The Badger Herald: News: State partisans clash over legislative agenda

News

State partisans clash over legislative agenda

Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.

Also by Yana Paskova:

Paul Ryan reintroduces Social Security privatization package in House (April 22, 2005)
Woman dies in apartment on Langdon (April 27, 2005)
Capitol hosts first 'State of the Tribes' address (March 9, 2005)
State to appoint Taser committee (February 24, 2005)
Assembly passes property tax freeze pushed by Republicans (February 18, 2005)

Friday, January 21, 2005 12:00 a.m.

3 Vote 0 Votes

Republicans and Democrats of the Wisconsin State Assembly clashed on the viability of this year’s agenda a week following Gov. Jim Doyle’s promise to return “fiscal sanity to state government.”

In his State of the State speech, Doyle outlined his goal to raise the minimum wage, fund stem-cell research, reduce dependence on foreign oil, provide property-tax relief, increase financial aid for education and provide more support for citizens without prescription-drug coverage.

Despite Republicans’ doubts on the plan’s financial practicability, Democrats such as Rep. Spencer Black of Madison demonstrated an intention to follow Doyle’s key points.

Black said some of his personal goals included increasing funding to the University of Wisconsin and providing health care to the uninsured — especially to allow child-care workers to enroll in the BadgerCare state program for low-income families with kids.

“Child-care workers spend a lot of time caring for children, and many don’t have kids of their own,” Black said, adding childless employees should be allowed to enroll in the program.

According to Black, preserving funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program is also crucial because it has protected thousands of acres of woods from elimination.

He said, although he expressed concern the Republicans would try to “dramatically” cut the state program, he would still try to promote many of his priority bills.

“The legislature has not been sympathetic to protecting the stewardship program or supporting education,” he said. “I plan to gain support for those bills and pressure others to support them.”

Although some of Doyle’s proposals — such as last session’s action plan “Grow Wisconsin” — have gained bipartisan support, it seems many of his current proposals will not hold ground with the Republican majority of the Assembly.

Rep. Carol Owens, R-Oshkosh, said Doyle’s speech was “non-confrontational.” However, she does not know the sources for the money Doyle suggested in his proposals.

“From where I was sitting, I ran out of money halfway through his speech,” she said. “He didn’t say where he’d get his money.”

Owens added there were no bad proposals, but the Assembly members would have to remain selective about which ones to fund. Even though the economy is expected to improve and pick up some of the financial slack, Owens said she did not predict it would be enough to make some of Doyle’s ideas realistic.

Owens stated Doyle primarily focused on education issues, but there were further matters in need of attention. She added the Assembly is “in a big hole” where it stands with corrections, and members must find a way to deal with inmates beyond incarceration.

In his address, Doyle also mentioned he would like to advance a new worker-training bill, pass legislation requiring a third year of math and a third year of science as graduation requirements for all Wisconsin students, make energy supply adequate and environmentally responsible and also fix the “culture of overspending” in the state.

3 Comments | Leave a comment

Anonymous | January 21, 2005 11:42 AM | Reply

Rep. Carol Owens, R-Oshkosh, is a crazy old bag who has no significant legislative accomplishments to her name.

And if you don’t believe me, check out her picture at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asm53/asm53.html.

Anonymous | January 21, 2005 3:51 PM | Reply

More than 11,000 U.S. troops and 16 Navy ships are providing relief support, according to the Pentagon. Since the operation began Jan. 1, they have delivered more than 8,600 tons of relief supplies to the affected region.

U.S. military in vital role Indonesians living in aid camps were also worried about the withdrawal of American forces, whose helicopters have become the backbone of the relief effort.

SLIDE SHOW

Rebuilding Click "Launch" for the most recent images of the aftermath of the massive earthquake that hit south Asia, sparking the tsunami that has killed tens of thousands of people.

"I want them to stay here 100 percent. If they leave, there'll be no more food," said Mohamad Amin

—

What was that skank bag writing the other day about the US being cheap?

Anonymous | January 21, 2005 3:55 PM | Reply

She looks like a nice grandma who bakes cookies.