WisPolitics Budget Blog

A union buddy of mine called to see if I could escape for a beer at our favorite saloon. Now, I know what you’re thinking, conservative Republican and a labor Democrat; what common ground could those two possibly discuss?

My buddy is a Teamster. He’s got a tattoo of a bald Eagle carrying the Stars and Stripes in its talons over what appears to be the New York City skyline. Since he drives the roads, tunnels and bridges of the East Coast, we share our love of country and my familiarity with those states and landmarks.

We also share a deep bond with faith and family. He’s married with children, and with a degree of pride, we complain about wives and kids. Like me, he started his own business. His dad passed away a few years ago and he inherited some land; what was left of the family farm.

He built a pole barn to house his tractor and trailer, but soon discovered the large structure, which most of the time, sat empty, was in demand. I take credit for his entrepreneurial success, since it was me who coaxed him into storing my pontoon boat. He now has a rack system that stacks boats for winter storage like cord wood. A local college kid collects the rental fees and operates the fork lift.

With the added disposable income, my buddy treated his family first to a Winnebago and then a fish/ski boat. If you saw him pulling the boat with the Cadillac Escalade SUV he bought his wife, the last thing you would guess is he votes for Democrats.

So as we sip our beer, here is what we discuss -- taxes, and how many of the following apply to his daily life. Someday, I may persuade him to vote his interests -- for Republicans.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines (indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest expense (tax on the money)
Inventory tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone state and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
Trailer registration tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax