Sen. Judy
Robson, D-Beloit, announced Thursday she will introduce a bill that would
prevent future budget negotiations from carrying on indefinitely.

During
budget years, Robson's legislation would set a Sept. 15 deadline for the
completion of a budget. If this deadline is not met, the governor would shut
down all nonessential government services until a budget is passed.

"This
legislation is intended to add a sense of urgency, to hold the legislator's
feet to the fire and really press on getting a budget done," said Josh Wescott,
communications director for Robson.

The budget
deadline is currently July 1, but this year's process took an additional 114
days. Wescott said countless problems arose as a result of the budget impasse,
like students waiting on financial aid and veterans waiting for low-interest
home loans.

"Apparently
all those factors weren't enough to give some people the kick in the pants to
get the budget done," Wescott said. "Next time we go down this road, everybody
knows by mid-September if there isn't a budget, then here are the
consequences."

Rep. Steve
Nass, R-Whitewater, said he opposes the legislation for several reasons.

"It is a
gimmick," Nass said. "The Legislature has a duty to present the budget and to
argue the points — pro and con of a budget. When you impose a deadline, such as
[Robson] is promoting, a budget will be delivered that is not in the best
interest of the taxpayers of the state of Wisconsin."

Nass also
objects to the portion of the bill allowing the governor to decide what
government services should be deemed nonessential.

"From one
governor to the next governor, nonessential could be defined differently. So
that bill allows for inconsistencies and a whole host of politics could be
played," Nass said. "That is not right. There should be legislative oversight
at a minimum."

Wescott
said while it is at the governor's discretion to define nonessential services,
he sees all public safety services, like the state patrol, remaining active. He
said things like parks would probably be shut down.

Wescott
added 22 other states currently have similar provisions to shut down designated
nonessential services.

But Nass believes
22 other states having a similar law is not an acceptable reason to adopt the
legislation.

"It
doesn't mean Wisconsin has to follow all the other states over the cliff," Nass
said.

Another
problem Nass has with the governor defining nonessential services would come
during campaign years, he said, adding special interest groups could donate
money to a governor as an incentive for the governor to keep the group's
services running after the Sept. 15 deadline.

The bill
is currently circulating for co-sponsorship and should be introduced to the Senate
in about 10 days. It will then be referred to a committee as decided by the
majority leader's office, Wescott said.

"I think
it's well-intentioned so we don't have to repeat history," he said.