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City leaders respond to Doyle’s budget plan

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by Courtney Johnson

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz issued a statement Wednesday expressing his approval of Gov. Jim Doyle's state budget proposal.

Doyle's budget proposal would provide funding for numerous city and state initiatives, including $1 million for a Dane County program that would provide services for low-income children, and additional funding for the state's BadgerCare health insurance program.

"There were some promising provisions in the budget," said George Twigg, communications director for Cieslewicz. "There's additional funding for local programs [and] shared revenue, which is used to support programs like police and fire, and some additional support for transportation, which helps (Madison) Metro."

Cieslewicz will be facing three candidates this April's mayoral election, including Peter Muñoz, director of the non-profit Centro Hispano.

Overall, Muñoz said he approves of Doyle's budget and his efforts to lessen the state's debt. However, Muñoz did express concern about the $1.25 cigarette tax increase included in Doyle's budget proposal.

"The problem is that many [smokers] who have been able to quit have quit," Muñoz said. "The ones who have not are addicted — they are simply unable to quit."

The candidate also expressed concern that the tax might have negative effects on poor people, who he said are disproportionately inclined to smoke.

"I'm not going to criticize the governor because I know that he has a very difficult job of trying to balance the budget," Muñoz said.

Another of Cieslewicz's challengers, Madison Times owner Ray Allen, is also satisfied with Doyle's decision to help Wisconsin cities in his budget.

"We are pleased about his proposal to provide some cost-control relief to cities, and we're also pleased about the educational component of his budget," said Semmi Pasha, spokesperson for Allen.

Twigg said the budget is good overall, but added it will take some time to feel the real impacts of the state's new budget.

Doyle's budget proposal will now head to the state Legislature, where it will be edited before being sent back to the governor for final approval.

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