Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Tax Awareness Campaign ends tomorrow.

My April Tax Awareness Campaign ends tomorrow with a press release on the $1.4 billion property tax increase in Governor Doyle's budget. In all I targeted $2.77 billion in tax increases that the Democrats are trying to jam down our throats.

I'm starting the day on the Jay Weber Show (AM 1130 Milwaukee) at 6:53am to summarize the final 10 days of the campaign. I hope you tune in!

Later in the morning I'll issue the final release and send a wrap-up email to people who have signed up for my email update list. To cap off the day I'll be at a Waukesha County business briefing at the Oconomowoc Lake Club. The briefing is designed to educate Waukesha area business people about what is going on with the state budget.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Jay Weber Show This Week

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I will be on the Jay Weber Show talking about my April Tax Awareness Campaign. Each day at 6:50am Jay and I will run through 10 days of the campaign and talk about the Democrat's plans for your money.

Tune in!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Boaters Beware!

Kanavas April Tax Awareness Campaign; 30 Days of Democratic Tax Increases
Day 23: Boat Registration Tax



(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness Campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increase in the boat registration tax in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Boating is a very important part of Wisconsin’s tourism and recreation industry. The Democrats know this, and they know that hundreds of family owned businesses rely on summer boating activities to survive, but they can’t pass on an opportunity to take more than $2 million out of the private economy,” said Kanavas.

The Governor’s 2009-2011 budget proposal raises the cost of a three-year motorized boat registration anywhere from $6.00 to $23.00 depending on the size of the boat. According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the tax increase will cost taxpayers an additional $2,150,000 over the next two years. In total, the Governor’s budget will raise taxes on Wisconsinites by $1.7 billion over the biennium.

“The Democrats fought to raise boat registration fee during the last budget and they’re back at it again this year. The tourism industry generates billions of dollars of economic activity and they see it as a bottomless piggy bank. I think it’s reasonable to expect they will continue to target tourism related activities for years to come,” said Kanavas.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the $1.7 billion in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com.


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The Senate is in session today

I have provided a link to today's calendar in the Wisconsin State Senate. I hope you take a moment to examine what I'll be voting on and be sure to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

http://nxt.legis.state.wi.us/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&d=calendar&jd=top

You may watch the proceeding on the web at http://www.wisconsineye.com

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Day 21: The Hunting Tax

Since I teased the release last night I figured I would post today's press release. I ended up going with the Hunting Tax. The beat goes on...

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(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April Tax Awareness campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increased cost of hunting permits in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Wisconsin does not even have an elk hunting season and Governor Doyle is raising taxes on it. Thousands of residents rely on tourism and outdoor activities, like hunting, to make their livings. The Governor is hurting those families by making it more expensive for people to enjoy the outdoors,” Kanavas said.

During the last budget cycle two years ago, Governor Doyle’s budget increased the tax on an elk hunting license from $49 to $75 for a Wisconsin resident and from $251 to $400 for non-residents. The budget provision also increased the application processing fee from $3 to $10. In both cases the legislature defeated his efforts to raise the fees. In his 2009-2011 budget Governor Doyle is back at it, proposing an increase in the Elk and Bobcat application processing fees by a total of $180,000 over the biennium.

“Tourism is one of the largest industries in Wisconsin and hunting is a huge part of that. Wisconsin is a destination for hunters and outdoorsman from throughout the Midwest and we should not be doing anything to discourage Wisconsinites or our neighbors from enjoying what our state has to offer,” Kanavas added.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsin citizens about the $1.7 billion in new taxes included in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com


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Monday, April 20, 2009

Tax Awareness Campaign Continues

My April Tax Awareness Campaign continues on. Today's release targeted the Democrat's massive gasoline tax hike (They say it's a tax on oil companies, I say it's a tax on consumers like you and me.)

Tomorrow's press release will target...not sure yet ,but I'll figure it out by morning. Go to www.sentorkanavas.com to find out.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Picture #4



People leaving the rally to head into the capitol. This is not close to half of the crowd! Great day!

Picture #3



Picture #2


Picture #1 from the Madison Taxpayer Tea Party


Beautiful day!

We won the day!

The Tea Party in Madison was an absolute success. Thousands of taxpayers showed up to fight for lower taxes and smaller government. I was outside at the rally for an hour and a half or so and met some great people and took lots of great pictures. I hope to have them up tonight.

I am also happy to report that approximately 175 people stopped by my office to drop of tea bags into my teapot (labeld "Boston Harbor"). Even though I was in a meeting with Governor Doyle for most of the time immediately following the rally, I did meet quite a few folks from Waukesha and Washington Counties.

I was a great day to be an American!

Madison Tea Party

I am in Madison today and will be at the Tea Party on the Capitol lawn at 11:30. I have a teapot in my office ready for people to stop by and deliver their tea! I hope we get a huge turnout to show the Governor and Democrats that real people are fired up and really mad at what their government is doing to them.

I hope to see you there!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Day 9: UW Tuition Increase

(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax awareness campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on an increase in University of Wisconsin System tuition in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Like most people in Wisconsin, college students are struggling. They’re doing all they can to pay for tuition, room and board in order to get an education. Governor Doyle just made it a little harder for them to stay in school by saddling them with over $40 million in tuition increases,” stated Kanavas.

According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the Democrat’s 2009-2001 budget proposal raises UW tuition by $43,404,000. In addition to an increase in tuition, the budget bill contains $1.7 billion in new taxes and fees.

“Unfortunately, the tuition hikes outlined in the budget are not the end of the story for students. At the worst possible time, Governor Doyle is moving ahead with over $400 million in new dorm and academic buildings on campuses across Wisconsin. These projects will translate into even higher tuition for students at several UW campuses,” Kanavas concluded.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: www.senatorkanavas.com

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Promises, promises on MPS

Did we really need a comprehensive review to determine that MPS needs reform?

http://wispolitics.com/1006/090409DoyleBarrettMPSreform.pdf

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/42716407.html


Governor Doyle and Mayor Barrett have done nothing to fix the problems at MPS. Small reforms around the edges will not do anything. We are failing the children of Milwaukee and taxpayers across the state by allowing MPS to continue as is.

Here is a link to my MPS column from a few weeks ago:

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen33/news/PR_2009%20March%2027.htm

Nice win for the Brewers

Last night was a very nice win for the Brewers. Yovani Gallardo had a great game on the mound and at the plate. He is the only pitcher to ever hit a home run off of Randy Johnson. Hopefully they can keep it going tonight with Parra.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Day 8: Capital Gains Tax Increase

Not sure if anyone is going to have the opportunity to claim a capital gain this year, but I'm very concerned about the long term impact of this tax hike. It's a massive $180 million price tag. Horrible timing.

-Ted

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(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness Campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the decrease of the capital gains exclusion in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“This is backwards, shortsighted and wrong,” said Kanavas. “We ought to be encouraging people in our state to make money, not penalizing them when they do. How many Wisconsinites have lost real money in this recession who Governor Doyle now wants to hit with higher taxes if they start to make it back? ”

The 2009-2011 budget proposal includes a provision that would increase the percentage of taxable capital gains by 20% by reducing the deductable amount to 40%. At present, Wisconsin investors can subtract 60% of their capital gains for purposes of calculating income subject to the state income tax. The result would be the assessment of $180 million in new taxes over the two year budget cycle.

“The goal of Governor Doyle’s proposed budget might just be to single-handedly prolong the recession in Wisconsin and chase people out of the state,” said Kanavas.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the $1.7 billion of in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www./senatorkanavas.com.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Day 7: The Work Permit Tax

Here is the latest edition of my April Tax Awareness Campaign (I have not sent this press release out yet). The money grab continues and it teaches our kids a harsh lesson about government.

-Ted


(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness Campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the doubling of the work permit tax for people under the age of 18 in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Governor Doyle has a habit of looking at something very closely and then finding a way to tax it. He knows, for example, that Wisconsinites are known for their strong work ethic and he found a way to tax that too. Over the next two years, our hard working young people will pay state government nearly one-million dollars for the opportunity to pay income taxes,” stated Kanavas.

The 2009-2011 budget includes a provision to double the existing work permit fee for anyone under the age of 18. The fee will increase from $5.00 to $10.00 under the Governor’s proposal. The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates the fee increase will cost young workers $960,000 over the next two years.

“The Democrats are teaching our children a fine lesson about their government. If you want to do anything in this world you have to ask the government for permission to do it, and pay for the privilege,” Kanavas concluded.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the $1.7 billion of in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com/

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Monday, April 6, 2009

Heading to Miller Park for opening day?

The Governor and the Democrats do want to tax your tailgate party! Check out Day 6 of my April Tax Awareness Campaign.

Day 6: The Tailgate Tax

(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness Campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on animal slaughter fees in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Governor Doyle’s budget punches Wisconsin consumers right in the gut by taxing food we put on our tables. If you plan on taking your family to the ballpark to tailgate, attend a neighborhood cookout or simply make dinner at home, the Democrats want you to pay more for the privilege,” stated Kanavas.

The Democrat’s 2009-2001 budget proposal includes a provision to tax slaughterhouses $0.14 for swine, $0.14 for cattle, $0.10 for calves, and $0.01 for poultry. According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the Governor’s budget will raise taxes on Wisconsin slaughterhouses by $1,500,000 over the biennium. Overall, the budget contains $1.7 billion in new taxes and fees.

“Families are going to pay more for food so the state can send regulators to slaughterhouses that are already adhering to strict inspection requirements instituted by the USDA. It’s another tax that will result in businesses and consumers paying more simply because they’re in Wisconsin,” Kanavas concluded.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com


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Day 5: Seed License Tax

(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increases on seed licensing fees in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“The governor’s budget takes the approach that successful businesses should pay higher taxes,” said Kanavas. “Agricultural companies working to meet state licensing requirements would find doing business more expensive under this Democrat proposal.”

The 2009-2001 budget proposal would create new categories for the assessment of licensing fees in the seed labeling and testing program. The net result of this proposal would be to make it easier for state government to tax companies as they succeed and expand. Estimates suggest that businesses would pay an additional $43 thousand over the next two years.

“This budget is not without its ironies. In this case, Wisconsin companies that sell seeds will be taxed higher as their businesses grow,” said Kanavas. “Governor Doyle and the Democrats should be nurturing the agricultural industry instead of nickel and diming it.”

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the $1.7 billion of in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com


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Day 4: Justice Information System Tax

(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increases on court-related fees in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Make no mistake: fee increases are tax increases. Regardless of what you call them, Governor Doyle wants you to send more of your own money to state government,” said Kanavas. “If you have an issue before Wisconsin courts, chances are the Democrats’ budget will tax you more than ever for it.”

The 2009-2001 budget proposal would raise the Justice Information System Surcharge, already a $12.00 assessment (on top of filing fees), to $18.00 per action. Wisconsinites exercising their constitutional right to petition our legal system would be hit with a projected $3 million in new taxes under the Democrat-proposed budget.

“You would think that paying the high income taxes we have in Wisconsin would keep the doors to our courthouses open. The trick is, Governor Doyle wants to tax you again if you walk through those doors,” said Kanavas. “Add this court tax to the long list of injustices in this budget.”

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the $1.7 billion of in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com


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Day 3: Cigarette Tax

(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increases on cigarette taxes in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Governor Doyle clearly believes that Wisconsin smokers are an easy target,” said Kanavas. “Like it or not, lots of our friends and neighbors are cigarette smokers. Increasing the tax on their cigarettes may seem politically clever, but it’s just another tax increase at a time when people are already struggling.”

The 2009-2001 budget includes a $0.75 per pack increase on cigarettes. The current state tax on cigarettes is $1.77. The governor’s budget proposal would elevate that figure to $2.52, resulting in a projected tax assessment of $153 million on Wisconsinites in 2009-2010. The Democrats’ tax hike plan goes even further, levying higher taxes on other tobacco products, as well.

“This new tax increase and the proposed statewide smoking ban are two separate issues. Only one has something to do with a debate about quality of life. The other is just a blatant tax grab,” said Kanavas.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the $1.7 billion of in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com


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Thursday, April 2, 2009

Day 2: The Phone Tax

(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increases on phone taxes in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“The Governor has a taken a ‘leave no stone unturned’ philosophy on taxes. He is going after nearly every citizen, family and business in our state by raising taxes on phone bills by $26 million,” stated Kanavas.

The 2009-2011 budget includes three separate tax increases on telecommunications providers. Each tax provision allows the providers to recover their lost revenue by charging “pass through assessments” on subscribers. According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the phone tax provisions supported by the Democrats will remove an additional $26,584,300 from the private economy.

“If Governor Doyle would pick up his own phone and talk to real people about the effect these taxes have on their lives he would realize what a bad idea this really is,” Kanavas concluded.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the $1.7 billion of in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com


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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Day 1: The Nursing Home Bed Tax

(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increase on the Nursing Home Bed Tax in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“We are not getting any younger and the Governor sees this as cash grab from people who have already done more than their fair share. The Democrats are budgeting on the backs of our state most vulnerable citizens,” stated Kanavas.

Governor Doyle’s budget creates $1.7 billion dollars in tax and fee increases. The nursing home bed provision raises that tax on each licensed bed by $75.00 per bed per month in 2009-2010 and by $95.00 per bed per month in 2010-2011. The tax increase on our senior citizens adds an additional $72,727,700 to state coffers.

“It’s wrong that the Governor has decided to target senior citizens to do his dirty work. His fiscal irresponsibility in past budgets has put us in the position we are in today,” Kanavas concluded.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the billions of dollars in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com/

30 Days of Democratic Tax Increases: Kanavas Kicks off April Tax Awareness Campaign

Like I did during the last budget debate in 2007, I am using the month of April to issue a press release every day targeting specific tax increases in the Governor's budget. The releases will be posted on my state website www.senatorkanavas.com. Please stop by and check them out. (Here is the the introductory release...)

-Ted

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(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) today announced the beginning of a public awareness campaign during the month of April highlighting the tax and spend proposals of Governor Doyle and the Democrats.

“Wisconsin is experiencing a deep recession and near double digit unemployment. The Governor’s solution is to take more of your money and tax and spend his way out of trouble. This budget is a reckless disaster. It will kill jobs, discourage investment and create mountains of debt our children will be forced to pay,” stated Kanavas.

Governor Doyle’s budget creates $1.7 billion dollars in tax and fee increases. These tax hikes are in addition to the $1.2 billion in new taxes already passed by the Democrats earlier this year. Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness campaign will highlight a different tax or fee increase each day of the month to inform the public of the impending financial disaster should this budget pass in its current form.

“How can a state have a structural deficit after an infusion of almost $4 billion dollars in federal money and $3 billion in tax and fee increases? It’s obvious the Democrats, who now control both houses of the legislature and the Governor’s mansion, have an insatiable desire to tax and spend your money. I encourage people to contact the Governor and their legislators and tell them that Wisconsin cannot afford higher taxes or this budget,” Kanavas concluded.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com