Political stakes high as state budget lingers in limbo (WI - Governor Doyle out of control)

THE CAPITAL TIMES ^ | 31 AUGUST 2007 | AP

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Like schoolchildren who left their summer vacation homework undone until this weekend, state lawmakers and Gov. Jim Doyle are under growing pressure to finish work on the state budget that Doyle introduced in February.

Local schools and municipalities need to know soon how much state aid they will be receiving to set their own budgets, but a conference committee with members from both legislative houses has made little progress since convening in July, including a fruitless two-hour session Thursday.

The political stakes are high for the governor as well as the leaders of the Assembly and the Senate as they try to work out the $58 billion, two-year spending plan.

[EagleUSA]

As a long-time resident of California, I can remember back when this state had a CONSERVATIVE governor and legislature. We had RESPONSIBLE government. No excessive taxation. No major budget issues. Government spent what it took in, no more. I even recall the headlines at one time in the seventies, when the Governor and the Legislature were at odds and fighting about how they were going to RETURN THREE BILLION IN EXCESS REVENUES to the taxpaying citizens of California.

When I see the mess that liberals have caused in states like WI and all others, including California NOW, you would think that people would wise up to liberalism, its excesses and malfeasance. The people just do not give a rat’s rear at all -— not any more. I won’t even mention Louisiana.....(bucket please)....

[RicocheT]

Gov Doyle and his Democrats in the state senate have drawn up a budget that has the biggest tax increases in history, plus socializes medical insurance/treatment in Wisconsin.

Our Republicans in the state assembly have a counter budget that limits taxes and deep sixes the takeover of health care in Wisconsin. That is the deadlock, accept a blow out budget or hold the line on taxes and spending.

An impasse is OK as last year’s budget can continue at the past level of spending and a new budget is not a necessity to keep the state functioning. Better no new budget than a tax and spend one.

[hermgem]

And that budget does not include all those uncovered pension plans for their public service employees.
A big avalanche is in waiting, including the possibility of declaring bankruptcy to get out of this mess of hiding debt.
Liberal politicians appeasing unions with debt loaded onto taxpayers.

[terycarl]

I’m originally from Wisconsin and the citizens of that state (parts of it at least) never cease to amaze me....Wisconsinites must have one of the highest tax rates in the nation and they continue to elect liberal idiots to office....Doyle...amazing...Kohl and Feingold? even more amazing....Tommy Thompson was by far the best governor they have had in years and they elect a dimmocrat to take his place.....don’t understand it at all

[Lancey Howard]

I spent a week in Madison one day. When I got out of there the first thing I did was buy a few bars of Lava soap and look for a shower. Ugh.