ABOUT WISTAX
What is the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance? What is its history? Who are its members? How does it influence your ability to work, live and raise a family in the state of Wisconsin?
Under the guise of independence, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance works tirelessly to advance a conservative political agenda of fewer taxes on the wealthy, lower corporate tax and severe cuts to public investment. Since its inception in 1932, the mission of WISTAX and its board has been to create an anti-tax environment in an attempt to build opposition to taxes on corporations and the wealthy and adequate public investment.
Through its publications like Focus, a bi-weekly newsletter, regular reports on the state of Wisconsin’s taxes and public schools, and quotes in the media, WISTAX provides conservative leaders and mouthpieces with a constant stream of anti-tax research and talking points.
A close examination of WISTAX research and reporting methods shows a consistent pattern – WISTAX cherry-picks certain data, leaves other critical information out, and often distorts statistics in order to create research that can be used by others to advance an anti-tax, anti-public investment message.
Its tactics and message have changed little over time. WISTAX spokesmen throughout the 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond have decried any increase in government spending, echoed the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce talking points that Wisconsin is somehow a bad place to do business, and mercilessly attacked as too expensive Wisconsin’s high-quality public school system.
The ideology of WISTAX is reflected perhaps most clearly in the makeup of the organization’s board of directors. The WISTAX board, both past and present, is loaded with former Republican legislators, Republican Party activists, conservative ideologues, corporate CEOs, and several current and former members of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s most prominent conservative lobby group. Furthermore, WISTAX has been identified multiple times by other right-wing organizations as an important part of the conservative establishment in Wisconsin.
To learn more about the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, choose a topic at the right.
