The drama playing out in the state Capitol over the past few months has provided a plentiful crop of news stories for media outlets across Wisconsin. The inability of the state Senate and Assembly to compromise and pass the state budget has left Wisconsin as the only state in the Union without a spending plan for the coming year. Wisconsin has even managed to fall behind the fumbling and chaotic state government in California, arguably the worst state when it comes to budget consensus-building.
The common-sense view of the budget situation in news reports tends to include two basic ideas.
First, the situation is threatening the state's ability to fund key areas, such as student financial aid and schools.
The second component of most news reports either features the writer of the story or quotes from people on the street explaining how politicians in Madison need to learn to understand the other side, compromise with each other and pass around the peace pipe so citizens of the state don't have to worry about a nonfunctioning piece of federalism ruining their lives.
As I mentioned earlier, there are several very important components of the budget that, if not passed soon, will have an impact both in Madison and across the state. State financial aid for college students is one area that is threatened by the delay. The Sept. 11 Herald article, "Legislators fight over grants," by Amanda Villa on the financial aid aspect of the budget reported there are 349 students at UW-Madison yet to receive their state aid grants. For these students, there is no doubt that getting the state budget passed is a pressing issue they would like to see resolved.
Above all, news stories remind us how we can't forget the children. The budget delay has forced school districts to plan their budgets based on the current law regarding how much they may increase the levy. If the budget passes later and cuts the size of the levy increase, school districts will be forced to cover any shortfalls by either borrowing or using emergency reserves. Furthermore, all the extra money that the school districts can raise will have to come solely from property taxes, because no budget means no state aid.
State spending will continue at the previous year's levels without a budget, so key services are unaffected. However, there are obviously some nasty consequences.
Given the drawbacks of passing a late budget, it is understandable why many people are perplexed and angry.
However, I would like to offer a slightly different view of the ordeal our state is going through. No one should be surprised that the Republican state Assembly and the Democratic Senate came up with different budget plans. From the beginning, the two chambers were obviously going to have to conduct plenty of horse trading and posturing before reconciliation of the budget.
The extraordinary nature of this year's state Senate budget plan guaranteed that the normal delay generated by a split Legislature would expand dramatically.
The most controversial feature included in the Senate's budget is health care reform. The universal health coverage plan included in the Senate's budget promises to dramatically reshape the face of health care in Wisconsin.
Personally, I dislike this dramatic expansion of government power. However, whether or not you agree with the proposed reforms, their scope makes it worthwhile to take the time in the beginning to hash out the details. The fact that the difference between the Assembly's budget and the Senate's budget is in the ballpark figure of $10 billion emphasizes this point.
Real issues of administration and funding need to be worked out. The last thing Wisconsin needs is for a new health care system to be rushed too quickly through the Legislature and cause more problems than existed to begin with. Furthermore, coming up with a settlement that satisfies both sides may help to prevent problems in the future. If Republicans and Democrats can agree to a health care settlement now, it could spare the state continued future fights over funding.
Beyond the universal health plan, there are plenty of other contentious issues. The state's tax on real estate transfers is set to double, thereby raising the amount charged on the average-priced home for sale from $500 to $1,000. Furthermore, as Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, wrote in a Herald article ("Lawmakers should support university") on Aug. 31, that the Assembly budget includes $125 million in systemwide cuts for the UW.
Compromise on these smaller issues alone would be challenging enough. Throw in a universal health care proposal and all bets on a timely solution are off. The wait may be longer than most people want, but ultimately, I believe that a delayed outcome will be better than a hurried one.
Andrew Wagner ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in history and political science.
