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“It’s the budget,” said Rep. Jennifer Shilling, a La Crosse Democrat whose party will control the Assembly for the first time in 15 years. “That is going to totally dominate this year.”
There will be plenty of committee work before Gov. Jim Doyle unveils his budget proposal in February, but with a projected revenue shortfall of $5.4 billion and the economy in the worst shape in memory, cuts are inevitable.
“We not only have to think about what’s acceptable to the Legislature but what’s acceptable to the people,” said state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout. “We’ve got to go back to the people and say, ‘What choices can we live with?’”
The Alma Democrat hopes to bring the Joint Committee on Finance, which will make many of the key budget decisions, to western Wisconsin for a public hearing in which residents could testify about how potential cuts would affect them.
Though Republicans have vowed to fight against tax increases, Democrats say fee increases are likely, as is legislation to require multi-state corporations to pay Wisconsin taxes on the money they make here.
State Rep. Mike Huebsch said it will be a challenging year for Democrats — who control both the legislative and executive branches for the first time since 1986 — to resist introducing new programs that cost money.
Huebsch, who gave up his role as Assembly speaker when the Republicans lost the majority in the November election, said he hopes Democrats will honor their pledges to work across party lines.
In spite of the tough job, Huebsch said he’d prefer to be in the leadership role “to try to hold the line for taxpayers.”
Members of both parties say they want to work to develop “green” technologies — such as methane digesters that turn cow manure into electricity — as a way to bring economic development to the region.
The region’s Assembly delegation will include two freshman Democrats this year: Chris Danou of Trempealeau, who won the 91st District seat that Barbara Gronemus held for 26 years, and Mark Radcliffe of Black River Falls, winner of the 92nd District seat Terry Musser held for 24 years.
Like other first-term legislators, Danou has a number of goals in mind but admits some things won’t get done because of the budget.
“There are going to be things we can do that won’t cost money in the long term, or things that will, in the long run, enhance the ability of the state’s economy to generate revenue and improve the business climate,” Danou said.
State Sen. Dan Kapanke already made a small contribution toward balancing the budget by turning down his pay raise.
The La Crosse Republican concedes the savings — about $2,500 — are symbolic, but in a year when virtually everyone will be asked to make sacrifices, “it sends a message that we’re in this thing together.”
Swearing in
Wisconsin’s legislators will be sworn in at 2 p.m. Monday. Watch the ceremonies live on the Internet at www.wiseye.org.
Myturn wrote on Jan 6, 2009 9:51 AM:
Here is one that you Democrats can figure out.
6 Investigators for Work Comp for the State of WI. I was called by one of them, and he told me before retiring that they never leave the office. Essentially sending out questionnaires and expecting violators to implicate themselves and send them back? As one employer for 33 years who paid 38% matching gross payroll, that is crap! Now think for a minute, where do you think the initial funds for statewide TIFs derive from? "