Scarlet12's Blog

Gingrich blasts 'arrogant' policies

He warns higher taxes could cost jobs

By AMY HETZNER
ahetzner@journalsentinel.com Posted: June 15, 2007

Waukesha - Once one of the biggest powerbrokers in U.S. Capitol, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called government out of touch with the American public Friday and criticized a pending immigration bill in Congress and possible tax increases in Wisconsin.

"I really think we're in a core struggle over the future of the country," Gingrich said in a speech to nearly 300 people at the Country Springs Hotel. "Over here is an arrogant, out-of-touch, interest-group elite in Madison and Washington that don't get it, and over here is about 80 or 90 percent of the American people."

Gingrich also spoke Friday at a $250-per-couple lunch at the University Club in Milwaukee.

In his Waukesha speech, sponsored by the pro-business Wisconsin Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity, Gingrich said Wisconsin could follow the path of the economically stressed Michigan in losing jobs if it raises taxes further.

"I hope all of you will contact your state representatives and your state senators and indicate they should only vote for a budget that has no tax increase," he urged.

The Wisconsin Legislature is currently in the middle of a budget debate in which Assembly Republicans have threatened to not approve a budget favored by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle because of proposed tax increases.

Doyle spokesman Matt Canter criticized legislators' plans to hold up a budget they didn't like.

"The governor does not understand how any legislator or Newt Gingrich could stand up and protect the interests of big oil companies advocating for delaying a budget when they know such a delay means cutting support for our schools," he said, referring to Doyle's proposed tax on oil company profits. Canter also said other aspects of the governor's budget would provide tax relief for middle-class families.

In his nearly hour-long session, Gingrich also took issue with the immigration bill pending in Congress, which attempts to strengthen border security while also helping millions of illegal immigrants achieve citizenship.

Gingrich called the bill both "dishonest" and unenforceable. He did so, however, without naming President Bush, a proponent of the legislation.