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Day off: Budget delays continue

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by Jessi Polsky

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle said the state may experience a partial government shutdown in the wake of the Wisconsin Legislature’s failure to pass a budget in a special session Monday night.

Wisconsin has been operating under the 2005-06 state budget and is supposed to continue doing so until a 2007-09 version is passed. However, Carla Vigue, spokesperson for Doyle, said Wisconsin is spending more money now than the government did two years ago.

"Each and every day that passes without a budget, the state is spending money at higher levels than the 2005-06 budget appropriated for," Vigue said.

The cost of living, Vigue said, has gone up, but by using the old state budget, there are not enough funds to pay these additional expenses.

The Legislature approved pay raises for some state employees. However, the additional dollars needed to fulfill the government’s promise cannot be found in the 2005-06 budget.

"This is a fiscal nightmare," Vigue said. "A heating bill, for instance, is more than it was last year, [so] we’re spending at a higher level than we were at the 2005-06 budget."

But Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said Doyle is throwing inaccurate statements at the public to gain support for his budget.

"The government does not shut down in the state," Suder said. "The governor’s scare tactics are wearing very thin with the public."

Assembly Republicans, Suder added, refuse to accept Doyle’s compromise budget because it calls for a $1.1 billion tax hike.

"No matter what scare tactic [Doyle] tries against the Assembly, we are not going to simply cave into his billion dollar tax increase proposal," Suder said.

However, Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said the state would drain dollars from University of Wisconsin students even if Doyle’s budget does not pass. UW will have to charge an additional $600-800 per student next semester if the budget dispute is not resolved.

"We agreed to pay some of the persons who work at the university more," Risser said. "If we’re going to maintain the same level of services, we’re going to need to bring in more money."

Risser added Doyle might have to close down parts of the state government if funding for them is not approved soon, and the potential shutdown would include laying off state workers.

After the special session Monday, the budget committee is back to the drawing board. It did not meet Tuesday.

"There is no budget pending right now," Risser said. "[The] conference committee is still in existence."

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Anonymous (October 17, 2007 @ 8:07am):

It's the 2006-07 budget, not the 2005-06 budget.

Anonymous (October 17, 2007 @ 1:15pm):

We are currently on the 2005-07 budget and we are waiting for the 2007-09 version to get passed.

Wisconsin Legislature just do your job and get it done.

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