Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend, the town of Vernon and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Do not call the No Call List
Many Wisconsinites are trying to beat the Friday midnight deadline to register for Wisconsin’s No Call List so they can get on the list January 1, 2008.So many people are dialing 866-966-2255 that they get this message:
"We're sorry. All circuits are busy now. Will you please try your call again later."
The message is followed by an annoying ring tone.
The Appleton Post Crescent reports:
Glen Loyd, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, said that people who can't get through should try back again later, and people may have greater success getting through late at night. He said the system works "if you give it a chance."
"It isn't broken … normally everyone gets through eventually," he said.
People must sign up by midnight Friday to get on the list, which aims to block telemarketing calls. People who signed up for the list two years ago will drop off if they don't renew. The next chance to get on the list will be in March.
Loyd said the state has added additional lines to handle the increased calls that came in as the deadline neared, and the automated system has been taking in about 25,000 calls daily. He said some people also are having difficulty getting the Web site to work at certain times because of increased traffic.
Loyd said people who can't get through can call the agency's general line for help signing up. That number is 800-422-7128.
While some people are having a hard time getting through, Loyd said the system will record as many as 100,000 numbers in a week.
As I wrote in a previous blog, the easiest way to register is by filling out the online form. Click on the link to my previous blog and you will find the form.
I renew the call for photo ID
After the Legislative Audit Bureau released its audit today on compliance with election laws, I issued the following press release, renewing the call for photo ID in Wisconsin
Wisconsin debt explodes: Every person now owes $3500
A stunning report by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI) illustrates how dramatically debt in Wisconsin has skyrocketed because the debt issued by the state far exceeds the ability of taxpayers to pay.
Too often, the state has budgeted using a credit card, thrusting Wisconsin into a highly risky scenario of forcing future generations to pay.
According to the WPRI, “In 1979, outstanding General Purpose Revenue (GPR)-supported general obligation bonding equated to 16.1% of state GPR. By 2006, that number had more than doubled, to 33.9%. In December 2006, Wisconsin had $19.3 billion in outstanding debt, or $3,476 for every state resident. Where once Wisconsin ranked 40th in the nation in outstanding debt per capita, we now rank 10th.”
Read the WPRI press release.
Here is the entire report, prepared by my former staffer, Christian Schneider.
Wisconsin income tax refund checks waiting to be claimed
A lot of Wisconsin residents have not received their income tax refund checks.
The Marshfield News-Herald is reporting that 1,164 Wisconsin taxpayers didn’t get checks. They were returned to the Internal Revenue Service by the U.S. Postal Service as “undeliverable.” The total amount of the returned refund checks is close to $849,000.
The number of taxpayers around the country that are due refund checks jumped by 21 percent this year in part because of the Telephone Excise Tax Refund. The refund is a one-time payment that was available on 2006 federal income tax returns to return previously collected long-distance telephone taxes.
How do you know if you have a refund check coming?
Call 1-800-829-1954 or go to www.irs.gov and click on, “Where’s My Refund?”
Who knows? A nice holiday bonus might be waiting for you.
Christmas in the state Capitol
The state Department of Administration (DOA) has announced Christmas events and displays in the State Capitol. (The Department uses the word, “Holiday.” I say, “Christmas”).Here’s the DOA news release.
