Glenn Grothman’s ‘tax reform’ means picking winners, losers
Democratic candidate Mark Harris has offered to publicly debate Republican candidate Glenn Grothman. Grothman has refused because, “People in the district already know where he stands on issues.” (Journal Sentinel Sept. 15) So where does Grothman stand on issues such as taxes?
From the Grothman for Congress website, “One of Glenn’s greatest legislative accomplishments is the Manufacturing and Agricultural Tax Credit. This credit will essentially make manufacturing and agriculture, the foundation of Wisconsin’s economy, tax free.”
Harris was one of the first people to note that with this “tax reform,” a full-time minimum-wage worker would pay more in state income taxes than a factory owner with approximately $2.6 million in production income. Yes, that number is $2.6 million.
From Grothman’s record, we can see that with respect taxes, Grothman stands for using “tax reform” to: 1. Pick winners and losers of his choice; 2. Convert the state income tax to a tax on wages only; and 3. Convert the tax system to a regressive tax system in which lower income taxpayers pay at a higher rate than higher income taxpayers.
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has estimated that Grothman’s “tax reform” will mean $349.7 million less in tax revenues for the state over its first five years (2011-2015) as the tax credit is phased in, and $128.7 million a year starting in 2016 when the credit is fully operational.
Grothman labels himself as a fiscal conservative out to reduce government spending. However, his record indicates otherwise. Grothman’s “tax reform” is nothing more than an unfunded tax expenditure that will lead to future budget deficits. Deficits that wage earning taxpayers will primarily have to bear since the Republicans and Grothman have let their friends off the hook for paying taxes to the state of Wisconsin.
I support Harris, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. 6th Congressional district.
Michael Schellenger
Oshkosh
markharrisforcongress 