Wisconsin is open for business. In these challenging economic times while Illinois is raising taxes, we are lowering them. On my first day in office I called a special session of the legislature, not in order to raise taxes, but to open Wisconsin for business. Already the legislature is taking up bills to provide tax relief to small businesses, to create a job-friendly legal environment, to lessen the regulations that stifle growth and to expand tax credits for companies that relocate here and grow here. Years ago Wisconsin had a tourism advertising campaign targeted to Illinois with the motto, ‘Escape to Wisconsin.’ Today we renew that call to Illinois businesses, ‘Escape to Wisconsin.’ You are welcome here. Our talented workforce stands ready to help you grow and prosper.
— Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
Wow! Thanks to the trifecta of stupidity known as Quinn, Madigan, and Cullerton we can begin to shed even more jobs from Illinois.
Of course, we can’t really blame Quinn, he ran on the platform of raising taxes. So it says more about us (and by us I mean the people, not including myself, who voted for him) than it does about him.
Despite the fact that the state voted these people into office, we really, honestly, deserve better than this.
Actually I found Cullerton’s response to what Wisconsin said was very good.
LOL! Ya, nothing like Cullerton to shoot his mouth off. For those that haven’t seen, you can try this link here: http://capitolfax.com/2011/01/13/cullerton-to-walker-bring-it-on/ to see his comments.
My thoughts?
Cullerton talks about WI’s $2 billion deficit. IL’s non pension obligations totaled over $12 billions, maybe $15 billion. Dan Haynes couldn’t tell us before he cleaned out his office.
Cullerton talks about “tax rate” and yes, WI has a higher income tax rate. However, WI has much lower property taxes and a lower sales tax. License plates are also cheaper. So me think’s he’s a little myopic.
WI: Debt per person is $7,674 and 17.36% of GDP.
IL: Debt per person is $11,020 and 21.97% of GDP.
Finally, WI has a brand new republican governor and state legislature working hard to cut spending and actively bring in new businesses. In IL, we have the same old political combine that got us into this mess and who refuses to take responsibility for anything and can’t find a single nickel to cut in the budget.
With this group in Springfield, we’re all in big trouble.