[media-credit name=’JAKE NAUGHTON/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Gov. Jim Doyle signed the 2007-09 state budget Friday morning at Memorial Union as the classic state mantra "On Wisconsin" played in the background. The signing — witnessed by legislators, union representatives and University of Wisconsin students — officially ended the nearly four-month long budget impasse that created frustration between Republicans and Democrats. Before Doyle signed the budget, however, he did make some line-item vetoes — although they were the fewest made to a state budget in three decades. The results of the vetoes include raising local property taxes by roughly $13 in 2008 and preventing shopkeepers from giving away free samples of hard liquor. "Tomorrow, and for every day to come, we will be creating opportunities for hardworking citizens of Wisconsin," Doyle said. UW senior Morrad Fadel spoke about how the budget will help him and thousands of other students by providing substantial funding to the UW System and financial aid programs. "Hopefully, I can uncross my fingers soon and focus on what I came to school to do, which is to educate myself," Fadel said. Supporters with ties to nearly every UW System campus came to Madison to celebrate the end of the budget stalemate with Doyle. "[Doyle] has been so supportive of the UW System during this process," said Derek Brandt, student senate president at UW-River Falls. "It’ll help us at River Falls in the future." Also in attendance were members of the Wisconsin chapter of Americans for Prosperity and members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who rallied for a budget compromise last week outside the King Street entrance of the Capitol. Public workers also came out in support of the budget. The Department of Corrections and municipal police and fire departments received the necessary funds to continue to properly operate in the new budget. Those who spoke were very grateful for Doyle’s commitment to Wisconsin’s future. UW System President Kevin Reilly thanked Doyle and his wife Jessica for spending so much time visiting the UW campuses. "In fact, some of the chancellors who are here today said that they were going to start charging the governor and Jessica tuition if they kept coming back," Reilly joked. Doyle, a Democrat, spent much of his speech thanking legislative leaders, including Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, for working so hard to keep the budget negations ongoing, positive and bearable. A notably longer and louder applause took place to acknowledge Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, who, after working long hours to get the budget done, was replaced as majority leader by Sen. Russ Decker, D-Weston. Robson said after the event that some of the reasons given for her dismissal could easily be construed as gender-based. "I was told I was ‘too nice’ to be a leader," Robson said. "I think it’s sexist, and I told the person who said that it’s a sexist comment." John Murray, spokesperson for Huebsch, said Friday that any attempts to override Doyle’s vetoes would probably not take place until a special session in May.
Late fees? Doyle signs budget 117 days post-due date
October 28, 2007
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