Wisconsin Budget Bloat

It took long enough, but Wisconsin lawmakers finally passed a budget.

Whoop dee doo.

Madison -- The Legislature passed a long-overdue budget late Tuesday, even as lawmakers discovered new provisions - including one allowing grocery stores to serve customers free samples of hard liquor.
The little-noticed tidbit in the budget would allow grocers and liquor stores to serve up to 1 1/2 ounces of whiskey, gin and other liquors to customers each visit.

The budget, 115 days overdue, was the second-latest spending plan the Legislature ever adopted.

The Republican-controlled Assembly passed it, 60-39, with 23 Republicans joining 37 Democrats in favor. The Senate then quickly passed it 18-15, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed.

The $57.2 billion budget now goes to Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, who can strike out any part of it - but he has said he would use his veto sparingly.

Doyle aide Matt Canter would not say whether the governor plans to veto the measure on liquor sampling.

It's a controversial budget for several reasons:

• It boosts the cigarette tax by $1 a pack, costing smokers $378.5 million more by mid-2009.

• It includes a one-time $200 million transfer from the state fund that pays medical malpractice claims.

• It raises transportation-related fees by about $274 million.

But Republicans got Doyle to drop tax increases on hospitals and oil companies and a fee boost for those who sell property.

Doyle praised the budget, saying it continues two-thirds state funding of public schools, funds the University of Wisconsin System and extends health care to most families whose children are uninsured.

"After a long process, Democrats and Republicans have come together to hold the line on taxes, streamline government and create real opportunity for Wisconsin families and businesses," Doyle said in a statement.

Good grief.

Doyle and I have very different of definitions of what it means to "hold the line on taxes, streamline government and create real opportunity for Wisconsin families and businesses."

This budget doesn't hold the line on taxes, or streamline government. It certainly doesn't create opportunity for Wisconsin families and businesses.

It does the opposite. What does this budget do to create a better business climate in Wisconsin?

Are free samples of hard liquor at Pick 'n Save going to attract new businesses to the state?

Wow. What a paradise for businesses!

Bottom line: This budget is proof positive that Doyle lied early and often about raising taxes and looking out for Wisconsin families.
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Of course, the passage of the budget means that Tom Nelson's sit-in is over.

MADISON -- As the state Legislature neared a vote on the state budget, Rep. Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna said he has no regrets about his five-day Capitol sit-in.

Nelson began his protest after lawmakers failed to pass a budget for more than three months. He pledged to stay in the Assembly Chamber until a budget passed.

“This is probably one of the better decisions I’ve made as a state representative,” Nelson said late Tuesday afternoon. “(But) it was a very tough decision.”

What a load!

Nelson's sit-in accomplished absolutely nothing for his constituents. It did nothing to help the people of Wisconsin. It didn't do anything to get a new budget passed.

Nonetheless, Nelson calls his protest "one of the better decisions I’ve made as a state representative."

Nelson must mean that he benefited by the national media attention he received because of his protest, like in the Los Angeles Times.

I can't think of any other reason why Nelson would say that his decision to sit-in was one of his better calls as a state representative.

With that sort of positive reinforcement, I wouldn't be surprised if the Nelson sit-in becomes commonplace.