Dem Budget Talking Points Weak, Laughable

From the MacIver Institute:

As it pertains to the authors of the secret budget deal, over at the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, they are asking: What are they thinking?

Excellent question.

The "Wisconsin Budget Makes Deep Cuts While Minimizing Harm on Working Families & Protecting Core Values."

So sayeth the official talking points Assembly Democrats have been using as they promote this hastily-created secret deal. As they scramble to get 50 State Representatives to agree to vote yes on the plan (perhaps in a rushed Wednesday night session) the Democratic leaders want to make sure everyone is singing from the same hymnal.

Well, not all the recipients of these talking points are buying what the Dem leadership is selling. Your team at the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy has been given a copy of the three and half pages of talking points, and we gladly share them with you here.

To be sure, it is not unusual to attempt to organize supporters of a bill or policy by handing them a set of talking points so that the message remains concise and persuasive.

However, these talking points are breathtaking.

Read the rest here.

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It's obvious that the Democrat Assemblymen from the Kenosha area received these talking points before their interview with the Kenosha News.

In a Kenosha News article about the budget here are a few quotes:

Barca said there are service cuts and fee increases that legislators would not want to impose in good economic times.

Then why are you imposing them now, in bad economic times?

“But you have to also face the reality that you have a $6.6 billion deficit,” Barca said. “And we’ve come up with, I think, a broad agreement that we don’t want to increase income and sales taxes, and that’s where most of the state’s revenue comes from.”

But you are raising income taxes and sales taxes. So I guess nothing is safe from the Democrats.

Rep. John Steinbrink, D-Pleasant Prairie, blamed special interest groups’ recent efforts for much of the hysteria.

So taxpayers being against tax increases is hysteria?

“The problem is there are ads being run and people get false information, and it upsets some of the members on different issues out there,” Steinbrink said.

False information? What false information? Notice how he doesn't explain what is false -- that's key to the Democrats -- never explain your accusations. Just throw them out there and don't back them up with facts.

“Some members are just frustrated,” he added. “There’s a lot of cuts, and it’s painful to a lot of different parts of the state.”

A lot of cuts? Where? Increasing the budgets of the departments by 10% then cutting that increase by less than 10% is not a cut. It is still an increase in spending.

I notice the Kenosha News has yet to go into the details of the provisions of the budget. Don't you think that a newspaper might want to print some of the facts of the budget instead of the Democrats' talking points?

What happened to actually reporting the news? Maybe that's why the Kenosha News's readership continues to decline.

I Smell Bacon!

Looks like some members of the JFC in Madison has a problem with pork. From the JSOnline:

The Joint Finance Committee earmarked at least 29 projects in the two-year budget. Of those earmarks, 20 were for $100,000 or more, and most projects would benefit Democrats on the committee or those expected to face tough re-elections next year. See the map above or the list below for the most expensive projects and the lawmakers who benefit.

• $44.5 million, mostly in bonds, for a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire education building; represented by Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) and Rep. Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire).
• $13 million for the Wisconsin Rapids armory; represented by Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point), who is on the committee, and Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids).
• $28 million in bonds for a School of Nursing facility at the UW-Madison; Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit), a nurse who sits on the committee, has long backed her profession in the Legislature.
• $6.6 million for a Yahara River project in Dane County; the county is represented mostly by Democrats, including the committee's co-chairmen, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona).
• $5 million for the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corp. in downtown Milwaukee; represented by Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Leon Young (D-Milwaukee).
• $4 million for planning a joint museum for the State Historical Society and Department of Veterans Affairs; an area served by Pocan, Miller and other Dane County legislators would benefit.
• Up to $1.25 million for Manitowoc Road in Bellevue; represented by Sen. Alan Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Ted Zigmunt (D-Francis Creek).
• $800,000 for the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin; the center has locations throughout the state.
• Up to $500,000 for Washington Street in Racine; Democrats Sen. John Lehman, a committee member, and Rep. Robert Turner represent the area.
• $500,000 for an environmental center in a park that borders Madison and Monona; the two cities are represented by the committee's co-chairmen.
• $500,000 for the Oshkosh Opera House; Republican Sen. Randy Hopper and Rep. Gordon Hintz, a Democrat, represent Oshkosh.
• $500,000 for Eco Park in La Crosse; represented by Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) and committee member Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse).
• Up to $430,000 for Highway X in Chippewa County; represented by Sen. Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Kristen Dexter (D-Eau Claire).
• Up to $400,000 for State St. in Racine; represented by Lehman and Turner.
• $300,000 for the AIDS Network in Madison; represented by Pocan and Senate President Fred Risser (D-Madison).
• $250,000 for a bridge on S. Reid Road in Rock County; Robson and Rep. Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit).
• $250,000 for the Madison Children's Museum; represented by Pocan and Risser.
• $125,000 to remodel an Eau Claire library; represented by Kreitlow and Dexter.
• $100,000 for Huron Road in Bellevue; represented by Lasee and Zigmunt.
• $100,000 for the Stone Barn historic site in Oconto County; represented by Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), who sits on the committee, and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette).

Is this what Democrats mean by "shared sacrifice"?

If it weren't for double standards, Democrats would have none.

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)

It is called Leadership(for those who do not recognize it)

It may be hard to recognize, but it is called leadership.

Lately, not only the national GOP, but all across the state of Wisconsin, real leaders are difficult to find.

I know it is an election year and very few folks are willing to stick their neck out and lead this state into better direction.

Yesterday, Congressman Paul Ryan broke with the status quo, stuck his neck out and proposed a new plan to address America’s looming fiscal crisis. It is called “A Roadmap to America’s Future”.

Now whether you agree or disagree with the plan, you cannot deny someone finally stepped up and showed some leadership.

These days it is becoming more and more difficult to address the real problems of this state or this nation because too many lawmakers are running for office on a continual basis.

After the entire budget repair fiasco, I have become convinced that Wisconsin has an extreme shortage of leaders.

Not a Republican or a Democrat in our state legislature took a strong stand and lead their fellow lawmakers during the budget repair process.

Sure there were folks like Rep. Nass that got all huffy and puffy, but that is not leadership. He offered up nothing to move the debate forward. We already have plenty of backseat drivers and we do not need more.

What I truly wanted to see was someone willing to take a bold stand, buck the status quo and actually offer up a plan to fix our state budget. This was Rep. Huebsch’s responsibility, but he cannot do it alone.

We have a state that is billions of dollars in debt and our legislators just continue add to that debt.

Governor Doyle, because he is not running for re-election, pretty much got a free pass and could do whatever he wanted to do with this budget repair bill.

The Governor pretty much did what he wanted with the exception of the hospital tax.

The budget repair bill that was passed by the state legislature was pretty much vetoed and reworked by the governor. The legislature could do very little about it.

The Democrat’s leadership faired no better that the GOP. Governor Doyle trounced right over the top of all of them also.

We have plenty of elected officials that talk the talk. They tell the electorate exactly what they want to hear.

What we do not have are elected officials that will walk the walk.

Most Wisconsinites could tell you exactly what it would have taken to fix the budget fiasco. It is time to cut spending. Yes, that does indeed mean that programs will be cut, employees will be cut and people’s feelings are going to hurt.

This is the reality that is taking place all across Wisconsin at this very moment.

Every single Wisconsinite is facing the same fiscal decision.

Due to the horrible gas prices, do I take that trip over Memorial Day weekend, like I do ever other year?

Small business owners are asking themselves whether or not it is time to lay off an employee or two.

This is life. This is reality.

It is time for someone in our state legislature to break with the status quo, just like Congressman Paul Ryan did, and lead us in a better direction.

Our future is at stake in Wisconsin.

Where are the leaders?

Not quite as unlateral as they thought

Sometimes it is just a single word that shows the bias the media clings to.

That single word for The Capital Times is "unilaterally". This is a news story, not an opinion piece.

The two sides were set to meet for talks again today, but the Assembly is also scheduled to unilaterally approve on Tuesday its own stopgap plan to fund schools and to restore property tax limits that expired earlier this year. Both Doyle, a Democrat, and Senate Democrats have said they will not support anything short of a complete budget deal.

Definition: unilateral

Performed or undertaken by only one side: unilateral disarmament.

The final vote was not as "unilateral" as The Capital Times had hoped. 20 Democrats joined the Republicans in this "not so unilateral" vote and passed the school budget.

70-27 was the final vote. Not exactly coming from one side only.

Maybe these Assembly Democrats can put a little pressure on their friends in the Senate to fully fund schools now.

70-27!

Of course it passed. The surprise is how many Democrats supported the Republicans proposals. It seems that more than a few Democrats realize that they will have to answer to their constiuents, if they fail to fund the schools and protect the taxpayers.

In a sign that increasingly restless legislators are demanding a state budget, the Assembly today overwhelmingly passed a bill that would fund two of the most expensive programs - public schools and local governments - for the next two years.

Democrats, who control the state Senate, have promised to not take up the bill passed by the Assembly. Instead, they want to wait instead until a compete budget is negotiated and sent to Gov. Jim Doyle. That package would fund health care, transportation, prisons and the University of Wisconsin System.

But the 70-27 Assembly vote - with 50 Republicans and 20 Democrats voting for it - put new pressure on the eight-member committee of legislative leaders that has met since July 25, but failed to break the impasse over the spending year that started July 1. The committee is scheduled to meet again Wednesday.

"This (vote) could be catalyst for us to work together," said Democratic Rep. Jim Kreuser of Kenosha.

Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) said the separate funding bill for schools and local governments, which make up more half of all state government general-fund spending, was necessary to put limits on the December property tax bills on homes.

"We will have completed over half the state budget with this bill," Huebsch said.

A second bill that passed 52-45 would limit the 2008 tax levies of local governments to 2%, or the percentage increase caused by new construction, whichever is greater. Those levy limits expired early this year.

Roll call

Now the real grown up choices have to made. Will the Senate Democrats fund schools and protect the taxpayers from a $600 million tax increase?