Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of three point/counterpoint columns on issues affecting the gubernatorial election.

The government programs that we all rely on must have a source of funding. Usually this funding comes in the form of taxes, something no one enjoys paying. It has become such a great political sound bite for candidates to promise to cut taxes that by now it’s a clich‚.

What isn’t as easy to fit into a commercial, or slap on a bumper sticker, is a candidate’s plan to keep vital public services operating without running huge deficits after slashing taxes. The College Democrats are unanimous in the belief that it’s better to have firefighters able to respond to emergencies than an extra $200 in our pocket.

Another program that many Wisconsinites depend on is higher education. The 2005-06 total operating budget for the UW System was over $4.1 billion. The two primary sources of funding for the System are tuition paid by students and taxes paid by the community. The effect of tax cuts is, effectively, choking off one of those sources. This would result in one of two possible outcomes: either tuition hikes for students or a reduced budget for schools like UW-Eau Claire.

Many of these so-called “tuition caps” would cripple the System, slashing the funding necessary to keep it afloat. U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, and state Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, have both proposed such caps, as well as across-the-board tax cuts, all while providing no solutions to keeping Wisconsin’s universities competitive.

Smaller budgets result in larger class sizes, poor pay for qualified professors, the elimination of sports or other programs and less money for the research that gives our universities their competitive edge. It is argued by the Republicans that cutting wasteful spending out of the budget is enough to make up for this lack of tax and tuition revenue; however, this math just doesn’t add up.

The $4 billion UW budget requires an increase in funding of nearly $120 million every session in order to keep up with inflation and remain competitive with other universities across the country. Green and
Kreibich claim that cutting wasteful spending, such as the $26 million spent on a “failed payroll system,” is enough to cover the loss of funding from slashing the tax burden on corporations and the richest Wisconsinites while still allowing for tuition caps.

When asked how eliminating a one-time $26 million “failed program” can offset the bi-annual $120 million increase needed by the UW System without raising tuition and cutting taxes, the Republicans have no answer.

This is yet another example of Republicans living in a state of denial. The rhetoric of the GOP doesn’t match up with the reality of its policies. Of course, as Stephen Colbert said, “reality has a well- known liberal bias.”

State Assembly candidate Jeff Smith understands the need to keep tuition low and has promised to cap tuition only if the state Legislature promises to adequately fund the System. This would stop the war of attrition which Republicans seem intent to declare on our schools.

The choice is clear. Corporations and wealthy Wisconsinites need to pay their fair share of taxes, or the UW System will suffer in the form of higher tuition and lower-quality universities.

Contrary to the mantra repeated by the Republican faithful, Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and the rest of the Democratic Party do not wish to raise the taxes of the middle class. In fact, since taking office Doyle has balanced a $3.2 billion deficit without raising taxes. Taxes have actually been cut for veterans, and property tax levels have been maintained. Wasteful spending has also been cut by $670 million since Doyle took office.

There is no doubt that Wisconsin’s taxes are high. Doyle is attempting to push through targeted tax cuts that benefit those who need them the most. Wisconsin does not have the luxury of cutting taxes across the board if it wishes to keep the balanced budget Doyle has given us. Unfunded mandates by the Republican-controlled Congress and President Bush have forced states to increase tax burdens on their citizens in order to offset reckless federal spending.

Green, in his loyalty to Bush and the Republican Party, has helped create a national debt that has increased by $1.62 billion a day since Sept. 30, 2005! This massive national debt is the result of a fiscal policy in which more money is spent than is brought in through taxes. Continuing to lower taxes will only worsen our national debt, which someday will need to be repaid by us, the youth of America.

The fiscal irresponsibility demonstrated by Green during his time in Washington clearly shows that he can’t be trusted to balance budgets effectively here in Wisconsin. Doyle understands that it is more important to have affordable education, adequate emergency service and decent highways than to give an extra $40,000 tax break to the wealthiest 5 percent of Wisconsin.