Republican state legislators and Governor Doyle again find
themselves in sharp disagreement with each other with regards to
the state budget.
Last week, the Republican controlled Joint-Finance Committee passed
a budget that Gov. Doyle threatened to veto if changes are not made
before the budget reaches his desk. The state Senate passed the
budget early this morning 17-16, with only one amendment that was
widely criticized by Democratic state senators.
Legislators have agreed to the governor’s proposed $250 million cut
to the UW System budget. UW-Madison Vice-Chancellor Darrell Bazzell
said his feeling on the process is “interestingly enough, one of
relief” that the cut has been determined and was not larger than
expected.
The $250 million system cut will result in a $38 million decrease
in the UW-Madison budget. According to Bazzell, this cut will
affect the services provided to students, including 200-300 fewer
course offerings.
Bazzell said he has concerns on how these cuts will affect
tuition.
“In-state tuition is still below the mean for our peer group [of
schools]. I have a concern what the effect will be to the tuition
levels of our out-of-state and graduate students.”
Both the governor and Joint Finance Committee Chairwoman Alberta
Darling (R-River Hills) believe no further changes will be made to
the System budget.
“We feel the UW has swallowed enough in this painful process,” said
Darling spokesman Tom Petri.
The remaining budget is still contentious, as Gov. Doyle has
expressed concern with the budget passed by the Joint Finance
Committee, even threatening to take the unprecedented move of
vetoing the entire state budget, said Dan Leistikow, press
secretary to Doyle.
“The governor is obviously open to talking. The governor has the
most powerful veto powers of any governor in the country and
whether it is a line-item or a full-veto, the governor is prepared
to use his veto powers if he feels it is necessary,” Leistikow
added.
The main issue of contention remaining appears to be property taxes
and how K-12 education will be funded.
The governor made a campaign promise to refrain from raising taxes
and his budget proposal does not include direct tax hikes. However,
Republican legislators claim that while his budget does not
directly raise taxes it not only allows, but practically requires
local governments to raise property taxes to pay for K-12
education.
Leistikow countered the Republican claim by saying, “An increase in
property taxes is a decision to be made by local governments. The
governor’s budget nearly restored all the shared revenue cuts.”
The Joint Finance Committee budget and the budget passed by the
Senate today places a freeze on property taxes, only allowing for
increases due to population growth.
Gov. Doyle says this freeze would result in a $400 million cut to
K-12 education.
But Republican legislators do not appear to be backing down from
the governor’s demands.
Accoding to Petri, “[I] think he is playing chicken with the full
veto. We went along with many of his proposals including the UW
budget. The only reason he would veto the whole thing is if he was
afraid to veto the freeze. We’re dead set on what we did. He will
not intimidate the Republican legislature.”
The Assembly is expected to take up the budget later today and
likely pass the budget by the end of the week, upon which the
legislation will make its way to the governor’s desk.
Editors note: The Assembly has passed the budget and it is
now at the Governor’s desk.
