BusStop - No You Can't

As promised, Scott Walker has vetoed a Milwaukee County Board referendum. The referendum's goal is worthy: property tax relief from parks and transit expenses. Visitors share the costs with a modest sales tax increase. The natives pocket the difference.

To explain why citizens are forbidden a vote in Milwaukee County on their property taxes -- one of the most annoying and unfair taxes ever invented to siphon our wallets -- he ought to step to a microphone and address the citizens with three simple honest words:

"No You Can't."

Laughter would be healthy. History -- which is now moving in the Yes direction - makes this man funny.

There is a way to make a city work for everyone. Walker's politics of "no" are moving against history. Look at him.

Proof of his History Deprived Mind? Well, his veto claim that "There already was a referendum on this issue...."  Lena Taylor actually refused to support a new sales tax.

BusStop. Watch Your Language

The good news is that the Milwaukee County Board might be able to override Scott Walker's veto. At stake is a referendum to take parks, emergency services and transit off of the property tax. The bad news is that we may be talking ourselves into a defeat at the polls.

I plead with all bus and park loving citizens: Stop and think what you are saying. Watch your language.

• We know that reducing Property Tax is a winner.
• We know that talking Sales Tax is unpopular.
• So, why don't we talk about Property Tax Relief?
• Talk about how this referendum will deliver Relief.
• That visitors to Milwaukee County will now help us fund our buses and parks.
• That the County will reduce your property tax while funding parks, emergency services and transit.
• That our bus system will have a chance to pull out of its death spiral.

This referendum will inspire oceans of vigorous conversation throughout the County. It is not merely a sales tax hike; it is more. It is a chance for County residents to grab a some relief in one smart vote.

Scott Walker, who plans to veto County Board action calling for a spring referendum on raising the sales tax in Milwaukee County:

"I think the public wants us to manage the resources we currently have without raising taxes and find a way to provide those core services,” Walker said.

There would be one way to find out for sure what the public wants.

What would be wrong with letting the public express itself in a referendum?

Conservatives like Walker are all for "letting the people decide" on issues like gay marriage, which they think (wrongly) will help them at the polls.

But he's afraid to find out whether people value parks and other counry services enough to willingly pay more in taxes to support them.

Bottom line: He's afraid he might not like the answer.