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Grothman, Lasee call on Thompson to return
Madison - State Representatives Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) and Frank Lasee (R- Bellevue) today expressed shock and amazement that the Joint Finance Committee spent an additional $35.5 million* on the highly controversial SAGE program. SAGE, a program designed to lower class sizes to fifteen children in 1st through 3rd grades, was described as having a minimal-and in some cases, no additional impact in second or third grade according to the non-partisan Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.
 Grothman |
 Lasee |
"Most voters remember when they were children having 25 or more kids in class. To allow the teachers' union to bamboozle gullible legislators into this expensive vote is incredible," said Grothman.
Most recent figures released by the Department of Public Instruction indicate in the last five years the student to teacher ratio in Wisconsin schools has already dropped from 15.4 to 14.8.
"I was wondering why no member of Joint Finance was willing to sign my no-tax pledge. Now I know, they were planning on a big spending increase," said Frank Lasee.
"This is my worst nightmare come true -- without Tommy Thompson to keep the Joint Finance Committee in line, they will degenerate into total irresponsible spending," said Grothman.
Grothman and Lasee both plan on introducing amendments in Republican Caucus to remove the unnecessary spending. They also will issue a plea to Governor Thompson to return to Wisconsin and reign in Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee.
*an additional $20.7 in state spending and additional $14.8 million in property taxes.
CLARIFICATION: From Glenn Grothman, released Friday afternoon: "As should be obvious, the press release earlier today was a criticism of the irresponsibility of the Joint Finance Committee's actions on Wednesday and a defense of the original budget proposed in February."
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Resource page on SAGE and class size reduction
Resource page on the 2001-2003 state budget
Posted June 1, 2001