Scott Walker Knows Better Than Milwaukee County Voters

He will not allow a vote to raise taxes by referendum - wasn't that the point of TABOR?

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker vetoed a proposal to have county residents vote on a quarter of a percent sales tax hike. Supporters claim the sales tax could've generated millions of dollars of much need revenue for the cash strapped county.

Budget problems could force the parks department to shut down the Lincoln Park pool and 42 others. Some county leaders want to fund the parks system by raising the sales tax a quarter of one percent.

But Wednesday County Executive Scott Walker shot the tax increase plan down. He said a tax increase would drive middle income people to other communities. "I've got too many people, and potentially too many employers leaving this county," Walker said. "The last thing I wanted to do was pour fuel on the fire and raise taxes."

Pensions are almost bankrupting the county costing $59 million this year. Health care costs will run $29 million next year. The county is bleeding money.

Some believe the tax hike would have stopped the hemorrhaging.

Walker's hypocricy on this issue is amazing. He said that we need to empower voters, through TABOR to vote for their own tax increases. But does not allow voters in his own county to do that.