was in La Crosse for the Republican state convention this weekend at the La Crosse Center.

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