Wisconsin - Governor's Mansion

Associated Press ... direct feed | November 27, 2002

[NYer]

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) _ State Sen. Robert Wirch is asking Governor-elect Jim Doyle to sell the governor's mansion as a way to address the state's projected $2.6 billion budget deficit.

Wirch said selling the $1.3 million mansion would be more of a symbolic gesture than a way to save a significant amount of money. ``Considering the budget deficit and talk about borrowing money against the pension fund, we need to cut all extravagances, and the governor's mansion is more an extravagance than a necessity,'' said Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie. Doyle spokesman Thad Nation said he would not comment until he had seen Wirch's letter.

The governor's mansion sits on the shores of Lake Mendota and is worth about $1.3 million, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. But Wirch said that the value of the land the mansion sits on and the costs of running the house amount to around $4 million.

Wirch said he got the idea from other candidates in the governor's race and that he would have suggested it regardless of who won the office. In his letter to Doyle, Wirch notes that at least six states have either sold their executive residences or have never offered an executive residence. Wirch also mentioned that Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura refused to live in the governor's mansion in St. Paul.

[NYer]

State Sen. Robert Wirch is asking Governor-elect Jim Doyle to sell the governor's mansion as a way address the state's projected $2.6 billion budget deficit.

Absolutely brilliant!! And when the next budget deficit arises, should they sell their state capitol?

[Catspaw]

It's got a great view of Lake Mendota and $1.3 mil is probably on the low side for Madtown real estate.

[robjna]

Jim "BINGO" Doyle!!!!!!!

[afraidfortherepublic]

As an greatly overtaxed Wisconsinite, I heartily agree. Jim Doyle already has a home in Madison. Perhaps they could sell the mansion and rent it back for official occasions!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Has everyone noticed how Jim Doyle wanted McCallum to sell the state airplanes during the election, and now Doyle is planning to keep several of them? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!

[tom paine 2]

Good idea and we could include some of our more distinguished criminal legislators like Chuck Chuvala free

[joesnuffy]

Gov property tax Doyle...our tripled last year...cant imagine what the state will charge me to live in my own home next year or the year after....
FOR SALE
Post and Beam Construced Home
Vaulted Ceiling
Abysmal Taxes
An Easy commutable 1.5 hrs away from HELL

[spunkets]

That's a whopping 0.2% of the deficit. Rats are such wizards when it comes to reality. All they have to do is find about 520 more items like this to sell, to solve the whole problem.

[PianoMan]

I once performed in the WI governor's mansion during a party there. Chopin waltzes and stuff. Nice joint. I walked by Tommy before the party not even recognizing him.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

After Gray Davis, Bingo Doyle is the most corrupt Governor-elect in the nation.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Good idea!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Keep the mansion. Sell Jim Doyle (oops, forgot, he's already done been sold).

[tom paine 2]

Wisconsin is the third highest taxed state in the union. The sheep are renting their house from the government for $300+ a month on top of the mortgage. Time for government to downsize.