Ohio

US taxes corporations at highest rate -- Except they don't pay any taxes

October 12, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Incredible.

That means unbelievable.

The Journal Sentinel's PolitiFact, which prides itself on putting things "into context" -- which is how it justifies its frequently warped conclusions -- says Rep. Fat Jim Sensenbrenner's (Isn't that what the F stands for? See photo) claim that US corporations pay the highest tax rate in the world -- 35% -- is true.

No mention of the fact that the Government Accountability Office says that two-thirds of US corporations pay no federal income tax at all.  Zero.  Zip. Zilch. Nada.

In fact, PolitiFact Ohio (it's a franchise operation) checked a claim by Rep. Marcia Fudge that some of the biggest corporations pay NO taxes. Her statement rated true.

Any corporation that is paying 35% needs a new accountant.

Is Picking A Fight With New York State The Best Way For Walker To Get Waukesha's Diversion Application Approved?

September 13, 2011 by The Political E...

I can't imagine that they are turning handstands today at the Waukesha Common Council and Water Utility offices after reading that Gov. Walker and two Republican gubernatorial allies have picked a fight with Andrew Cuomo, New York state's Governor.

Cuomo has put into place tough rules to control the movement of invasive species that hide out in Great Lakes freighters' ballast water.

Everyone agrees that something must be done to halt the onslaught of invasive species entering the lakes via contaminated ballast tanks on overseas freighters sailing up the St. Lawrence Seaway. But the states can't agree on just how much regulation the shipping industry should be forced to endure.

New York took the lead when it developed a state ballast discharge rule far more stringent than any other Great Lakes state, and now a group of governors -- including Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker -- is calling on New York to relax its regulations, which aren't scheduled to take effect until the middle of 2013.

Beware Walker 2.0

September 8, 2011 by The Political E...

A retreat by Walker mentor Ohio Governor John Kasich over his back-firing assault on collective bargaining rights might portend a compromise in Wisconsin by Walker - - but I strongly doubt it, given Walker's 'style.'

Kasich began looking for a deal the day after Democrats won back two State Senate seats in recall elections - - and who's to say there won't be another round next year - - to avoid a November referendum that could roll back the Ohio version of Walker's collective-bargaining bomb. So far, Kasich's got no takers - - with Labor sensing a ballot-box win.

And any such move by a suddenly-more moderated Walker would be instantly and correctly viewed as suspect, insincere, insubstantial, and entirely strategic as a defense against a looming recall action headed his way.

Leading Milwaukee Experts Have A Water-For-Development Formula

August 28, 2011 by The Political E...

I recommend this piece about water and jobs from Sunday's Crossroads section, with special attention to the Akron, Ohio model: