Who says Wisconsin suffers from a dearth of elderly citizens?
Scott Walker does. One of the peripheral pledges of his gubernatorial campaign was to create tax incentives for seniors to forgo year-round shuffle board in Florida and stay true to their frozen tundra heritage. He's even proposed traveling to the sunbelt to throw parties for former Sconnies. "Don't you remember what a brandy old fashioned tastes like," he'd ask.
But with the elderly comes costs as well as investment. In fact, growth in the senior population is tied to a rise in state spending on Medical Assistance, the second largest budget item in Wisconsin. It's one of the main reasons why the cost of delivering state services will likely outpace economic growth in the next biennium.
Steve Walters makes another good point in a column on the subject today. Is a state dominated by the elderly an attractive destination for businesses and young workers? An economy can't run on Old Country Buffet.
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