Connect

Why Rick Richard?

As someone born and raised in Wisconsin, I’m not happy watching Wisconsin become a weaker state, instead of stronger. Too many are without jobs, too many employers are moving out of the state, and too many families are struggling with increasing tax bills while seeing decreasing opportunities.

Those are some reasons this taxpaying, husband, father of two, and co-owner, along with my wife, of a small employee staffing business is announcing a state senate campaign.

I am proud to live in southern Wisconsin. I was born and raised here, and I’m glad that I have the chance to raise my family here too. I want other people in this area to have the same opportunities that I have had. Unfortunately, those opportunities are decreasing. Too many people are without jobs, too many employers are moving across the state line, and too many families are struggling with increasing tax bills while dealing with diminishing prospects. Our representatives in Madison have responded with higher taxes and more regulation. Instead of bringing new jobs, they have chased more of them away.

That is why this taxpaying husband, father, and small business owner business is announcing a state senate campaign.

I’m running to bring effective political leadership to our district, leadership for job creation and economic growth, leadership that until now has been lacking.

This district’s current elected officials seem to know how to spend our tax money. However, they don’t seem to understand how tax money is created, how jobs are created, and how economies grow.

When the state senator and assemblymen in this district voted to raise capital gains taxes by 150%, affecting working families, they didn’t seem to understand that it’s the investment from capital into businesses, small and large, that creates jobs and growth.

When they voted to pass joint and several liability, making a business 100% liable for costs after being 1% responsible, they didn’t seem to understand that anti-business legislation like this kills jobs.

They don’t seem to understand that without employers, there are no employees. They don’t seem to understand what my 8 year old son understands: responsibility. Jobs create prosperity, not government.

Ten years ago my wife and I founded a small business. I’ve learned, first hand, how jobs are created and how economies grow. I have solutions for bringing jobs to the Whitewater/Rock County area.

First, we need to lower personal taxes. 90% of small business owners file as personal tax payers. Each dollar paid in taxes is one less dollar that employers can spend to create jobs.

Second, freeze property taxes. Wisconsin has the 11th highest property tax rate in the country. That high rate is stopping many talented workers from coming to Wisconsin, and forcing many native Wisconsinites to look for work elsewhere. Employers look to locate or expand where they can hire the best talent. Our tax rate tells them to keep looking.

Third, repeal this year’s 11% tax hike on employers. When the politicians in Madison passed this increase, Harley Davidson had to lay off 400 employees. Taxes kill jobs, it’s not rocket science.

We also need to streamline the business application processes, repeal capital gains taxes, and increase the use of technology for employer permitting.

For too many years, politicians from both major parties have spent everything available to them, expanding government to match revenue growth. Now that the economy has stopped growing, political leaders in Madison have used this crisis to raise taxes on everything from oil to farmer’s property taxes to hospitals.

As harmful as raising taxes is to a slow economy, the unforeseen damage is even worse. What kind of government are we leaving our children? What opportunities will they have if we continue down the same path? Unless new public servants are elected that can take the message of responsibility to Madison, the current political leaders will once again expand government to match a growth in future tax revenues, and the tax and spend cycle will continue.

Along with new political leaders, our state needs open and honest government. I pledge to not only vote for no new taxes, but will pledge to vote yes on legislation that creates a more transparent state government.

I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail!