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Doyle looking at trains in Spain

February 24, 2009 By

Wisconsin's governor is traveling to Spain for a close look at commuter rail options.

With a federal stimulus plan directing funding towards increasing commuter rail systems in the Midwest, Governor Jim Doyle says it's a good idea to know what's on the market. That's why Doyle is currently in Spain to meet with a company that makes passenger rail cars.

Doyle says he's looking at what they have to offer, and is also exploring the possibility of bringing a new manufacturing sector to Wisconsin. Doyle says the Badger State already has plenty to offer companies making rail cars, such as steel operations and a central U.S. location. He says it's an option that needs to be explored, due to growing interest in expanding passenger rail.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:00)

Filed Under: Transportation Tagged With:

Seat belt proposal raises concerns

February 24, 2009 By

A proposal to allow police to pull over drivers just for not wearing a seatbelt is facing opposition at the Capitol.

The proposed state budget includes a provision that allows primary enforcement for seat belt violations. State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) says it's too difficult to tell if a driver is wearing a seat belt or not, and thinks the proposal would just create problems.

Supporters of primary enforcement say it would allow the state to capture up to $18 million in federal grant money. Erpenbach says such incentives make adopting the law appealing, but he still doubts the provision will survive budget negotiations.

Erpenbach is also concerned that allowing police to pull drivers over for simply not wearing a seatbelt could be used as an excuse for racial profiling.

The Waunakee Democrat says police already have plenty of reasons to pull over a driver, and most of them easier to prove than a seat belt violation. Drivers can currently be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt if an officer pulls them over for another reason.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 :57)

Filed Under: Transportation

Paying more for schools

February 24, 2009 By

The governor's budget could be a "quandary" for schools.

Part of Governor Doyle's budget proposal would eliminate caps on teacher salaries. Todd Berry of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance says that could lead to funding problems for many school districts. Berry says they may have to cut other spending to keep up with rising salaries, especially if revenue caps remain in place.

Doyle is talking about giving schools a way out of revenue caps at some point, but that's not in his budget bill.

Berry also predicts school property taxes will be going up around seven-percent for each of the next two years.

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (MP3 :37)

Filed Under: Budget, Education, Taxes

Stimulus money is on its way

February 24, 2009 By

More money could soon be coming your way!

You don't have to do anything; your paycheck will increase almost automatically.

"Most of us will start seeing an increase in our take-home pay this spring as employers adjust the amount of tax withheld from our checks as part of the newly-enacted Making Work Pay credit."

Christopher Miller with the IRS in Wisconsin explains this is the money you've been hearing about. The so-called Making Work Pay credit is one of the key tax provisions included in the new stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) that President Obama signed into law last week.

"The Making Work Pay credit is 6.2% of the taxpayers' earned income, with a maximum of $800 for married couples and $400 for other taxpayers."

Miller says the credit is phased out for higher income taxpayers, making more than $75,000. Most of us will get about 13 bucks per paycheck, unlike previous years when we all got a separate check in the mail, with some folks mistaking it for junk mail.

Miller reminds us, we'll need to claim the credit when we file our 2009 income tax return next April.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:17 MP3)

Filed Under: Taxes

Standing up for the bars

February 23, 2009 By

Governor Doyle's call for a statewide smoking ban will face opposition.

Several state lawmakers say they'll fight the proposal, but whether they'll be able to carry the day or not is in question.

More local governments around Wisconsin are passing their own smoke-free ordinances, and there's a growing consensus at the Capitol that a statewide ban that covers restaurants and taverns is inevitable.

State Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he's not completely ready to but into that idea. He says any ban taken up by the Legislature should include an exemption for taverns. The Juneau Republican says some owners have invested more than $40,000 in "smoke eaters" to make their businesses more comfortable for smokers and non-smokers.

Governor Doyle included a statewide smoking ban that covers bars in the budget bill he submitted to legislators last week. 

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (MP3 :37)

Filed Under: Budget, Business
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