When Governor Doyle introduced his budget of punishing tax hikes, reckless government spending increases and job-killing policy ideas in February, I was optimistic the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee would seize the opportunity to make major improvements to the fiscal document. Unfortunately, after months of backroom meetings and late night deals, Democrats on the Committee have managed to make a bad budget worse in four specific ways.READ MORE
April 06
Highlighting the Budget Lowlights The Governor’s Phone-y Budgeting
By now you have certainly heard about all the taxes Governor Jim Doyle wants to raise to feed his $4.5 billion increase in state spending. But in addition to the new taxes he has in store for high income earners, motorists, businesses, smokers, investors, etc., he has another sneaky new revenue source in mind: your phone.READ MORE
March 20
Highlighting the Budget Lowlights: The End of Truth-in-Sentencing
The core government function of providing for public safety will be severely undermined by Governor Jim Doyle’s plan to release hundreds of arsonists, kidnappers, burglars and child abusers into local communities…READ MORE
March 17
GOP Lawmakers Slam “Madison Math” in Doyle Budget
Governor Jim Doyle’s call for a 7.7% state spending increase shows a complete disconnect from economic reality…READ MORE
March 16
Governor’s Budget Proposal Is Bad for the Economy
Given the economy’s dire straits, everything state government does right now should be done with an eye toward making Wisconsin a better place for jobs to flourish…READ MORE
March 11
Highlighting the Budget Lowlights: "Government Efficiency Measures"
It may be debatable whether “government efficiency” is an oxymoron, but we should all at least agree on what the phrase means…READ MORE
March 04
Joint Finance Committee Statewide Public Hearings
The Joint Finance Committee has just announced it will be holding six statewide budget hearings between March 23rd and April 3rd. The public hearing that will be closest for the Washington, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Milwaukee County residents of the 8th Senate District will be held Wednesday, March 25th at State Fair Park, Banquet Room 2 (640 S. 84th St, West Allis). Feel free to come and sound off with your thoughts on the Governor's budget proposal.
February 25
Beyond the Numbers: The Governor’s Budget and You
It’s easy to get lost in the numbers… Wisconsin has a $5.7 billion deficit. Governor Doyle’s budget proposal includes a 7.1% increase in spending and $2.2 billion in new tax hikes alone, not including various fee increases…READ MORE
February 23
The 2009-2011 State Budget, All 1,743 Pages Of It
Last Tuesday, Governor Doyle introduced his 2009-2011 state budget proposal. If you just can't wait the few weeks until the Legislative Fiscal Bureau has summarized it and broken it down into more manageable parts, here it is -
February 18
Neither Budget Repair Nor Stimulus
With the current state budget limping toward its June 30th expiration date $600 million in the hole, the Governor was obligated to balance the books by the end of the fiscal year. Working only with Democrats behind closed doors, the Governor cooked up a bill he deemed one part budget bailout and one part “economic stimulus” package.* The 389-page proposal was then rammed through the legislature in 48 hours. (I voted against it.)…READ MORE
