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6/3/2009
Fireworks in the Dem caucus
Lots of spin has described the budget that came out of JFC early last Friday morning. Governor Doyle said the legislature made "hard decisions" and “protected the middle class” and of course, the same old misrepresentation popped up that there are no general or sales tax increases except for incomes over $300,000. That’s all complete fabrication, given fee increases and new taxes in the budget. But somehow last Friday morning, the bride was still fresh and glowing, according to the Journal Sentinel.
Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature, are expected to pass the package of tax and fee increases and spending cuts, with few changes. Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle praised the deal, suggesting he would use his vast veto powers sparingly. I think maybe not. It seems to me a budget passed in the middle of the night contains stuff even the Democrats can’t defend.
"There's so many bad things in this budget" [Rep. Marlin] Schneider said…. Look what the Dems did to schools. They cut general school aids – a lot. Ok fine, spread the pain? But then they cut categorical aids by $4.6 million each year, deleted significant SAGE dollars ($9.1 million), tightened the revenue caps (at the same time requiring that federal stimulus money used for equalization aid be included in revenue limit calculations). All of this is very bad news for school districts. Add in the demise of the QEO in 2010 and the perfect storm is brewing.
Do you think schools and parents are going to sit still for that?
[Wisconsin Association of School Boards executive director John] Ashley complained
that while the Democrat-controlled committee reduced aid to school districts and restricted their ability to raise property taxes, it also voted to repeal provisions that have helped restrict employee compensation costs and allow districts to avoid arbitration.
Instead of protecting teachers, as the measures are aimed to do, Ashley said the result is "a recipe for significant layoffs and drastic cuts in our schools" The WisPolitics Budget Blog does a good job presenting problems Dems are talking about.
Freshman Dem Rep. Chris Danou jokes he's got three pages worth of changes he'd like made to the state budget the Joint Finance Committee kicked out early Friday morning.
While he knows lawmakers normally have to take some bad with the good on any budget they vote for, Dem leaders are now faced with the task of persuading lawmakers like Danou that the bad isn't that bad. Or they have to find enough good to add to the document to win their support as they try to find the 50 votes they need to get the budget through the Assembly.
…."There's no way to say that this is going to be an easy thing to have to sign off on." And freshman Assembly Democrat Nick Milroy (D – Superior) on the budget:
When the state is literally out of money, there's difficult choices that have to be made. This is a budget that no one is happy with, and I do think they're going to have trouble getting 50 votes in the Assembly. Today’s Wisconsin State Journal is more specific about the problems. Sounds like the constitutionality of taxing excess oil profits is worrying the Dems – and that means Dems will have to suck it up and vote on a hefty increase in the gas tax. Wow. That’s big.
Assembly Democrats might alter their 2009-11 budget proposal to let oil companies pass on a $260 million tax to consumers, key leaders said Tuesday, but other Democrats question whether the tax should remain in the spending plan to be voted on as early as June 10.
….Other Democrats worry about the impact of the tax on certain businesses, including cooperatives and local fuel suppliers they say will be harmed by it.
….Clark was one of seven Assembly Democrats who wrote a letter to Pocan and Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, the other budget committee co-chairman, last week urging them “to avoid imposing” the oil tax.
And, the policy junk.
The budget also includes controversial provisions like a driver’s card for illegal immigrants and earmarks for local projects.
…. Democrats said they’re also concerned about measures to require contractors to pay the prevailing wage on public projects costing more than $25,000 and to allow damages to be borne entirely by defendants in civil cases if they are found at least 20 percent liable. So taxpayers and voters and Democrats in the House and Senate, how bad is bad?
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Diamond Jim has made WI NUMBER ONE. Yes, we officially have the HIGHEST PER CAPITA DEFICIT in the whole USA! He must be proud of himself, if his arrogance is anything to go by!
We need to send him a message loud and clear. He needs to be FIRED. Go to www.recalldoyle.com and sign up to help us make history!
emily matthews (Wed Jun 03 10:01:56 2009)
This budget is deeply disturbing on so many levels. On a personal level, especially so concerning two issues.
First, the way it is done. I'm so tired of politicians cramming what they do down taxpayers' collective throats. I am tired, too, of the bold-faced dishonesty and secrecy they market as "transparency". And, I am tired, of politicians, special interests,and media determining what's in our best interests rather than taxpayers.
Second, two years ago I had a life-changing experience with the governor of this state. His callous actions have changed me in ways so deeply personal and destructive I cannot recount them here. I am still struggling to survive his debilitating blow.
So, learning of his so-called tort reform broadsided me yet again and I am wondering just how many more blows from this man I and everyone else living in Wisconsin will be required to absorb.
What can a person do to stop this madness?
PatriciaMcNaughton (Wed Jun 03 10:38:23 2009)
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