FREE MONEY TODAY...HIGHER TAXES TOMORROW?

For those wondering whether Ripon should get in the "stimulus" game and ask for money from the federal government, read this very slowly:

"And with economists expecting the economy to recover later this year and next, the state should be able to replace the federal stimulus money in future budgets with state tax dollars, said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, co-chairman of the powerful Joint Finance Committee." - Wisconsin State Journal

In other words, we will use federal money today, money that is borrowed from our children and grandchildren, to fund programs that we will paying for down the road in higher state and local taxes. This is a recipe for financial disaster. I like Mark Pocan (yes, he is a Democrat), but I simply see him falling in the same trap Madison has been caught in several times - The economy will rebound so we can expect higher revenue. Sadly, we increase our spending, and what happens IF the economy does not rebound.