June 23, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Senator Scott Fitzgerald, (608) 257-8035



Memo to Senate Democrats:

Your Tax Increases Do Not Create Jobs





MADISON… The Senate Democratic spin machine is in high gear after numerous mainstay Wisconsin companies announced plans to leave, or are considering leaving for other states that encourage job creation. Their quarter billion dollar “combined reporting” tax increase on companies like Harley-Davidson has added to the many worsening factors that have made it too expensive to keep jobs in Wisconsin.



To pay for their over-spending, Senate Democrats raised taxes on companies like Harley-Davidson ($22.5 million), Briggs & Stratton ($4.6 million), GM, Polaris, Proctor & Gamble ($5.5 million) and many other job-providers after falsely accusing them all of using a “Las Vegas Loophole” to avoid taxes. This was part of an historic $5 billion tax and fee increase by Governor Doyle and Senate Democrats to feed their massive $3.6 billion (6.2%) government spending increase.



“Raising taxes, like the Harley-Davidson tax, does nothing to attract jobs to Wisconsin; rather it makes doing business here more expensive,” said Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald. “Senate Democrats keep trying to tell working families that Wisconsin manufacturers don’t mind higher taxes, but the proof is in the pudding when their jobs move to other states.”



Massive job losses to other states and reputable national rankings prove that Governor Doyle and Senate Democrats have worsened Wisconsin’s job climate:

Harley-Davidson is considering leaving Wisconsin and consolidating operations in other states where costs of doing business are lower.

Briggs & Stratton announced shortly after the passage of the new tax that it would move all its jobs to Georgia and Alabama.

Polaris, also affected by the new tax, announced that it would move all its jobs out of Wisconsin, with many going to Minnesota and Iowa.

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation ranks Wisconsin 42nd in the 2010 State Business- Tax Climate, four spots worse than 2009.

Forbes ranked Wisconsin 48th in its 2009 Best States for Business (3rd worst)

The Pew Center on the States ranks Wisconsin in the top-10 states facing economic collapse due to bad budgeting by Senate Democrats and Governor Jim Doyle.





Senate Democrats have been particularly hostile towards jobs-creators, with over 150,000 jobs lost since December 2008, and 28,000 fewer manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin since the passage of “combined reporting.”



Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) stated that his nearly quarter-billion tax increase on Harley-Davidson and other companies was “one of the most business-friendly actions we can take.” Meanwhile, Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) said “It’s about time the freeloaders paid the same taxes we do.” Those “freeloaders” have responded to Kreitlow and Vinehout’s “business-friendly” actions by cutting jobs in Wisconsin.



Every Senate Democrat voted for the “government stimulus bill” that included the $215 million job-killing tax, including vulnerable Senator Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) who represents a district bordering the Harley-Davidson plant, Senators John Lehman (D-Racine), Kreitlow and Vinehout.



“Have Sullivan, Kreitlow, Vinehout or Lehman ever wondered why Briggs & Stratton, GM, Polaris and other companies move jobs out of Wisconsin, rather than move jobs here from other states?” said Senator Fitzgerald. “It’s because jobs are under constant attack from big-spending liberals who have completely failed to improve Wisconsin’s spending, tax, and jobs climate.”



“Voters know Jim Doyle and Democrats like Sullivan, Kreitlow, Vinehout and Lehman are chasing jobs and entire companies out of Wisconsin,” said Fitzgerald. “Republicans know that you can’t create jobs by raising government spending while suffocating businesses and working families with more taxes.”