A legislative column by Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin)

 

The state budget is the single most important action of the Wisconsin Legislative Session.  The budget pays the bills and charts a course for the direction of the state.  It touches every part of state government and the services provided to Wisconsin citizens.  The budget process is always difficult.  During tough times like the present, it is even tougher.

 

Under the last administration, the governor and legislature approached the biennial budgets seemingly using a new, high-limit credit card.  They spent and spent.  When they were done doing that, they spent some more. The last four budgets increased from one budget to the next by $3 billion, $2 billion, $6 billion, and again $6 billion.

 

These budget increases came during a time some homeowners were underwater, owing more for their mortgage than the value of the home, and during a time with unemployment at levels not seen since the Great Depression.

 

November 2, 2010, the people of Wisconsin said, enough!  They elected partisan change to the Governor’s office, the Wisconsin State Senate, and the Wisconsin State Assembly.  The electorate sent the directive that elected representatives had better do something about government spending. Republicans followed the directive.  The 2011-2013 state budget does not increase by billions of dollars.  In fact, it does not increase by even one billion dollars. 

 

The path this budget takes does not lead in the direction of $3 billion deficits or use one-time money for long-term programs. The budget does not include billion dollar tax increases and does not include numerous fee increases like the last four budgets.

 

This budget includes a property tax freeze.  Instead of scrambling to fill budget holes next time around, this budget leaves Wisconsin in the black.

 

Core Wisconsin principles remain. Education funding accounts for nearly $13 billion, 44 percent of general purpose revenue in the 2011-2013 budget. To put the numbers in perspective, the state expects to collect just more than $14 billion worth of income taxes during the next two years.  Nearly all of the income tax will go to education, leaving roughly the other half of tax collections to pay for all other state programs.  To say this budget abandons education is lunacy.

 

Yes, there is a reduction in state funding to local school districts.  However, that reduction is designed to be offset in large part by increased employee contributions to pensions and health insurance.

 

The core principle of putting students first takes a big step forward with the expansion of a school choice program that has a record of accomplishment helping students achieve success.  Milwaukee choice students have a seven percent better chance of graduating high school than their public school counterparts.

 

The rhetoric from the other side is that this budget pulls a rug out from those who need it most.  That is demonstrably false.  The Department of Health Services’ budget increases $2 billion with this budget. General fund spending for medical assistance programs is increased 42 percent. SeniorCare is fully funded.  The Joint Finance Committee added $10 million to the Family Care program for emergency services.

 

We were at a fork in the road in this state.  We could continue down the same, tired path that led us into numerous state financial problems, or we can take the road less traveled, the responsible path of fiscal restraint.

 

The budget Governor Scott Walker and the Legislature have written is an honest budget that does not borrow and spend recklessly.  This budget charts a course out of years of debt and propels Wisconsin into economic recovery.  I am pleased to vote for this budget directing Wisconsin down a responsible fiscal path.