While our school board rides the gravy train!
How surprised is anyone that the part-time Madison school board wants to nearly double its pay to $15,000 (from $8,000) AND claim generous health and dental insurance worth between $82,000 and $220,000? After hitting up us taxpayers for an extra $100 million for operations and another $500 million for buildings and grounds. In other words, the seven young progressives (none of them business people) want their cut! The Wisconsin State Journal gets it right:
The board should show more success before it rewards itself, such as boosting reading scores and stemming the loss of families to suburban districts.
To paraphrase Hyman Roth, this is the school board Madison has chosen. Go school choice! School board next meets 6 p.m. Monday 09-29-25. (Give ’em hell here.)
Much to our disappointment and despite (maybe because of?) our lobbying, State Sen. Howard Marklein tells the Werkes he is NOT going to push for an audit of Dane County social services contractor Urban Triage, operated by Brandi Grayson. State and federal aids account for 36% of the county’s budget. Dane County commits $322.4 million to social services — 39% of the operating budget. Howz it being spent! Marklein denies he fears the race card. Says audit bureau has no authority over local governments. Trump would find a way!
We see Aaron Rodgers is responsible for yet another NY Jets defeat. But wouldn’t you know it, the 41-year-old slinger recorded the highest passer rating (136.7) of the weekend, besting our Jordan Love’s second-place 128.6. BTW: What a sports weekend here in Wisconsin!
Tax Foundation estimates Big Beautiful Bill personal income tax cuts
Partisan pants on fire
Every so often, my old boss at The Capital Times laments the loss of civility in public life. Except when Dave Zweifel tars and feathers Republicans, like he did Sunday. U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, he writes, is a “lapdog,” a “toady,” and a “habitual liar.” Whew!
Scratching for proof that the congressman is lying about the One Big Beautiful Bill, Dave Zweifel cites a liberal economist who kvetches, “The tax reductions are very modest for people with low incomes.” (Then again, so are their taxes.)
FWIW, Wisconsin journalist Steve Prestegard once observed that the quoted UW professor, Andrew Reschovsky, “is a reliable source whenever a reporter wants a quote from someone who believes this state doesn’t tax or spend enough.”
Let’s consult, instead, the national Tax Foundation, which calls balls and strikes regardless of party. The Republican bill, it reports, makes permanent the individual tax cuts enacted in 2017, thus avoiding a tax hike on an estimated 62 percent of tax filers in 2026. Makes tipped income and overtime tax free, and expands tax credits for childcare.
We estimate the OBBBA will reduce federal taxes on average for individual taxpayers in every state [and] create about 938,000 full-time equivalent jobs [nationally] over the long run.
The Tax Foundation estimates the average tax cut in Wisconsin as a whole at $3,183 — even more in Dane County: $3,849!
Blaska’s Bottom Line: No junkyard dog is more vicious than a progressive losing elections. But we do not think our old boss is a liar — he just needs better sources. And a tax break!
Can someone tell Dave about our school board?
(since he’s worried about taxes)
12 responses to “Only a progressive could bad-mouth a tax cut!”
Tax cuts that are not matched by spending cuts are not really tax cuts. They merely shift the tax burden forward or into inflation.
“Keep your eye on one thing and one thing only: how much government is spending, because that’s the true tax.” – Milton Friedman
I would settle for Zweifel not calling tax cuts a “giveaway.” It is revealing of how they view the economy: Assbackwards. They think all money belongs to government. When you behave well, they allow you to keep more of the money you earned. If you make more money, then they simply confiscate a higher overall percentage. Calling it a giveaway, is akin to telling your neighbor that you plan to give him a gift for his birthday. “My gift to you is that I’m not going to steal your car! How great is that? It’s the least I can do considering that my house is already full of your fixtures and furniture. It’s just my way of saying thanks to my favorite neighbor. You’re welcome.”
“Trump would find a way.” Yep. First declare it is a hoax. second. appoint someone with no experience. Third. have that person change the numbers. Fourth. go on tv and talk nonsense. fifth. go golfing.
No one should be surprised at the blatant grifting of the Madison school board or the even more blatant grifting of Brandi Grayson and her outfit. When you live in a one-party town and you’re a member of that party, the world’s your oyster.
Dave: your “Give ’em Hell” link needs editing!
try: board@madison.k12.wi.us
I gave ’em hell!! 😉 Thanks!
There are no gravy trains on stolen land.
also, no transparency
Golly, another Progressive grifter exposed: Minocqua Brewery owner dipping into his super-PAC. What a surprise!
Just saw a photo of this guy. He looks like J. B. Pritzker’s nerdy younger brother (and his equal in girth). Isn’t it delicious when sanctimonious progs get caught with their hand in the cookie jar?
Kirk Bangstad apparently needs a super PAC to fund legal fees for his deranged, illicit behavior. The guy is a professional harasser, slanderer, and crybaby, and he needs serious help. His brewery should be inspected for leaching lead pipes.