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Leaders agree on budget plan

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Also by Jessi Polsky:

Robbery string continues on city's west side (October 2, 2007)
Legislators want school HPV info (September 28, 2007)
Governor approves public safety plan (September 26, 2007)
Republicans introduce budget transparency bill (September 25, 2007)
State drops health plan (September 24, 2007)

by Jessi Polsky

Monday, October 22, 2007

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle reached a budget agreement with bipartisan legislative leaders late Friday night, but some legislators are still uncertain of its future.

The budget agreement is slated for debate in the Budget Conference Committee today, and if approved by the committee, would be voted on by all state legislators Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit, Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, and Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, announced their new version of the 2007-09 Wisconsin state budget more than 100 days after the original budget deadline.

Doyle is pleased with the outcome of the recent deliberations and said the new bill creates opportunities for middle-class Wisconsin residents.

“This has been a difficult process for all of us, but today Democrats and Republicans begin anew, ready to move this state forward, and ready to create opportunity for hardworking Wisconsin families,”Â Doyle said in a release Friday.

Huebsch said in a release Friday he is happy a budget agreement has been reached and hopes it is passed later this week.

“The chief disagreement for Assembly Republicans and Wisconsin Democrats has been the amount of taxes and spending Wisconsin families can afford,”Â Huebsch said in the release. “[This] agreement removes billions in tax increases and balances the state budget while providing funding for a host of critical programs.”Â

Despite support for the new budget from legislative leaders, the bill is not receiving unconditional support. Both Democrats and Republicans have voiced disapproval over many aspects of the new agreement.

Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said he is pleased legislative leaders have compromised and produced a new budget bill. However, Risser added he is disappointed with many aspects of the new agreement.

“I’m not real thrilled with the agreement, [and] I would have preferred a budget closer to what the Senate passed the first time around,”Â Risser said.

The original 2007-09 Senate version of the state budget, Risser said, included domestic partner benefits for University of Wisconsin faculty. The new bill does not include these benefits which, according to Risser, are extremely important for the UW System.

“We’re the only state in the Big Ten not to have [domestic partner benefits],”Â Risser said. “We’ve lost some excellent people on the campus because we do not have them.”Â

Like Risser, Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, is unhappy with the new budget bill, and according to his spokesperson, Mike Mikalsen, Nass will vote against this version of the state budget.

Mikalsen said he believes the UW tuition cap was not included in the budget, and by refusing to add the clause to the bill, Nass believes students will suffer.

“The students again got beat up by the leaders of both parties by taking out the tuition cap,”Â Mikalsen said. “The worst news is the UW System is going to take a minimum of a $21 million [cut], meaning in the next year, you will see tuition go up dramatically.”Â

Mikalsen added legislative leaders have yet to provide legislators with detailed information about the new budget. This political tactic, Mikalsen added, is frustrating and raises concerns.

“The three people who cut the deal could not or would not answer any detailed questions, [but] they know the answers,”Â Mikalsen said.

Wisconsin Legislature members will be given details about the new budget Monday.

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