A frustrated state legislator announced Wednesday a new bill that would hold legislators’ paychecks for failing to pass the state budget.

Proposed by Rep. Louis Molepske, D-Stevens Point, the Budget Accountability Act was prompted by countless constituent complaints about how slowly the budget is progressing. The bill, if passed, will instill specific budget benchmarks for members of the budget conference committee.

If these deadlines are not met, the bill would defer paychecks to all state legislators and enact a government shutdown until the budget passes through the legislature.

"If shutdown occurs and paychecks don't go out, I think that will be an incentive to get people to the table and compromise [on a budget]," Molepske said. "I take this so seriously that I would put my own monthly budget in the red to get the state budget on schedule."

Paychecks would be withheld starting after the budget deadline is missed and continue until the budget passes.

According to Molepske, shutting down the government entails closing government buildings that are not essential to everyday life. The bill explains "essential services" such as hospitals, police departments and fire departments would be "exempt from the resolution requirement so citizens are not put at risk."

Twenty-three states currently enact government shutdowns if budget agreements cannot be reached, Molepske said. Wisconsin is the last state in the country with a July 1 budget deadline that has not reached an agreement yet.

"[With this bill] we would look more like other states in the U.S. and have real budget deadlines," Molepske said.

A version of the budget has been passed by both the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled Assembly. The budget conference committee consists of four Republicans and four Democrats, who are currently deliberating the 2007-2009 state budget.

After about 16 meetings, the committee has not reached a compromise — a necessary step so one version of the budget can be passed.

Five Democrats, including Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, introduced similar legislation Wednesday to compel the conference committee to finish the budget.

The Budget Deadline Enforcement Act delineates a specific time frame for meetings that all committee members must attend to discuss the budget. Unless committee members have a valid excuse for absence, such as family emergency or illness, they would be required by law to attend each meeting.

"[Both bills] are a reflection of the frustration we in the legislature feel about the fact that the conference committee has not been able to come to an agreement yet," Parisi said.

According to Parisi, the Deadline Enforcement Act takes a direct approach to agreeing on a budget where Molepske's Accountability Act is more indirect.

"What are we trying to accomplish?" Parisi asked. "Putting [the committee members] in a room and not letting them out until they do something will put pressure on them. Deferring pay of 132 legislature members and shutting down government is an indirect way to reach an agreement."

Despite both Molepske and Parisi using different means, they want the same ends.

"This bill is not a gimmick," Molepske said. "It is a sincere idea to keep government on track."

But John Murray, spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said in a previous interview with The Badger Herald that such bill should be taken up at a later date.

“These are all ideas worthy of serious consideration, and they will be given that consideration at an appropriate time,” Murray said. “To be kicking up these ideas in the midst of the budget deliberations really isn’t appropriate.”