Democrats Trying To
Ease Pocketbook Issues
MADISON (Oct., 18, 2005) -- Senator Judy Robson issued the following statement regarding a Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Poll that shows a lack of confidence by Wisconsin residents in their elected officials:
“The survey backs up what I have been saying for months, which is that the Republicans who control the Legislature are not responding to the worries and needs of Wisconsin residents. Instead, they are following an agenda driven by narrow special interests.
“What I hear people talking about is how long they can hold off turning on their furnaces. They’re talking about how they are going to pay their property taxes at the end of the year while paying heat bills that are $600 higher than last year. Wisconsinites are worried about the high cost of home heating, gasoline, property taxes, and health care.
“Democrats are trying to address these pocketbook issues, but the Republicans refuse to move our bills forward. Last spring Democrats introduced the HOPE credit to cut the average property tax bill by $569. This fall we introduced legislation to ensure that if large oil companies illegally profit from natural disasters, the excess profit goes back to taxpayers in the form of a tax credit.
“Last week Democrats announced the Action Plan for Affordable Health Care to set a timeline to bring health care costs down by 15 percent over a two-year period. Affordable health care is key to attracting new industry and jobs. If we want to market Wisconsin as a great place to do business, we must rein in health care costs.
“The response from the Republicans was to say there is no health care crisis. Tell that to the small businesses that are dropping their health insurance benefits. When Wisconsin has eight of the top 10 costliest cities in the nation in terms of physician costs, there is a crisis. The cost of a family health insurance premium has increased 73 percent since 2000. Instead of making affordable health care a priority, Republicans are ignoring the issue like they are ignoring every other kitchen-table issue that is on the minds of Wisconsinites.”
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