Dale Schultz for State Senate

Senator Schultz Statement on Being Challenged in GOP Primary

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:55:00 +0000

“Representative Marklein’s announcement this past weekend that he’ll be challenging me in a Republican primary in August of 2014 was not a surprise, but it was unexpected.
After 30 years in the state legislature, nothing surprises me anymore. However, with
a 98.7% Republican voting record, as compared to my Leader in the state Senate last
session, I thought that would’ve been enough to stave off a primary challenge.

I’m reminded of the Biblical verse in Ecclesiastes that says, “To everything there is a
season…” There’ll be time for campaigns later. Right now, I’m focused on doing what
the people of the 17th Senate district sent me here to do – represent them, all of them
regardless of party affiliation, on the issues that concern them most like job creation,
education, and fiscal responsibility.

During my entire service in the legislature, I’ve always waited until about a year before
my term is up to sit down with my family and a few close supporters to assess whether
I should run for re-election. Then I make a decision sometime after the first of the year.
I’ll use the same process this time regardless of the events of this past weekend.

In the meantime, I’ll be working hard with my colleagues on the state budget process and
assisting my constituents with their needs and concerns. I can’t remember when I’ve felt
more engaged and had a better time doing what the folks of the 17th district have elected
me to do – represent them and reflect their concerns. I love this state, and I’m energized
to continue to do my part in helping move the lives of all Wisconsinites forward.”

Taxes on Businesses - Today's idea to re-energize our economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:14:00 +0000

3 Days Until Election Day
While Wisconsin ranks below average for corporate taxes, here’s the catch. A majority of jobs are with small businesses and the taxes paid by small businesses are commonly paid through the individual taxes of the business owners. It is these individual tax rates where Wisconsin ranks among the least attractive to investors and business owners. Given our current budget deficit and fiscal challenges, accomplishing major tax reductions is unlikely in the short term, but neither can we afford to continue demonizing businesses and taking a ‘stick it to business’ or ‘stick it to the rich’ mentality that sends a clear message to most employers of ‘avoid Wisconsin’.

Workforce Development

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 02:05:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

4 Days Until Election
When it comes to putting people to work, I’ll continue to support the programs that ensure opportunities for workers to upgrade their education and work skills. These programs provide taxpayers an excellent investment payback. Education and training improves earning power, adding wealth to our community, and tax revenue to support the community. Employers and investors that provide quality, sustainable jobs are attracted to communities and states with quality workers. I’ll support a strategy to transform our workforce from good to great because today’s global market requires it to keep and create good jobs.

Ending Poverty, Not Maintaining Poverty

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 02:56:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

4 days until Election Day
One of the most exciting developments in the region I serve is found at the Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program which is based in Dodgeville and serves a five-county region. Historically, the organization mainly administered programs to those in poverty. More recently, under Executive Director Wally Orzechowski, SWCAP has become the region’s strongest force in helping achieve community and economic development goals. The key is in organizing strategic partners in both the private and public sectors and forming the partnerships to accomplish free medical and dental clinics, food processing facilities and several other projects and programs that give people the tools that put them on the path to become economically self-sustaining.

The Energy Region - Today's Idea for a Stronger Economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 03:37:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

5 days until Election Day
The rural region I represent enjoys business, academic and government partners leading us to an energy future that will create jobs in the region. At two power plants in Cassville, R&D is progressing on bio-energy initiatives. At Montfort is a successful wind farm. Throughout the region are excellent installers of renewable energy systems. Our schools are developing tomorrow’s leaders for renewable energy development. We have designers and manufacturers of wind turbine components, digesters, advanced battery technology, renewable electric generators and more. Landowners considering their bio-energy input alternatives. As residents invest to save energy, more dollars circulate locally, helping create jobs. I will continue to support smart policies to create home-grown energy and create more jobs here at home.

Project Lead the Way - Today's Idea for a Stronger Economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:22:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

6 days until Election Day
Wisconsin enjoys a mighty manufacturing base, and to save those jobs and stay globally competitive, we must transition from commodity production and manufacturing to advanced manufacturing, high-value production and innovative technologies. An essential part of that strategy is to produce home-grown talent in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). By visiting high schools, I’ve seen the PTLW program accomplishing this goal, encouraging students of both genders to pursue academic and career opportunities in stem fields.

Local and Regional Partnerships - Today's Idea for a Stronger Economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:50:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

7 days until Election Day
It’s no secret the direction for economic development is to move strategies away from state control and increasingly into the hands of a region, county and municipality. Fortunately, leaders throughout the rural region I represent are used to working at the county and regional level. Our ability to think globally and act regionally will increasingly determine our success at developing our workforce, marketing our local assets, keeping and attracting quality employers and achieving our other community and economic development goals. I welcome opportunities to be on the team of Riverlands, 7 Rivers Alliance, Thrive, BEST and other regional initiatives.

Brain Gain vs. Brain Drain - Today's Idea for a Stronger Economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:00:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

8 days until Election Day
I support our great technical colleges and university campuses like Platteville because they provide the opportunities for individuals to invest in themselves for a brighter future. A more educated workforce benefits all Wisconsin residents by attracting more good jobs that add wealth in our community and attract the quality, sustainable jobs we want. I will continue to support policies to further strengthen the partnerships between state government, business, our universities and technical colleges to foster new technologies, business innovation and a world class workforce.

An Entrepreneurial Culture - Today's idea for a stronger economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:46:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

9 Days until Election Day
I strongly support our Inventor and Entrepreneur Clubs because they are effective at bringing together individuals with the skills to sell, manage and create products and services. These clubs were pioneered by the Juneau County Economic Development Corporation and its director Terry Whipple and have spread across the state and even to other states and countries. I strongly support programs in our K-12 educational system that introduce the concept of being an entrepreneur or business owner as an alternative to being a worker. Programs like these are basic elements in creating a new culture that celebrates those willing to take business risks, re-defines business ‘failure’ as business ‘experience’ and encourages rather than quashes creative thinking.

Litigation - Today's idea for a stronger economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:22:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

10 Days until Election Day
State legislators, at the request of trial lawyers and in the name of consumer protection, are constantly tempted to pass laws making it easier and more lucrative to sue a manufacturer, retailer and other employer. Of course we all support social goals such as consumer protection. In considering legislation, I will continue to keep in mind the cost of using the risk of costly law suits as a ‘stick’ to achieve social goals. The reality is that investors and business managers consider a state’s tort laws when as they decide where to keep and create jobs.

Today's idea for a stronger economy: Focus on Innovation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 03:10:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

11 Days until Election Day - Focus on Innovation
When it comes to investing to grow our economy, common sense tells us we need to consider the potential for a small business to become a big business, providing many more jobs. That is the thinking behind a growing strategy in economic development called ‘Economic Gardening’. EG focuses resources on companies with at least ten employees already, and with the strongest potential to employ 50 or 100 or more employees within a few years. Leaders for economic development in places like Mauston and Sauk County are implementing EG programs and I will monitor those pilot programs as we consider broadening EG.

Taxes Must Be Limited

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:10:00 +0000

It’s true, we are taxed enough already. As Todd Berry, president of the highly-respected and non-partisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance wrote in July 2010, “State and local taxes claim 11.8 percent of personal income, 13th highest among the states.” I will continue to oppose tax increases that would take a higher percentage of income. Instead, I support a proposal to amend our state constitution to tie the level of taxation to personal incomes. Once that system is in place, if government were to spend more, it would first have to succeed with policies that increase the personal incomes of state residents.

Tax Rates are High Because Our Income is Low
Wisconsin consistently ranks among states with the highest tax rates in part because the per capita income for Wisconsin residents is below average. To avoid tax increases or drastic spending cuts, my priority is to keep and create jobs to grow our economy and add wealth to the Wisconsin community.

Wisconsin Subsidizes Federal Government
Even though personal incomes in Wisconsin are over 6 percent below the national average, Wisconsin is a donor state to Washington. Wisconsin for decades has ranked near the bottom in receiving tax dollars from the federal government. One reason is we have few federal facilities like military bases. Another reason is our state government usually enacts programs to help veterans, elderly, poor, sick and disabled community members. When the federal government finally acts, it often creates funding formulas that effectively ‘punish’ states that did the right thing by promptly addressing social needs with state dollars. One answer is for our delegates in Congress to start forming bipartisan coalitions with legislators from other donor states to change federal aid formulas. Fixing inequitable aid formulas in Washington would enable lower tax rates in Madison and across Wisconsin.

Balancing Income, Sales, Property and Other Taxes
Debate will never end on which taxes are unfair or too high in Wisconsin. Compared to other states, our individual income taxes are above average, in particular on high income individuals. Our property taxes are 25 percent above the national norm and we have created programs that add progressivity for some property categories and lower income residents. In general, our user fees are well below average, a reason our income and property taxes are high. Our sales tax is competitive with other states. Raising our state sales tax by “One cent” in reality is a proposal to increase it by twenty percent, a non-starter plan for most taxpayers. We are taxed enough already and rather than consider higher tax rates, state government instead needs to focus on higher incomes.

Raising State Taxes to Reduce Property Taxes
Raising the state sales or income tax rates to provide local property tax relief sounds good. However, each time it has been done, the property relief has been short lived because state government raised spending and shifted the mandate to pay for more services to local property taxpayers. With no guarantee history wouldn’t repeat itself, taxpayers should be wary of plans to raise a state tax to lower property taxes.

Streamline Wisconsin Tax Code
The forms and instructions to file an individual state income tax return has exploded in recent years to 50 pages. The time it takes to read and understand instructions and complete required forms is a burden causing many taxpayers with modest income to incur the needless expense of hiring a tax preparer. I support having a non-partisan study group develop a comprehensive proposal to the legislature to eliminate numerous little-used provisions, enabling thousands of tax filers to once again prepare their own taxes, saving them millions of dollars each year.

State Budgeting Must be Reformed

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:10:00 +0000

Lee Dreyfus once said Wisconsin has “champagne tastes on a beer budget”. His truism certainly applies to 2009 when a governor and legislative majority increased spending significantly, despite a worst recession in 80 years. As a result, by July 1, 2011 the state budget deficit will likely exceed $3 billion. I will continue to support budget reform measures to require state government to live within a budget based on taxpayers’ means.

Restore Trust to Our Trust Funds
More than once I opposed plans to raid moneys from health care providers in a trust fund created to provide awards to medical malpractice victims or their family members. In the end, our state supreme court ordered the state to restore $200 million plus interest that the state used for unrelated budget spending. I support a permanent stop to similar raids of the state’s transportation fund through an amendment to our state constitution. Raiding these and other specific-purpose funds for unrelated state spending is one of the leading bad budgeting practices in need of reform.

We Cannot Borrow Our Way to Prosperity
Borrowing more in order to spend more has grown significantly in recent years, not only in Washington but in Madison. I support reigning in borrowing, especially as a short-term budget fix. As the burden of interest payments for past spending grows, our ability to respond to a crisis – like the worst recession in 80 years – is weakened and we burden our children with a problem not of their making.

Today's idea for a stronger economy: Improve Regulation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:51:00 +0000

On each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'm offering a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

12 Days Until Election Day: Regulation
To put people to work and better our state’s economy, I support major reforms to our regulatory environment to strengthen statutes to consider the cost impact of regulations on employers. Business owners and managers tell me about the representatives of our state government who pay visits to their facility to enforce state regulations. Too often the themes of their anecdotes are about regulators with an adversarial attitude; regulators setting arbitrary and even contradictory requirements based on a personal interpretation of rules; and regulators with no concept that, in business, time is money. People who have worked in other states often attest to Wisconsin having earned a national reputation for a hostile business regulatory environment. We can and must see the day when a restaurant manager or a factory manager sees a state employee come through the door and thinks, “Here comes my partner.”

Ideas for a stronger economy - 13 days until election

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 03:59:00 +0000

Each of the last 13 days before the Nov. 2010 election, I'll offer a new idea, thought or comment on how we can better position Wisconsin for brighter day of economic prosperity and job growth.

Introduction: Wisconsin must be competitive to keep and create jobs
Jobs are vital to support families and to generate the income and tax revenues that support our communities and address the state’s $3 billion-plus deficit. Many jobs, especially manufacturing jobs Wisconsin is famous for, come or go because of the business climate of a state or country. Investors and employers consider tax, regulatory and legal systems as well as the quality of a workforce and incentive programs.

Wisconsin isn’t competitive. Several studies of all 50 states, conducted by sources from across the political spectrum, rank Wisconsin below average for creating new businesses, helping business development, personal income 6 percent below the nation’s), cultivating innovation entrepreneurs and other business climate factors. Here’s a startling fact: Wisconsin’s share of national gross domestic product has declined from 2.1 percent in 1963 to 1.7 percent in 2008.

Support Travis Tranel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 04:26:00 +0000

I’m endorsing Travis Tranel, Republican challenger for the 49th Assembly District. Travis is the right leader for our area because he is a fiscal conservative with real world experience as a farmer & small business owner. Travis is a job creator who understands how to re-energize our economy and put Wisconsin back to work.

Tranel also understands the issues facing our local K-12 schools and UW-Platteville. The new legislature will face the challenge of protecting those institutions while solving the multi-billion dollar budget deficit left by Governor Doyle and party faithful. Now more than ever, Southwest Wisconsin needs a strong advocate in the State Assembly to set clear priorities and work for the interests and values of our families and communities.

I invite you to join me in supporting Travis Tranel on November 2nd. Learn more at travistranel.com.

The 49th Assembly District includes all of Grant County and portions of Richland, Iowa, and Lafayette Counties.

How I'll Re-Energize Wisconsin's Economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:49:00 +0000

My top priority is to help our local job creators retain and grow family supporting jobs in Wisconsin.

National publications, including Forbes Magazine in 2010, repeatedly rank Wisconsin as having one of the nation's worst climates for creating jobs. This past session, Governor Doyle only worked at the edges of job creation and instead he and majority party members imposed dozens of costly new taxes and regulations on Wisconsin employers.

I have a plan to reinvigorate our economy and allow workers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and Wisconsin companies emerge from the economic downturn and better compete in the global economy. By working with our next Governor and legislators of both parties, we can get our economy back on track and return Wisconsin families to economic prosperity.

Job Friendly Government
We can harness the power of the free market and the unleash the talent, vision and work ethic of Wisconsinites to create jobs . State government has an important but limited roll in creating the business environment in which high wage - family supporting jobs are created.

Compete with Other States
I'll advocate for strategies in the study released last month called "Be Bold Wisconsin" to make Wisconsin more competitive when employers decide where to locate new jobs.

Investment Capital
I'll work to grow the supply of investment capital that employers need to create local jobs. Governor Doyle understood this need and with bipartisan support we've enhanced tax incentives for investors to grow companies. We need to do more - much more.

Prevailing Wage
I want to undo changes to Wisconsin's prevailing wage law that have killed jobs in our rural communities and stymied our community development goals.

Energy
I'll be the first to support smart policies to conserve energy and develop sustainable energy and I'll reject 'go it alone' global climate plans that would hurt our state's job climate.

Focus
I'll keep my focus on families and the entrepreneurs who create home grown jobs with high-demand products and services. For example, Xolve, a business started by Professor Jim Hamilton at UW Platteville has a technology that may revolutionize solar energy and other industries.

Identify Local Strengths
I'll champion policies to support local innovators like Hamilton and the Juneau County Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club to give them incentives to hire people by the hundreds right here, not Texas or Singapore.

Together we can make a difference. Please write "VOTE" on your calendar for November 2. And please be in touch with your ideas to help keep and create jobs.

How I'll work to fix education funding

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 01:55:00 +0000

Our schools are in need of a plan to reform the broken school finance system. School finance reform is a top priority for me and it is a growing concern for many of the residents of Southwest and South Central Wisconsin. Our rural school districts are working hard to make ends meet despite declining enrollments, high transportation costs and low household incomes. The current formula doesn’t adequately address these challenges.

I applaud the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers for setting a tone for a renewed debate on school funding (view the plan). The Superintendent’s proposal provides a good opportunity to put a spotlight on the concerns facing rural communities and a starting point for debating ways to reprioritize existing resources to maximize the impact of each tax dollar. It would be a mistake to assume new taxes or additional spending is the answer.

We are fortunate to have excellent educators, involved parents and caring communities, all working together, make our schools great at readying students for successful futures. Now we need a school funding system that compliments their effort by ending the cycle of painful cuts, contentious referendums and higher property taxes.

Join me in seeking a fair, sustainable, transparent, and accountable school finance system.

Two-thirds funding
When Tommy Thompson was Governor, he committed the state to funding two-thirds of overall school costs. This proved effective in keeping property taxes in check AND schools had the resources they needed to effectively educate our young people. We need to re-prioritize how we spend state tax dollars and recommit ourselves to education. It will reduce property taxes and relieve the constant pressure facing school districts.

Revenue Limits
In exchange for a renewed commitment to two-thirds funding, the state needs to maintain revenue limits on local districts to keep property taxes in check.

Levy Credit
We need to reevaluate the school levy credit appropriation to restore fairness for small rural schools. The School Levy Credit is a “shared revenue” program, distributed to municipalities based on their share of statewide school levies. Ironically, schools never see the money and instead, as the name suggests, the funding reduces property tax bills for property owners statewide. That means the biggest share of the School Levy Credit benefits property-wealthy school districts.

Technology
We can use technology to innovate and help existing resources provide new and more learning, such as considering virtual schools and new technologies that provide distance learning opportunities.

Mandates
We need a review of state mandates on our schools. I've spoken with administrators and teachers who spend far too much time and energy understanding and fulfilling state mandated curriculum and operating requirements. We need to respect the locally elected school board and allow them flexibility to manage their district in a way that reflects local priorities.

Join me toward victory on November 2nd!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:47:00 +0000

Economy
I will help people innovate and create job opportunities, not choke their initiative with taxation, regulation and litigation.

I will continue working with community leaders to help workers access world class job skills and make capital affordable to create local jobs.

Taxes and Spending

I will protect you, the taxpayer, not cave to special interest giveaways and commit you to more government spending.

We must fix the roads we depend on every day before we can afford a billion dollar Madison/Milwaukee train that few of us will ride.

Education

I will fight to ensure communities can afford great schools run by local leaders, not Madison.

I know education is the best investment to improve the well being of people and our communities and he’s ready to fix our school funding system.

Values

We should help people truly in need, not feed a growing entitlement mentality.

The job of government is to ensure everyone has equal rights and opportunity. I’ll make the tough decisions because I'm in touch with those I represent and their interests.

Constitution

I will protect our Constitution, our principles and values.

On January 3, 2011, I will mean it when I puts my hand on my family bible and state, “I swear I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State of Wisconsin, and will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of said office to the best of my ability. So help me God."

Bio-energy Future

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:04:00 +0000

I saw our bio-energy future last week in Cassville. During a visit to Cassville on July 16, I met with representatives of Alliant Energy and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. I think our region can be a global center of excellence for bio-energy research and development. At the Nelson Dewey Power Plant in Cassville, Alliant is using home-grown bio-fuels to mix with coal and generate electric energy. They use wood chips, pellets made
of wood and plastic 'ag bags' farmers use to store hay, pellets made from wood and a byproduct from the Badger State Ethanol plant in Monroe, and pellets made wood and switch grass. Such R&D is positive and exciting for
its excellent potential to create jobs and wealth in our region.

Thank you Friends and Neighbors!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:32:00 +0000

With your help we will all enjoy victory on Election Day on November 2. "Team Schultz" is firing on all cylinders and I am pumped. Dozens of you helped gather thousands of nomination paper signatures from every corner of the senate district. We turned in twice the number needed and we turned them in early. My opponent waited to the last day.

We're at every parade and event we hear of, we're going door to door in every community, putting up 4x8' signs, and much more. Please help us spread our message:

Keep and create good jobs to turn around our economy
Support a fair school funding system
Make property taxes affordable
Bring quality, affordable broadband to rural areas
Stand up for our values and way of life

Your contribution of any amount makes a difference. Click here to contribute online or, send it to Friends and Neighbors of Dale Schultz, P.O. Box 395, Reedsburg WI 53959.

What issues are important to you?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:19:00 +0000

My goal in this campaign is to engage voters in a constructive conversation on the important issues facing the state. I know people are tired of the political games and personal attacks often associated with elections. I want to differentiate myself as a candidate interested in what voters have to say. So please take a moment to send me a thought or two on taxes, spending, health care, the economy or any issue on your mind.

Connect with me online here. If you prefer email, contact me at info@votedaleschultz.com

Nomination Papers Available

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:12:00 +0000

I am excited to share my intention to run for reelection to the State Senate. It is an honor to serve and I am overwhelmed by the continued support of people throughout Southwest and South Central Wisconsin.

I've been speaking with people in our area who are deeply concerned with the direction Governor Doyle and the Democrat leadership in Madison have decidedly taken our state. In seeking your support, I hope to make great strides toward reinvigorating our economy, reforming our outdated school funding system and restoring budget process that prioritizes our needs and reflects our values.

The need for rational, responsive and experienced leadership has never been greater in our state. But the first step in seeking reelection is gathering the signatures needed to secure a place on the ballot. Please follow the link below to view and print a nomination paper.

I'll connect with you soon to outline ways you can help build a grassroots network of support needed to win this fall.

Download a nomination paper (PDF)