1986 STATE PLATFORM: LABOR-FARM/LABORISTRA-AGRARIO


  In recent years, the state has stopped providing some types of services,
such as healthy infant
adoptions, leaving the field to private agencies, and even subsidizing private
agencies with state
resources. In the case of adoption services, for example, all but one of
the private agencies in the
state requires applicants to be members of one or another religious sect.
The only nonsectarian
agency does not cover most areas of the state. Furthermore, the state Division
of Community
Services is actively subsidizing these private agencies. While the state
should allow private agen-
cies to compete with state-provided services, the state should provide direct
services where it is
clear that leaving the task to the private sector would limit service access
or subsidize private
agencies with public resources.
                             Developmentally Disabled Services
  We support continued programs for deinstitutionalization of developmentally
disabled per-
sons, and expanded access for the physically handicapped.

                                    Deinstitutionalization
  We recognize the benefits of deinstitutionalization and a "normalized"
and least restrictive
environment. We support measures to provide safe and adequate community-based
alternatives
to institutionalization for the frail elderly, mentally ill and the developmentally
disabled.
  Unfortunately, in too many cases deinstitutionalization has come to mean
"dumping" people
with severe care needs to cheaper "community placements," often
lower cost nursing homes,
where they receive inadequate care and treatment. Deinstitutionalization
has also become syn-
onymous with attempts to lay off and drive down the wages and working conditions
of care
givers.
  While supporting the concept of deinstitutionalization, the LFP also recognizes
that, in the
near future, there is a proper role for institutional care in the continuum
of care, and that there is
a need for adequate resources to make institutions as effective and humane
as possible.
  We support expansion of programs such as the Community Integration Program
and Com-
munity Options Program. However, these programs must ensure adequate state
oversight, to
require local agencies to provide and document that client service needs
are being met. Further-
more, we demand that wages and working conditions of care givers be protected,
and that the
livelihood of institution employees laid off as a result of deinstitutionalization
be guaranteed.


15. Taxation
   The biggest chunk of property tax now goes to support education and welfare,
which distorts
the original intent of the tax - supporting basic services which give value
to property. Statewide
uniformity in education and welfare is desirable. But it isn't possible when
property values vary
so widely. Uniformity can be achieved through statewide collection (and distribution)
of an
ability to pay tax - the income tax. Shifting education and welfare to the
state would ease local
property taxes, which can become confiscatory because of the school and welfare
load.
   We therefore call for the following policies:
   (a.) State income tax - Create higher tax percentages for incomes over
$50,000.
   (b.) Corporate tax - At minimum, adoption of the unitary method of taxation
for multina-
 tional energy corporations, with possible extension to all multinational
corporations.
   (c.) Sales tax - Oppose further increases in the percentage but extend
taxation to professional
fees, consulting fees, and advertising fees.
   (d.) Inheritance tax - Oppose any attempts to give breaks to the wealthy.
Support increases
 in the rate of taxation of large estates.
   (e.) Wisconsin tax forms should prominently feature information which
graphically depicts
 the amount of federal tax monies from Wisconsin which are consumed by military
spending.
   (f.) Until such time as the spending priorities of the federal government
shift away from milita-
 rism, the State of Wisconsin should provide all possible assistance to every
resident taxpayer in
 order to assure that they pay as little federal tax as possible.
   (g.) Workers and their representing organizations must be given access
to the completed state
 and federal tax forms of their employing corporations.


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