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THE REFERENDUMS THAT ROARED
Scott Walker's scheme to have taxpayers pay to help promote his run for governor fails
by Jim McGuigan
April 8, 2005
Three referendums were soundly defeated Tuesday -- a signal that voters might be getting tired of the Republican rhetoric that the spending control problems in Milwaukee County are all the fault of the Democrats.
For years the GOP-controlled state Assembly and Senate leaders have happily shifted responsibility for many state mandated services to county government. Voters are starting to see the shell game.
The first referendum asked:
Should Milwaukee County issue pension obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $261 million to pay unfunded prior service liability contributions to the county's retirement system?
60 percent of voters said NO.
|
Milwaukee Co.
Pension Bonds |
REPORTING |
100% |
 |
No |
37,700 |
57% |
| |
Yes |
28,470 |
43% |
This is especially interesting because it was a scheme promoted by County Executive Scott Walker. Walker was swept into office in 2002 in the shadow of the pension scandal, which eventually resulted in the conviction of pension plan architect and former Milwaukee County Human Resources Director Gary Dobbert. During that scandal, Walker successfully smeared his elected predecessor, Tom Ament, who retired rather than cave into the GOP-led talk radio-feeding frenzy.
It's been three years but Walker hasn't done anything to fix the problem. Instead, he has made it worse. Now Walker's running for governor on a record of not raising taxes despite the pension problems. The problem is that he hasn't done anything about the problem except to put off debt, and borrow money to pay for operating expenses.
On Tuesday, Walker wanted the taxpayers of this and future generations to accept a $261 million hit. Had the referendum passed, it would have helped Walker look good today as the county executive who never raised taxes, and it would have made it look like things were just hunky-dory in little ole' Milwaukee County -- a claim that is no where close to the truth.
The next referendum asked:
Should the state, not the county taxpayers, pay the cost of the state-mandated court system in Milwaukee County?
85 percent of voters said YES.
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Milwaukee Co.
Court Costs |
REPORTING |
100% |
|
Yes |
59,919 |
85% |
| |
No |
10,405 |
15% |
For years, former County Executive Tom Ament complained that the county was being forced to raise taxes because the cost was being shifted to the county via state mandates. In a clear vote, 85% of voters agreed with what Ament had said all along.
The final county wide referendum asked:
Should the state, not the county taxpayers, pay for state-mandated human services in the county?
86 percent of voters said YES.
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Milwaukee Co.
Service Costs |
REPORTING |
100% |
|
Yes |
60,249 |
86% |
| |
No |
10,095 |
14% |
Between the courts and human services, county budgets -- not just in Milwaukee county but in other counties across the state -- have seen courts and human services costs skyrocket. All the while, state legislators are happy to shift the cost to local government so they can beat their own drums about controlling taxes. It seems that only in government can a leader get away with publicly and loudly proclaiming that they are controlling costs by simply making someone else pay for them.
But there is a hidden irony here. It was former state Assembly Representative Scott Walker who voted for many of those unfunded state mandates. As county executive, Walker has borrowed money to pay for them and the county is slipping deeper and deeper into debt.
Kudos to taxpayers who said NO to bailing out Scott Walker's political career. It was by demonizing others that Walker rose to power. Perhaps after Walker's next budget, voters will start to realize that Milwaukee County's little Emperor has no clothes.
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