Congressional Spending Problem Skips Wisconsin

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Wisconsin On Short End Of The Stick

Excerpt:
Wisconsin ranked 49th in federal revenue (out of 51, including the District of Columbia), with $668 per student. There was no explanation offered for the state's low ranking, but Wisconsin generally is at the bottom of any list related to federal assistance and much of the education aid from the federal government is pegged to poverty, which is low overall in Wisconsin. In addition, federal aid makes up only 9% of education revenue nationally.

But there is an explanation for the state’s low ranking.

Excerpt:
On the other hand, Wisconsin ranked 15th in terms of money coming from the state, at $5,826. Revenue from local government, which would generally mean property taxes, was $4,665, which was 21st.

RNR rule No. 1: Tax cuts at the federal level usually means tax hikes at the local level AND spending cuts at the federal level means even MORE tax hikes at the local level. One way or another, these cuts come home to roost.

While Wisconsin is on the low, low end of federal appropriations, uninformed residents will point to the governor and state democrats as the conveyors of our high local taxes. But to be more honest, the fault lies primarily in Washington, with representatives in congress like our own Rep. Paul Ryan, who happens to be a key member on the powerful federal House Appropriations Committee and makes perennial commitments to bring home even less. He not only wins awards for this, but believe it or not, he also hands out "boondoggle" trophies to representatives who work tirelessly to bring home a return of their respective district's tax dollars. Depending on your point of view, THIS could possibly be Paul Ryan’s signature achievement.

Many Wisconsin residents won't see the correlation of any of this and can afford to be short-changed. After all, poverty is low according to some statistics.

But the 1st Congressional District, like no other in the state of Wisconsin, will send the message once again that it can afford to be short-changed and pay even higher state and local taxes - IF WE re-elect Ryan to another term in office. The choice is ours to make.