Althouse: "The state Assembly passed Gov. Scott Walker's state budget about 3 a.m. Thursday..."

June 16, 2011

"The state Assembly passed Gov. Scott Walker's state budget about 3 a.m. Thursday..."

"... sending it to the state Senate, which planned to take it up about 10 a.m. After 13 hours of contentious debate, the Assembly passed the plan 60-38 with all Republicans and one independent for it and all 38 Democrats against. The 99-member Assembly has one vacant seat."

73 comments:

Fred4Pres said...: Democracy (well Republic government) in action. Nice to see.; 6/16/11, 10:05 AM
MadisonMan said...: I think Parisi's former seat is the vacant one.

The State Budget is on time. That's unusual.; 6/16/11, 10:11 AM
traditionalguy said...: On Wisconsin!; 6/16/11, 10:15 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: The State Budget also turns a $3 billion deficit into a surplus. That's even more unusual. Thank you Gov. Walker.; 6/16/11, 10:19 AM
garage mahal said...: Scott Walker campaign pledge:

In fact I've even proposed - in terms of the budget process, but it would apply to anything - other things that would help transparency," he said. "I don't think there should be any votes in closed caucus, on any issue. If a county board or school board can't discuss a budget in private, then the state Legislature certainly should not. There should not be any closed caucuses on the budget."

"And I would make it, by statute, that the Legislature can't vote on anything after 10 at night or before 9 in the morning," Walker said. "They did things this last (budget) at 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. As I tell my staff, nothing good happens after midnight. But they did it on purpose because not only do they not want average persons to know, they don't want reporters with deadlines to know - after 10 you miss the nightly TV news and you're not in print for the daily newspapers. They push it back on a Saturday, hoping people won't read about things like that"; 6/16/11, 10:20 AM
Seeing Red said...: Now Daley/Rahmland is the only state w/stupid gun laws.

Even the Cheddar Curtain gets it.

bleh; 6/16/11, 10:24 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Shorter Garage:

But what about the poor children?; 6/16/11, 10:24 AM
Michael said...: Doesn't this call for a protest?; 6/16/11, 10:24 AM
garage mahal said...: The State Budget also turns a $3 billion deficit into a surplus.

I've read most of the stories from around the state, didn't see this. You have a cite by chance?; 6/16/11, 10:25 AM
Lava said...: Saw a post on FB that is now starting to talk about recalls of Supreme Court Justices, that signatures could be taken at the elections in August.

Will this never end?; 6/16/11, 10:26 AM
FedkaTheConvict said...: This one is easy: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/123763069.html

?Madison -- The two-year budget proposal coming before lawmakers this week would leave the state with an estimated $300 million surplus in the following budget, according to new figures released Monday.

The Legislature’s nonpartisan budget office found that 2011-’13 budget bill would bring the state’s tax revenues and spending commitments into balance for the first time in more than a decade.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau also found that the budget bill would cut taxes by a net amount of $23.6 million over the next two years. But state fees would increase by $111.3 million, with most of that increase coming from an annual boost of 5.5% expected for tuition in the University of Wisconsin System expected over each of the next two years.?; 6/16/11, 10:30 AM
KCFleming said...: So did Sumi already put in an injunction against the bill?; 6/16/11, 10:31 AM
gerry said...: "And I would make it, by statute, that the Legislature can't vote on anything after 10 at night or before 9 in the morning"

I thought the Governor couldn't dictate to the Legislature how to conduct its business? What business is it of the executive to dictate how, and on what schedule, the legislature accomplishes its affairs?; 6/16/11, 10:32 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: I've read most of the stories from around the state, didn't see this. You have a cite by chance?

FedkaTheConvict, thanks for saving me the work.; 6/16/11, 10:34 AM
Calypso Facto said...: A balanced budget submitted on time? Hurray for adults in the legislature!

Still lots of work to do: "It's outrageous that government workers continue to be able to retire with these large and completely unjustifiable backdrop payments funded by the taxpayers"

Quick, garage, who said that? Evil Gov. Walker? One of the Fitzgerald bros? An ignorant public-sector-hating Tea Partier you hate so much? Nope. Democratic Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.; 6/16/11, 10:36 AM
TosaGuy said...: It was a $600 million surplus, but they used $300 million to pay back Doyle's illegal raid of the medical malpractice fund.

$300 million surplus; 6/16/11, 10:36 AM
MadisonMan said...: Believe a report of a surplus when it actually happens. That is my suggestion.; 6/16/11, 10:37 AM
gerry said...: Will this never end?

The Wisconsin SC chief is 77 years old.

The Governor may be appointing her successor...

Just sayin'.

WV: FOUST; 6/16/11, 10:37 AM
traditionalguy said...: Do they still need that magic quorum in the Senate to pass financial bills? If so, then the Dems can simply go to ground again.; 6/16/11, 10:37 AM
MadisonMan said...: It's outrageous that government workers continue to be able to retire with these large and completely unjustifiable backdrop payments funded by the taxpayers

You'd think past County Leaders would have worked successfully to trim that.; 6/16/11, 10:39 AM
edutcher said...: Walker/(Veep) in 2020?

He will have certainly earned it.; 6/16/11, 10:42 AM
TosaGuy said...: This budget will be passed by the time the recalls hit. There are Dems running for these seats that voted for the $3.8 trillion Doyle deficit budget and voted against a $300 million surplus budget. The campaign ads write themselves, especially in recall districts that lean GOP in the first place. GOP senators can go into the recalls heads held high with a major accomplishment to hang their hat on.; 6/16/11, 10:42 AM
TosaGuy said...: "It's outrageous that government workers continue to be able to retire with these large and completely unjustifiable backdrop payments funded by the taxpayers

You'd think past County Leaders would have worked successfully to trim that."

County Exec Walker did get that trimmed significantly for new hires. Federal law and the county board wouldn't let him take on people hired before 1985, which are the people cashing in today.; 6/16/11, 10:48 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: You'd think past County Leaders would have worked successfully to trim that.

Unfortunately, existing law severely restricts what County leaders could do to address that problem. On the bright side, it did earn Tom Ament an early retirement.; 6/16/11, 10:49 AM
FedkaTheConvict said...: We should all thank Tommy Ament for giving us Scott Walker. Without the pension shenanigans in Milwaukee County Walker would probably still be a backbencher in the Assembly.; 6/16/11, 10:50 AM
X said...: Do they still need that magic quorum in the Senate to pass financial bills? If so, then the Dems can simply go to ground again.

let 'em. then as Judge Smails said: you'll get nothing and like it.; 6/16/11, 10:51 AM
Anonymous said...: When Judge Sumi declares the entire legislature unconstitutional, I would like to invite them to come to CA and straighten out our budget too. Weather's great here!; 6/16/11, 10:58 AM
deborah said...: Walker would make a great veep running mate this go 'round.; 6/16/11, 11:01 AM
Lincolntf said...: A great week for the Republic. Another kick in the nuts to the goons.
Come on, Wisconsin, totally redeem yourselves by making mincemeat of the recall dingleberries. You can do it.; 6/16/11, 11:04 AM
Jamieson said...: Judge Sumi just declared everything is unconstitutional. WI residents: just stop what you're doing and sit down, wait for further instructions.; 6/16/11, 11:04 AM
Sofa King said...: "And I would make it, by statute, that the Legislature can't vote on anything after 10 at night or before 9 in the morning,"

Well I supported Scott Walker but I always though this promise was idiotic. Not only does it create an incentive to drag out the process pointlessely, but it is, as I knew all along and the Supreme Court has just confirmed, impossible to limit the operation of the legislature by statute. It was a promise that was by definition impossible to deliver on.; 6/16/11, 11:09 AM
FedkaTheConvict said...: WOW... Rush's opening monolog is destined for the Hall of Fame. He took a very amusing shot at Gloria Alread.; 6/16/11, 11:16 AM
Fen said...: The Union Brats are going to get violent again.; 6/16/11, 11:16 AM
garage mahal said...: A balanced budget submitted on time? Hurray for adults in the legislature!

Every governor has to balance their budget. Every Wisconsin governor in history, in fact, has done that. Without threatening to call out the National Guard.

Tosa's figures include 636 million over three years from tax revenues thay had nothing to do with.

You'll have to go somewhere else than the MJS to find out what's exactly in the budget.

Here are 411 million fund raids Tosa was worked up about.

Here you can see 438 million in property tax increases

Here you can see 338 million borrowed costing 89 billion in interest

Lots more where that came from.; 6/16/11, 11:18 AM
Calypso Facto said...: garage, Doyle pulled so many more BS tricks that even the State Journal, his own party's mouthpiece, called him out on it:

BUDGET RESPONSIBLY FOR A CHANGE GOV. JIM DOYLE SHOULD LEAVE HIS BAG OF BUDGET TRICKS IN THE CLOSET AS HE PREPARES HIS 2009-2011 SPENDING PLAN
Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:00 am
Now that state agencies have submitted their requests for the next two-year state budget, here's a piece of advice for Gov. Jim Doyle: Be more responsible with the 2009-2011 budget than you have been with your previous budgets.
* No more raids on funds that are supposed to be set aside for specific purposes.
* Halt the spend-now-and-pay-later strategy that keeps getting the state into trouble.
* Stop borrowing for expenses that should be paid for from revenue.
* Don't wait until more than four months past deadline to adopt the budget.; 6/16/11, 11:25 AM
Alex said...: garage has already stated that this was the final nail in Walker's political coffin. garage has the bubbly on ice for July 12th and then later for 2012 Walker recall.; 6/16/11, 11:30 AM
FedkaTheConvict said...: Every governor has to balance their budget. Every Wisconsin governor in history, in fact, has done that.

If this is even remotely true, how is it that we've had a structural deficit for at least 10 years now?

Structural deficit: http://lexicon.ft.com/Term?term=structural-deficit

"A budget deficit that results from a fundamental imbalance in government receipts and expenditures, as opposed to one based on one-off or short-term factors."; 6/16/11, 11:32 AM
Sofa King said...: Here are 411 million fund raids Tosa was worked up about.

The difference, GM, may be that we are now "raiding" money TO the transportation fund instead of FROM it.; 6/16/11, 11:34 AM
garage mahal said...: garage, Doyle pulled so many more BS tricks that even the State Journal, his own party's mouthpiece, called him out on it:

MJS endorsed both Walker and Prosser. You cannot be serious Calypso.; 6/16/11, 11:50 AM
garage mahal said...: The difference, GM, may be that we are now "raiding" money TO the transportation fund instead of FROM it.

At the expense of education and other priorities.; 6/16/11, 11:51 AM
Sofa King said...: At the expense of education and other priorities.

It's a budget. Literally everything is at the expense of something else.; 6/16/11, 11:58 AM
Sofa King said...: MJS endorsed both Walker and Prosser.

And Obama. And Doyle. Funny how you forgot that little detail, isn't it?; 6/16/11, 12:04 PM
Seeing Red said...: If GM actually did his homework instead of shouting "It's for the Children" - even in Weiner's case---

He might actually be surprised at how much money actually goes into "education."

And no matter how much money goes into "education" it will never be enuf.

Obviously DC isn't spending enuf on "education" because they're collectively still dumber than a rock there.

40++ years of Head Start - FAILURE

Mebbe GM should spend a little time reading about Kansas City, MO's experiment into "it's the money" c. 1984-2001.

It wasn't the money.; 6/16/11, 12:15 PM
garage mahal said...: And Obama. And Doyle. Funny how you forgot that little detail, isn't it?

Okay, so how does that make the MJS the Democratic party mouthpiece?; 6/16/11, 12:30 PM
Brennan said...: The Union Brats are going to get violent again.

I will do all I can to support their efforts as I sink my teeth into a few Johnsonville Brats tonight.; 6/16/11, 12:32 PM
Sofa King said...: Okay, so how does that make the MJS the Democratic party mouthpiece?

Um, it doesn't? Are you saying that their editorial criticizing Doyle's budget is valid ONLY if they are a Democratic party mouthpiece?

Do I have this correct, Garage? The only news organizations you give any credibility to are Democratic party mouthpieces?; 6/16/11, 12:45 PM
test said...: "The only news organizations you give any credibility to are Democratic party mouthpieces?"

Sure. Why else would garage think so highly of himself?; 6/16/11, 12:54 PM
Calypso Facto said...: First, WSJ, not MJS.
Second, ok, "party's mouthpiece" may have been a little strong, but the paper was a big supporter of Doyle, and to see that even THOSE editors finally caught on to Doyle's parlor tricks was refreshing.; 6/16/11, 12:55 PM
Martin L. Shoemaker said...: Sofa King said...

Do I have this correct, Garage? The only news organizations you give any credibility to are Democratic party mouthpieces?

No. Read the whole thread. Calypso Facto called the State Journal the Democrat Party's mouthpiece as a way of reinforcing another point. garage disputed that claim. You appear to agree that garage has proven his point.

garage is wrong in lots of ways; but here, you're completely misconstruing his point.; 6/16/11, 12:56 PM
garage mahal said...: Sofa
Calypso commented that the MJS was a Democratic mouthpiece. It obviously isn't. That was my point entirely.; 6/16/11, 12:59 PM
Sofa King said...: I see, I thought you were disputing the linked editorial, you know, the substantive point of the post.; 6/16/11, 1:02 PM
MadisonMan said...: Unfortunately, existing law severely restricts what County leaders could do to address that problem.

Of course, it's never their fault when they don't do something (eyeroll); 6/16/11, 1:26 PM
Leland said...: Does the WI DPS have roadblocks set up at the borders?; 6/16/11, 1:37 PM
Phil 314 said...: from the article:

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, opened by accusing Republicans of raising taxes on the most vulnerable in Wisconsin while spreading myths about "shared sacrifice."

Which I presume is related to this:

Democrats railed against a reduction in tax breaks for some who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and poor homeowners and renters.

Brings up interesting discussion re:tax cuts. Can I assume that upper income people also lost some tax breaks/credits?; 6/16/11, 1:46 PM
Phil 314 said...: You'd think past County Leaders would have worked successfully to trim that.

MadMan, not picking on you but this statement is very interesting and brings up a recurrent political theme of late: who's fault is it really?

Sometimes in the middle of a resuscitation effort for a cardiac arrest, someone will ask "How did this happen?" and if "the wrong response" comes an argument over who/what caused the arrest will ensue DURING THE RESUSCITATION!

(Again MadMan not picking on you) Who cares who started the deficit, lets get to work resuscitating the patient. And for my Democratic friends, before you raise the tax issue, please show me where raising taxes has lead to reduced deficits.

We can talk about tax increases once we can demonstrate consistent and real expense reduction.; 6/16/11, 1:58 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Of course, it's never their fault when they don't do something (eyeroll)

You've succeeded in convincing me that Madison really is x square miles surrounded by reality.

Milwaukee? not so much.; 6/16/11, 2:13 PM
bagoh20 said...: Garage, does Althouse pay you to come here and amuse us? If not, it is damned big of you to give us someone (and unfortunately you are one of the few left) to watch squirm under the avalanche that is the embarrassing daily exposure of the lefts failure and dishonor. Thank you.; 6/16/11, 2:17 PM
MadisonMan said...: Phil: My point, ongoing, is that you should not excuse a politician (or, in my profession, a student) for failing because of perceived forces beyond their control. Work around, and innovate, to make things sensible and working.

This hand-wringingish Oh he couldn't do anything about it because of X is a dreadful sentence to write.; 6/16/11, 2:39 PM
Calypso Facto said...: "Of course, it's never their fault when they don't do something (eyeroll)"

So a scandal created by a Democratic Board in cahoots with a Democratic Executive and then continued through the Democratic Board's override of the Republican Executive's veto is somehow the Republican's fault? Safe to say that's a stretch?; 6/16/11, 2:40 PM
MadisonMan said...: If a politician gets into office because things are broken, and then doesn't fix them, then yes, they are to blame.

Can't fix the problem? Then don't take advantage of the situation and stay away.

I know, I know, I know, I ask a lot: Politicians avoiding running for office if they can't fix a problem even if polls tell them they'll win.

I willingly concede that a change in leadership is frequently necessary. Too bad the forces that make the change necessary also impel the least centrist of a candidate to victory. But that's a problem with a 2-party system.; 6/16/11, 2:55 PM
Sofa King said...: If a politician gets into office because things are broken, and then doesn't fix them, then yes, they are to blame.

In this case though you are going further than that. He DID fix what was broken, you're blaming him for not travelling backwards in time and fixing things that were broken in the past.; 6/16/11, 3:00 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Phil: My point, ongoing, is that you should not excuse a politician (or, in my profession, a student) for failing because of perceived forces beyond their control. Work around, and innovate, to make things sensible and working.

The point you're missing is that Walker didn't fail. He balanced the County budget and held the line on properly taxes despite the pension obligation. He did just what you suggest.

If you think he failed, just remember that he was the first Republican to be elected County Exec. He was then able to win reelection in a area dominated by Democrats.; 6/16/11, 3:01 PM
Sofa King said...: Wait, maybe I can take advantage of this tactic. Why didn't Obama fix the 2008 economic meltdown?; 6/16/11, 3:02 PM
Alex said...: madman:

Phil: My point, ongoing, is that you should not excuse a politician (or, in my profession, a student) for failing because of perceived forces beyond their control. Work around, and innovate, to make things sensible and working.

This hand-wringingish Oh he couldn't do anything about it because of X is a dreadful sentence to write.

And then garage-types come in and accuse such politicians of "genociding the middle class". It's easier to just keep your head down and go with the status quo.; 6/16/11, 3:07 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: The reality is, Milwaukee County is legally obligated to pay the pension enhancers and Walker found a way to manage that obligation. That is why he is Governor today.; 6/16/11, 3:10 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: @Sofa,

Btw, nice job on the Sumi analysis. I followed your posts closely during the entire ordeal.; 6/16/11, 3:32 PM
Ralph L said...: Here in NC, the Repub. legislature overrode the Dem Gov's veto of a $20 billion budget. The "temporary" increases in sales tax and income tax for the "rich" will actually expire! The teachers are screaming! Yea!; 6/16/11, 3:35 PM
sorepaw said...: At the expense of education and other priorities.

How much of the money purported to be for "education" has reached the classroom? How much has promoted effective teaching, once it actually found its way there?

Does Garage care how well the public K-12 and state university systems are working?

Or is Garage merely wanting to preserve the monopoly privileges of Colleges of Education, the power and position of teachers' unions, and the jobs of educational administrators?

What its proponents still want to call "progressivism" has become deeply reactionary.; 6/16/11, 4:41 PM
rhhardin said...: The day is just beginning at 3am. That's when I get up.; 6/16/11, 6:15 PM
ken in tx said...: I had Johnsonville brats tonight even though Aldis German brats are better and cheaper. Upcountry SC is a German place because of BMW. Good brats and good beer.; 6/16/11, 7:23 PM
ken in tx said...: BTW, you Northerners have probably never heard of Helen, Georgia. It is a Bavarian village in the middle of the North Georgia mountains.; 6/16/11, 7:36 PM
Francisco D said...: Garbage/Garage,

You strike me as a graduate student who never got around to completing his studies (dissertation or other).

Please tell us more about yourself, so that we can better evaluate your trolling. Oops! I meant "input".; 6/16/11, 7:50 PM
reformed trucker said...: "BTW, you Northerners have probably never heard of Helen, Georgia." - Ken in SC

That's like the pocket of Krauts in Shiner, Texas who started Spoetzel Brewery. Enjoy our influence.

My grandparents (German) on my mother's side (we also have a cabin in Old World Wisconsin; one of the original settlers in Saukville) had their own grocery store in Milwaukee, who made some of the finest sausage and smoked meats you could find (oh, the memories as a child), and my grandparents on my father's side came over from Germany after WW1, and he worked at Pabst until he retired. Beer and sausage IS my heritage.

You're lucky, Ken. You're in a "pocket". Enjoy! :)

wv: proves...This proves Germans are the best beer and sausage makers. We know you love us...; 6/16/11, 11:02 PM