Travel Receipts? What Travel Receipts?

In Plane Sight

Looks like some people in Racine weren't happy with the Democrats' dark-of-night budget dealings. So they decided to tell people about it using airplanes during the Racine parade.



H/T: Racine Post (And from the looks of the comments on the Racine Post, Racine Dems aren't too happy that people are pointing out the truth on what the Dems did to taxpayers.)

Is the Budget Law?

Gov. Doyle used his veto pen unconstitutionally this past week.

A constitutional amendment banning the use of the Frankenstein veto passed last spring.

Because of Gov. Doyle's unconstitutional use of the veto pen, does that mean his signing the budget is not legal?

I don't know, but it was something I was thinking about ...

Guess who is running for re-election

I bet you cannot guess, from this announcement today,(in today's Wheeler Report) who is running for re-election-

DOYLE PLANNING ‘NO GROWTH’ BUDGET FOR 2009-11; MAY CUT BASE BY 10%.

State agencies have been told to assume “zero growth” in overall General Purpose Revenue appropriations in each year of the next biennium and to prepare plans “to absorb a ten percent permanent base cut.” The directions are included in a letter and major budget polices and budget instructions sent to all state agencies on Thursday. Agency budget requests are due in the State Budget Office by September 15.

“While much progress has been made, Wisconsin’s economy, like the rest of the nation, continues to encounter challenges,” Gov. Doyle said in a cover letter outlining budget priorities. “Expanding Wisconsin agricultural and manufacturing exports to countries all over the world and strong growth in important fields like biotechnology and renewable energies have been very important to the state’s economy. However, the recent flooding and downsizing of manufacturing jobs has put stress not only on the individuals involved but also highlighted the need for continued investments in worker training, health care, infrastructure and education.”

Doyle said exceptions to the “zero growth” policy will include K-12 school aids; required cost-to-continue needs for the state’s institutions (Dept of Corrections and DHFS institutions); entitlement and related assistance programs in DHFS (Medical Assistance); the Dept of Children and Families Division of Prevention and Permanence; Dept of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; UW System instruction and research activities “that are focused on economic growth;” and, housekeeping adjustments like standard budget adjustments, fuel and utilities and debt service.

The “zero growth” policy will also apply to the SEG-funded administrative operations appropriations in all agencies supported by the Transportation Fund, Conservation Fund, Environmental Fund and Lottery Fund.

The instructions also noted Act 20 authorization for the DOA Secretary to lapse or transfer $200 million over the 2009-11 biennium to the General Fund. “Agencies should begin planning for these lapses as part of the budget development process,” the instructions said. “At a minimum, each agency should plan to lapse an amount similar to the amounts lapsed in the 2007-09 biennium.”

Further, under Act 20, the UW System and WI Technical College System are required to lapse $25 million and $1 million, respectively, over the 2009-11 biennium.

“Agencies with state operations administrative appropriations, including the administrative activities of the University of Wisconsin System, should prepare plans to absorb a ten percent permanent base cut,” the instructions said. The reduction is to be equal to 10% of all non-FED sum certain state operations administrative appropriations, excluding debt service and fuel and utilities, and “should be in addition to the lapse amounts required for the 2009-11 biennium under Act 20.” Reduced base budget plans are due Monday, November 17.

The directions note that where reductions and efficiencies in state operations will result in reductions in positions, “agencies should plan to accomplish this reduction without layoffs,” and any areas needing additional staff “must be met through base reallocations.”

Hmmm. When the Republicans suggest this, they get accused of cutting the funding for Wisconsin's children and elderly.

Just like Republicans, I guess that means Doyle doesn't care about the children or the elderly either.

I guess we will wait for the WEAC ads to come out condemning Governor Doyle.(yes, I am being sarcastic)

Typical- blaming the Fed

You know, the money was in the Transportation fund- Governor Doyle just swiped it. These guys would have nothing to worry about if it were not for Governor Doyle's horrible budgeting methods.

The battle for money and jobs already is being fought at the state level. Wisconsin’s three budget cycles saw money moved from transportation to support general programs, and the state’s Road to the Future Committee in 2007 said the cost to maintain Wisconsin’s roads will run almost $700 million.

Transportation officials were encouraged when transportation got more money in the state’s 2007-09 budget, and McGowan said he thinks the road builders’ message is finally being heard at the state level.

“I’ve seen an awareness (in the state Legislature) that I’ve never seen before,” he said. “People are really starting to understand our needs.”

But no sooner is hope found at the state level then it’s lost in Washington, D.C.

“And as far as the federal government goes,” McGowan said. “I have no faith.”

Hope was found on the state level????

Not even a month before this article was written, the governor, with the help of some state legislators swiped millions more dollars from the transportation fund and NOW they are worried. This would not be a problem if the Governor had not swiped over a BILLION dollars in the last few years.