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Wisconsin faced a staggering budget shortfall in 2011. The state had raised taxes in previous years and was still coming up short. The new governor, Scott Walker, a Republican, had an idea to balance the budget: cut funding for local governments and school districts.

A large part of the state budget was devoted to beefing up the budgets of other jurisdictions. The thinking was this: Those other governments have their own taxing and spending powers and their own elected officials, who are more in touch with the needs of the communities they serve. Rather than continuing to make their jobs redundant, the state government could allow them to be more self-reliant while getting its own spending under control.

It worked. Wisconsin's budget was balanced. State taxes didn't need to be raised. And state workers didn't need to be laid off. The lower state aid to school districts does not seem to have harmed students; in fact, relative to other states, Wisconsin students have largely performed better. The Badger State has been on surer fiscal footing ever since, even as the governor's mansion has changed hands.

The basic structure of Walker's plan balancing the budget by cutting intergovernmental transfers could serve as a model for the federal government.

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twk said:

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Had to check twice to make sure that what I was reading was actually written by the editorial board of the Washington Post, and then that this was not April 1, but, I guess miracles do happen.

How US Goverment Became States' Piggybank

Quote:

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Wisconsin faced a staggering budget shortfall in 2011. The state had raised taxes in previous years and was still coming up short. The new governor, Scott Walker, a Republican, had an idea to balance the budget: cut funding for local governments and school districts.

A large part of the state budget was devoted to beefing up the budgets of other jurisdictions. The thinking was this: Those other governments have their own taxing and spending powers and their own elected officials, who are more in touch with the needs of the communities they serve. Rather than continuing to make their jobs redundant, the state government could allow them to be more self-reliant while getting its own spending under control.

It worked. Wisconsin's budget was balanced. State taxes didn't need to be raised. And state workers didn't need to be laid off. The lower state aid to school districts does not seem to have harmed students; in fact, relative to other states, Wisconsin students have largely performed better. The Badger State has been on surer fiscal footing ever since, even as the governor's mansion has changed hands.

The basic structure of Walker's plan balancing the budget by cutting intergovernmental transfers could serve as a model for the federal government.

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Click the link and check out the rest.

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twk said:

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Had to check twice to make sure that what I was reading was actually written by the editorial board of the Washington Post, and then that this was not April 1, but, I guess miracles do happen.

How US Goverment Became States' Piggybank

Quote:

---

Wisconsin faced a staggering budget shortfall in 2011. The state had raised taxes in previous years and was still coming up short. The new governor, Scott Walker, a Republican, had an idea to balance the budget: cut funding for local governments and school districts.

A large part of the state budget was devoted to beefing up the budgets of other jurisdictions. The thinking was this: Those other governments have their own taxing and spending powers and their own elected officials, who are more in touch with the needs of the communities they serve. Rather than continuing to make their jobs redundant, the state government could allow them to be more self-reliant while getting its own spending under control.

It worked. Wisconsin's budget was balanced. State taxes didn't need to be raised. And state workers didn't need to be laid off. The lower state aid to school districts does not seem to have harmed students; in fact, relative to other states, Wisconsin students have largely performed better. The Badger State has been on surer fiscal footing ever since, even as the governor's mansion has changed hands.

The basic structure of Walker's plan balancing the budget by cutting intergovernmental transfers could serve as a model for the federal government.

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Click the link and check out the rest.

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American Hardwood said:

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There is nothing remarkable about the idea presented in the article. It should be common sense and common practice. What is remarkable is that the Washington Post THINKS the idea is remarkable, not just simple common logic, and actually published it.

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