Legislators have proposed amending the Wisconsin Constitution to include a “rainy day” or fiscal responsibility fund. On its surface this appears to be an okay idea. However, the bad news and trickery lies deep within the details of this proposal.
Republicans are taking advantage of their super majority to push extreme measures onto Wisconsin. This proposal would amend the state Constitution which is a serious and drastic step, rarely taken. AJR 21 will create a rainy day fund that can’t be even be used when it’s pouring – and it’s real intention is to divert even MORE money away from vital public programs, education and services.
The rainy day fund would force the state to set aside millions of dollars each year into a separate fund that could only be used when strict provisions are met. In a time when Gov. Walker is calling our state “broke” – why are we proposing an amendment that locks away significant sums of money that will be difficult to use?
The fund is so hard to use that even in our current economic climate the state would be required to put aside $61 million in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. This number jumps to $124 million over the next two years.
Legislation like AJR 21 may sound helpful, but the devil is in the details. If a so-called rainy day fund is almost impossible to use, it really becomes a way to drain needed revenue away from vital public programs, education and services. This type of legislation is part of a larger right wing strategy to starve government.
Click here to e-mail your Representatives in opposition to this proposal. The Assembly is voting on AJR 21 today and the Senate will soon take the measure up. Let your Representatives know that this amendment is wrong for Wisconsin.