A Message from Representative Dan Knodl

A reader forwarded this e-mail on to me from State Representative Dan Knodl (R-Germantown).   Rather than continue to follow the slanted reporting from media outlets on the budget repair bill and obvious fawning over those protesting Walker and his proposals,  people really should take the time to read the Governor's budget repair bill.   See how it will help our state in the long run.  With that in mind, here is the write-up from Representative Knodl that shows how one key area - school districts -  could see savings in the future: 

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Budget Repair Gives Schools, Local Governments Financial Flexibility

By Representative Dan Knodl

March 18, 2011

Over the next few months, the legislature will analyze, discuss and seek input on Governor Scott Walker’s 2011-13 state budget proposal.  As we begin to examine the tough decisions that will need to be made, we are receiving encouraging news in terms of the savings that may be realized by local units of government and school districts under the recently-enacted budget repair bill.

A few days ago, we received a memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau detailing the pension savings that could be realized by every school district and local unit of government in Wisconsin as a result of the budget repair measure.  Following are the estimated savings for the school districts and municipalities of the 24^th Assembly District:

-          Germantown School District: $222,000.00

-          Menomonee Falls School District: $440,800.00

-          Hamilton School District: $1.49 million

-          Village of Butler: $23,600

-          Village of Germantown: $1.23 million

-          Village of Menomonee Falls: $1.62 million

-          Village of Richfield: $28,800

-          Washington County: $1.73 million

-          Waukesha County: $3.79 million

Please note that these numbers are estimates and will differ depending upon contractual and other budgetary circumstances in each area.  For example, savings in Waukesha County will be about $1 million less than the LFB estimates.

These numbers are encouraging, and they do not even include the potential savings that many schools and local units of government may realize under the increased public employee contributions to health insurance premiums.  While those numbers will also vary widely from locale to locale, additional savings could be very large in some cases.

I expect additional numbers to be released in the days and weeks ahead that give a clearer picture of how local governments and schools will fare as a whole under the Governor’s 2011-13 budget proposal.  Some initial reports indicate that many school districts and municipalities may actually come out ahead when the budget repair bill and the upcoming biennial budget are factored together.

Once a more definitive analysis is compiled, the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) will conduct public hearings on the proposal and begin its own line-by-line breakdown.  After that, the Assembly and Senate will review the changes made by the JCF and determine whether additional amendments are necessary.

Regardless of any changes, our next state budget will not raise taxes or fees, will not contain raids on segregated funds, will cut government spending, and will reduce the structural deficit by 90%.  For too long our state has put off tough budget decisions and we can no longer afford to do so.  It is time for our elected officials to grow up, be adults, and provide an honestly balanced budget for Wisconsin’s taxpayers.

To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.

(By the way, for those liberal readers who are so quick to wring their hands worrying about whether or not I have permission to re-print Representative Knodl's column, I do indeed.  Knodl's legislative assistant, Vince Trovato, has given me open-ended permission to re-print any e-mail updates from Representative Knodl.)

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In addition, for those of you who still think "collective bargaining" is a "right,"  check out how it has been abused:

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court is made up of seven judges, with Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson (very liberal) a close friend of Kloppenburg.  It is of utmost importance that we prevent another leftie from winning a seat on the bench.  Should Prosser lose, as the unions are hoping, the Supreme Court - with a liberal majority - will do what liberal judges like to do - legislate from the bench.  Not abide by the laws, but create them as they see fit.  We've seen it happen many times in the past - liberal judges twisting the rules from the bench to fit their own agenda.  This must not be allowed to happen.  Supreme Court Judge David Prosser is an excellent judge - who does his job according to the law - ruling ON the law -  fairly and impartially. 

Vote to re-elect Judge David Prosser on April 5th!