While the legislative session is winding down for the year, the new version of TABOR, dubbed the Taxpayer Protection Amendment, will likely still be voted on, either in a limited floor period in late April or early May, or in an extraordinary session.

With legislators wanting to get home for the upcoming campaign season, the limited floor period is when theTaxpayer Protection Amendment will be brought to the floor of both houses for a vote. That means we're entering the final month or so in this fight against one of the worst policy ideas to hit the state in a long time. A lot of people believe that a defeat this session could spell the end of TABOR in Wisconsin.

They may well be right. A number of legislators are holding information sessions or listening sessions in their districts over the next month. They need to hear about the ill-effects such a draconian constitutional amendment would have on Wisconsin, on critical social services that impact children and families around the state, on job-creation and workforce development efforts, and on our education and health care systems.

Currently scheduled is an upcoming forum in Fox Valley on Newest TABOR Proposal - April 11th, 12:o0 noon at UW-Fox Valley Student Union, 1478 Midway Road, Menasha, WI. Rep. Frank Lasee and UW-Fox Valley Dean Jim Perry will present alternate views and there will be time for audience questions and participation. There will also be a moderator.

Some questions to think about: For a quick look at TABOR/TP talking points click http://www.wccf.org/projects/taborresources.htm

The next Public Hearing Date has not yet been officially noticed but the committees involved have been notified of it: When: Wednesday, April 5th, 1:00 pmWhere: Room 412 East, State Capitol, Madison, WI - With Whom: A joint hearing of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Select Committee on the Taxpayer Protection Amendment.

Of course showing up and testifying against the proposal is the most powerful. If you don't have time to wait your turn to speak, or if you don't want to speak, you can fill out a hearing slip noting your opposition. That will still have you recorded as having appeared in opposition, and is key to how the hearing is described by the press and the legislators. Those slips will all be tallied and a strong showing in opposition will go a long way to forcing legislators to shelve this proposal.

A strong showing at this second public hearing is critical. And as always, if you haven't done so, give your legislator a call or send them an email orletter letting them know of your opposition to TABOR and the TP proposal. There's no reason to wait now that we're in the final stage of this effort.

Recent ResearchProfessor Andrew Reschovsky of the University of Wisconsin completed athorough analysis of the newest proposal, and found that a number of services that are most critical to our state would have experienced significant cuts under such a scheme. His complete analysis can be found at: http://www.lafollette.wisc.edu/publications/workingpapers/reschovsky2006-003.pdf

Recent News on TABOR/TPA spate of editorials against the newest version of TABOR appeared immediately after it was introduced, citing the same problems as earlier versions, including its placement in the constitution, the fact that it is a power grab against local elected officials, the fact that it jeopardizes economic development efforts and limits critical services, and so on.

Here are a few of the most recent TABOR-related articles:

An article about local officials speaking out against newest TABOR proposal. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=411531

Educators explaining real impact of more cuts, arbitrary limits. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=405159

Editorial giving bottom line on new version - same problems as old version. http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060219/APC0602/602190401/1036

Editorial from conservative paper telling legislators to abandon thegimmicks and just make the hard choices. http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2006/02/18/editorials/edit01.txt

This post was a forwarded email, amended by the ABV.