2012 State District Assembly Representative Candidates on the Economy

Patrick Veeser

Democratic candidate

http://www.veeserforassembly.com

Age:  56

Previous Political Offices:  None

Education:  Luxumberg-Casco High School; Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

Relevant experience:  President of UAW Local 1102

On the economy:

Patrick Veeser supports raising taxes on big businesses and restoring funding to many of the public programs that were cut in the 2011-2013 Wisconsin state budget. Veeser said he would not have voted for the current budget.

The state budget cut taxes on production earnings of manufacturers and agricultural businesses, both small and large-scale, by $874 million over 10 years, according to Politifact. The budget also eliminated a tax increase on multi-state corporations and cut taxes for businesses, regardless of size, that hired new employees.

“We can not afford to be giving those kinds of tax breaks away right now,” Veeser said at the League of Women Voters candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 18. “[The budget] cut state aid and gave tax breaks to big businesses that do very little for our district. I think we need to reel that in, and we need to get our communities going.”

Veeser said he agreed with Bies and believes that bringing jobs into the area is an important way to spur the economy. To do that, Veeser supports increasing funding to technical schools to prepare local workers for jobs that are available in this part of the state.

“Our tech schools are so important right now for jobs,” Veeser said. “We need welders, we need machinists, we need electricians. If we’re going to bring the jobs into the area, we need to prop those schools up and get the jobs in here.”

On Healthcare:  Veeser supports implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He would have voted against the 2011-2013 state budget that cut funding for family planning services, stopped the expansion of Family Care and eliminated the requirement that insurance policies cover contraception costs.

On Education:  Veeser would not have voted to cut education funding, and supports giving more funding to technical schools. He doesn’t support the voucher system for school funding, which gives public money to private and charter schools.

Garey Bies

Republican incumbent

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/bies

Age:  66

Previous Political Offices:  Assembly Representative, 2000-2012

Education:  Lincoln High School; Associate Degree from Northeastern Technical College.

Military Experience:  Navy, 1946-1969

Relevant experience:  Worked for Door County Sheriff’s department for 30 years

On the economy:

Garey Bies declined to comment to the Peninsula Pulse. The following information is based on his recent voting record and statements he made on Thursday, Oct. 18 at the League of Women Voters candidate forum.

Bies voted for the 2011-2013 state budget that reduced state spending in numerous areas, including education and social services, in order to reduce the deficit.

Bies believes the key to growing the economy is to increase the number of jobs and workers in Wisconsin, not by raising taxes.

“You also have to keep your spending in line with your revenues,” Bies said. “By increasing your jobs, we get more people working. More people working generates more income tax. It also generates more spending, which generates more sales tax.”

The state budget cut taxes on production earnings of manufacturers and agricultural businesses, both small and large-scale, by $874 million over 10 years, according to Politifact. The budget also eliminated a tax increase on multi-state corporations and cut taxes for businesses, regardless of size, that hired new employees.

With a balanced budget, Bies said Wisconsin is prepared for the future.

“We don’t have this looming debt over us. We are in a good position to attract businesses knowing that we’re trying to reduce taxes rather than raise taxes,” Bies said.

On Healthcare:  Bies voted for the 2011-2013 state budget that maintained funding for Medicaid, eliminated funding for family planning services and stopped expansion of Family Care. The budget also eliminated the requirement that insurance policies cover costs of contraceptives. Bies also voted to prohibit health insurance plans from covering abortion procedures.

On Education:  Bies voted for the 2011-2013 state budget that eliminated much support for k-12 and higher education programs. The budget also allows state funding to fund charter and private schools.