Garthwaite Faces Two GOP Challangers

The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reported Sunday that two Republicans are gearing up to take on Garthwaite.

Republicans seek to unseat Garthwaite in Wisconsin's 49th Assembly District.
TELEGRAPH HERALD

Travis Tranel wants another shot at Phil Garthwaite. But he's going to have to go through David Kuhle first.

Tranel, a rural Cuba City, Wis., Republican, told the TH last week he "absolutely, without a doubt" will be in the race for Wisconsin's 49th Assembly District seat, and plans to make it official in the coming months.

While he may be waiting for the right time to announce, Tranel has hit the ground running on the fundraising trail. Last year, his undeclared campaign took in more than $7,500.

"It's a lot easier the second time around," said Tranel, who ran unsuccessfully in 2008 against Democratic incumbent Garthwaite. "There's just so much more enthusiasm. It's just easier to raise dollars when you have that name recognition."

The southwest Wisconsin farmer was 22 when he bested a three-man field, including Kuhle, in the 2008 GOP primary. He went on to lose to Garthwaite in the general election, 54 percent to 46 percent.

Kuhle, an established Hazel Green Republican, now leads the Grant County GOP. He officially announced his candidacy several weeks ago, and reported $5,300 in his campaign bank at the end of last year.

Garthwaite moved into the election year with more than $14,000 in his campaign war chest. He says if the past is any indicator, he'll finish second in campaign finance.

"I've been outspent every time I run," he said.

More facing tax hikes in Wisconsin

Staying in the Badger State, a tax watchdog group warns significant changes to Wisconsin's income tax could affect thousands of taxpayers this year, many of them considered rich in political lexicon.

Due to state budget problems, income tax changes for tax year 2009 include a number of tax increases, according to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to public policy research and education.

The most substantial increase is a new top individual income tax rate of 7.75 percent on all taxable incomes exceeding $300,000 for married couples filing jointly ($225,000 for single filers). Capital gains taxes also increased, due to a reduction in the net long-term capital gains exclusion from 60 percent to 30 percent.

Federal tax changes for tax year 2009 largely benefit first-time homebuyers and those collecting unemployment benefits, WISTAX said.

Explanations of the changes and "plain-English" instructions for filing 2009 federal and state tax returns are available in the alliance's annual tax guide, Taxes10 (for a $3.95 charge). For more information, contact the organization at 608-241-9789 or wistax@wistax.org.