Assembly GOP State Budget Would Devastate Future

The State Assembly Republicans late Tuesday night (July 10, 2007) voted to pass their version of the 2007-09 biennial budget, containing short-term fixes that would devastate Wisconsin’s future. The 51-44 near party-line vote came after nearly seven hours of debate.

The proposal differs sharply from that passed by the Democrat-controlled Senate in late June. The Senate’s budget adopted Governor Doyle’s pro-public education budget proposal that emerged largely intact from the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee.

“I am extremely disappointed with the short-sighted approach Assembly Republicans took with their version of the biennial state budget. It clearly shows that some of our legislators don’t value the children of Wisconsin and their future,” said WEAC President Stan Johnson.

Assembly Democrat Leader Rep. Jim Kreuser (Dem.-Kenosha) said the Assembly Republican’s budget can be described in a single word – “fewer.” Fewer teachers, fewer fire fighters, fewer children with health care, fewer environmental protections and fewer hopes for Wisconsin’s future, he said.

Kreuser said the Assembly GOP budget trades future investments in local communities, universities, children, and working families in order to benefit special interests such as big oil companies and the tobacco industry.

The Assembly Republican’s proposed budget defunds essential programs designed to strengthen Wisconsin communities and close the achievement gaps. It undermines local decision-making by restricting the ability of technical colleges and school districts to make local spending decisions.

With the budget proposal, the Assembly breaks a promise it made last session to increase the reimbursement rate for the successful class-size reduction SAGE program. $3 million in 4K start up grants are also removed in their budget proposal, compared to the budget recommended by the Joint Finance Committee.

Assembly Republicans are calling to expand the unproven, unaccountable Milwaukee private school voucher program, while eliminating the auditor position needed to evaluate participating schools’ financial information. Under the proposal, the voucher system would be given a blank check to expand into Racine County, beginning in 2009-10.

The proposal would hurt education professionals by decreasing their pay and benefits and limiting their right to bargain for fair wages and working conditions. It contains several measures that would cause harm to school districts, including $85.4 million in cuts to school funding over two years.

Teacher recruitment and retention would be compromised as grants for the National Teacher Certification Program are omitted and other incentives are removed. The budget would threaten educator pay and benefits by prohibiting a school district from paying on behalf of an employee the first 3% of earnings that a newly participating employee is required to pay under the Wisconsin Retirement System.

Tuition increases and cuts in programming throughout the Wisconsin Technical College System would also be a result of the Assembly Republicans’ budget proposal. The plan calls for cuts of more than 5% per year of all existing WTCS state funding.

State employees would see their contracts jeopardized, as the budget proposal reduces compensation and other reserves by $94.2 million. The required contribution for health insurance premiums would be increased to 10% for non-protective status employees.

In presenting their version of the budget, Assembly Republicans criticized Governor Doyle for proposing the repeal of the unfair Qualified Economic Offer, but loaded their budget with a number of policy items, including telling local school board members when they can hold referenda. The budget even includes a measure to eliminate the 180 school day requirement.

“These devastating budget cuts hurt everyone. It’s that simple,” Johnson said. “We’re talking about some very successful programs that are at stake - essential programs to promote early childhood development, smaller class sizes, school safety, nutrition, cultural diversity, and affordable access to Wisconsin’s technical college system. This budget hurts people - the students in our classrooms, the educators who deliver programs and maintain our schools, and the communities who benefit from the next generation of well-rounded and productive citizens.”

A conference committee may begin as early as next week to begin to settle the divide of budget differences between the two houses. Traditionally, an unammendable conference committee report must be adopted by both houses before it goes to the governor for veto considerations and being signed into law. However, some say Assembly Republicans have other plans.

Speculation continues as to whether the Assembly Republicans want to pass a state budget at all. Some earlier reports indicate a few Republican leaders might push for passing several separate funding bills in order to keep state government running with a minimum set of appropriations.

To view important budget information, visit the Members Only page, and click on the Cyberlobby link at the top right side of the page. From there, click on "Support Gov. Doyle's Pro-Ed Budget Proposal."

WEAC statement concerning the Assembly GOP budget

Posted July 11, 2007