Government Can’t Prevent Death

by Mike Nichols

Of all the wasteful impulses many politicians have, one of the worst is giving big tax breaks to dying industries.

And yet they just can’t seem to resist.

Of all the people you’d expect to criticize special interests for trying to wheedle favors out of the politicians, you’d think journalists in the so-called Fourth Estate would be screaming the loudest.

And yet, they’re the ones doing some of the most shameless wheedling.

Thankfully, they haven’t been successful. Yet.

Case in point: The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association spent at least 173 hours since last summer trying to convince Wisconsin politicians to create a tax credit that would give a big break to businesses that agree to continue to advertise in “local media” – something most businesses are increasingly loath to do because there are better alternatives.

Read the full column here.

Inside the Capitol

• Legislative Oversight of Federal Funds in Wisconsin: The Senate passed SJR 84, a proposed constitutional amendment that would restore legislative oversight of some of the massive amounts of federal spending that flows to the state. In the 1930s, the Legislature, which was constitutionally granted control of the purse strings, abrogated this authority. That allows Gov. Tony Evers to unilaterally distribute billions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds with little or no accountability or transparency. This measure, which passed the Assembly in February, will have to pass the Legislature again in the next session before it can be considered by voters.

• Eliminating income and enrollment limits for parental choice programs: The Senate passed SB 974, which would eliminate income enrollment caps on parental choice programs. This bill, which already passed in the Assembly, would make parental choice programs available to all Wisconsin children regardless of income. It would also establish small education expense accounts for parents.

• Charter School Authorizing Board: The Assembly passed AB 968, a measure that would create a Charter School Authorizing Board that could authorize independent charter schools. This bill would create a board with statewide authority to bring more independent charter schools online. 

Inside the Beltway

$475,000,000,000

The amount the United States borrowed in the first five months of fiscal year 2022, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

$1,500,000,000,000

The amount of spending in the 2,700-page omnibus bill that’s expected to pass Congress this week with bipartisan support.

Did You Know?

Gov. Tony Evers this week joined three other governors in calling for Congress to suspend the federal gas tax “so we can make sure families, farmers, and small businesses can make ends meet.”

But did you know that Wisconsin has a “minimum markup” law the requires retailers to sell gas at 9.18% over the wholesale cost? Legislators and the governor should immediately end this practice if they genuinely want to lower the burden on Wisconsin families, farmers and small businesses.

Weekly Survey

Does it make sense for Wisconsin law to artificially inflate the cost of gas, prescription drugs and other goods?

At a Glance

School Choice Wisconsin statewide survey of 700 likely voters conducted by OnMessage Inc., Feb. 13-16

• Empower Wisconsin: License to delay

• RealClear Investigations: Even with 'defund the police' discredited, some schools may still shun the police.

• CNBC: As inflation heats up, 64% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck

• Reason: Congress plans to spend $1.5 trillion this year, continues to pretend the deficit doesn't matter

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