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Legislators optimistic about budget

The newest version of the 2007-09 state budget passed through the conference committee 7-1 late Monday afternoon.

The bill will be voted on today by the Republican-controlled Assembly and, if passed, will be voted on by the Democratic-controlled Senate. But despite Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle’s support for the new compromise, state legislators are voicing mixed opinions on the latest budget bill.

Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, is the only legislator on the budget committee that voted against the compromise budget.

Ryan Murray, communications director for Fitzgerald, said the senator is happy the state Legislature was able to come to an agreement, but cannot support the compromise plan. “This budget still spends too much and taxes too much for [Fitzgerald’s] taste,” Murray said.

The budget bill, Murray added, may not pass through the Assembly tomorrow.

“In the houses, I think you’ll see a bunch of ‘no’ votes,” Murray said.

However, Josh Wescott, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson — who voted for the new budget Monday — said he thinks the plan is a smart compromise.

“We foresee that it will pass,” Wescott said. “We’ll see how many Republicans in the Assembly come on board and support the compromise.”

Twenty-two Republicans have signed a petition pledging not to support a budget bill that raises taxes, and the latest budget proposal includes a tax increase.

But Wescott said, if passed, this version of the budget would help the state’s economy by putting money into K-12 education, as well as the University of Wisconsin System’s Growth Agenda.

“This is a budget that invests in priorities and values for what we think people in Wisconsin care about the most,” Wescott said.

Doyle said in a release Friday he is happy with the compromised budget bill, as it keeps taxes at an affordable rate while providing funding for important programs throughout the state. “This has been a difficult process for all of us, but … Democrats and Republicans [are] ready to move this state forward, and ready to create opportunity for hardworking Wisconsin families,” Doyle said in the statement.