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Doyle really doesn’t want beer tax hike

October 24, 2009 By

Governor Doyle makes it perfectly clear – again – where he stands on the beer tax. And where that is, is with the status quo. Doyle says the state beer tax would have to be increased substantially to make a significant difference in the state’s finances, and he’t not in favor of that.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:55 MP3)

A bill from Doyle’s fellow Madison Democrat, state Representative Terese Berceau, recently was the subject of a standing room only public hearing at the Capitol. Doyle remains unconvinced. “The two states with the lowest beer taxes, it isn’t a coincidence that it is Missouri and Wisconsin,” Doyle said this week. “Other states don’t go after one of their leading industries.”

It appears extremely unlikely that the beer tax bill will end up on Doyle’s desk, but if it does, he says he’ll have to weigh the positives and negatives, and make a decision.

Filed Under: Business, Taxes

WW II vets headed to D.C.

October 24, 2009 By

Dozens of World War Two veterans from Northeast Wisconsin are getting an opportunity to fly to Washington D.C. this month two view the World War Two Veterans Memorial Monument. And thanks to Old Glory Honor Flight, Incorporated, a part of National Honor Flight Network, those veterans will go for free. The trip is planned for next Tuesday, leaving from Appleton, and Waupaca County Veterans Service Director Jon Lidonne is hoping that more donations can help add flights in the spring.

The flights themselves cost about $75,000. To help offset that, guardians who go to assist the veterans are paying their own way.

One of the veterans from the Waupaca area is long time county board supervisor Bob Whitman, who served in the Navy from 1945 through 1948. His older brother was also in the Navy, but he was killed in action in 1945. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Human Interest, Military

State regulators close Racine bank

October 24, 2009 By

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions’ (DFI) Division of Banking announced Friday that it has closed the Bank of Elmwood in Racine. Immediately after closing the Bank, DFI appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver for the Bank of Elmwood. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Tri City National Bank, Oak Creek, to assume all of the deposits of the Bank of Elmwood.

“Wisconsin is not immune from the national economic downturn and as the economy improves we are optimistic that Wisconsin’s banks will also see an improvement,” said Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions, Lorrie Keating Heinemann.

“As with other business closures, bank failures are an unfortunate, but normal part of the economic cycle,” said Kurt Bauer, president/CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. “The most important thing for the public to remember is that insured deposits are safe and that Wisconsin banks as a whole are stronger than peers nationally.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business