The village doesn't want to raise the child of the Bride of Tabor

The business community is starting to run away from the child of the Bride of Tabor. The newest version of the so-called Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA) is a child only a parent could love.

Rep. Jeff Wood jammed his newest version of the TPA down the throats of the members on his committee this week and now that people have had a chance to review the new proposal, even those that would be considered typical supporters of this type of legislation are walking away.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association says the new proposal could make issuing bonds to pay for large projects more expensive for small communities. The group also highlighted something all current homeowners in growing communities need to pay attention to - it doesn't allow communities to tax enough of their new construction. Translation: current property tax payers will pick up the tab.

Nice protection.

The Madison Chamber of Commerce is also criticizing the proposal because it threatens economic engines like the UW-Madison. Legislators shouldn't dismiss this as lefty Madison's Chamber of Commerce out on limb either. The coalition that demanded Colorado's TPA-like amendment be iced included the Chamber of Commerce because it was hurting the economy of Colorado.

Legislators are still saying that there will be a vote on TPA at the end of April so it remains to be seen how many legislators are willing to take on this problem child.