The controversial Taxpayer Protection Amendment cleared its first hurdle Wednesday after an ongoing committee debate that eventually led to the measure's narrow passage.
In a 7-6 vote, the Assembly Ways and Means Committee voted to approve the highly disputed resolution that would amend the state's constitution to place legal limits on revenue.
While support for the amendment has traditionally been divided according to party lines, recent changes to its language have prompted some Republicans — namely, TPA founder Rep. Frank Lasse, R-Bellevue — to withdraw their support.
According to Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, who was one of the legislators to newly oppose the measure and the only Republican committee member to vote against it Wednesday, the amended TPA fails taxpayers.
"For taxpayers that want a meaningful Taxpayer Protection Amendment, this does not do it," Nass said. "It is flawed."
Nass specifically pointed to key changes that allow exemptions to spending limits, adding such loopholes result in a Taxpayer Protection Amendment that is substantially weakened.
"Just because we call it the Taxpayer Protection Amendment, doesn't mean in the minds of taxpayers it is a good Taxpayer Protection Amendment," he said. "It's got to be meaningful to the taxpayers … so that they believe that we really will have strict controls on spending."
But as some Republicans call the amended measure deficient, TPA author Rep. Jeff Wood, R-Chippewa Falls, maintains the resolution still meets the needs of Wisconsin taxpayers.
According to Wood's spokesman Tim Fiocchi, the revised TPA protects strong limits on government, while also reflecting a compromise between the resolution's supporters and opponents.
"You have to find in drafting something like this a balance, making sure there's real restraint while allowing enough flexibility for it to be workable," Fiocchi said.
But Nass questioned the compromise, suggesting it could be a "deal with special interests" and said its last-minute nature only added to his skepticism.
He noted changes to TPA were made less than 24 hours before the committee vote, denying members the ability to add their own amendments or discuss the changes under a rule enforced by committee chair Wood.
As some critics continue to argue the potential effects of the amended version of TPA, others remain steadfast in their opposition to the amendment.
One strong TPA opponent, the United Council of UW Students, argue a constitutional limit on government spending would reduce state funding for the University of Wisconsin and subsequently force tuition increases.
"[I]f you drive up tuition costs, you're preventing Wisconsin residents from getting an education," United Council of UW Students Legislative Director Brian Tanner said.
Tanner added the organization will continue to discuss its concerns with legislators and encourage students to contact their local officials in opposition.
"Our campuses are major economic engines for communities across the state," Tanner said. "And legislators know this and need to hear from their campus communities."
The proposed amendment — Senate Joint Resolution 63 or Assembly Joint Resolution 77 — must be approved by two consecutive Legislatures before it can go to the people in a public referendum in November.
