Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
State Budget Watch-Day Two
By Mary Lazich
Wednesday, Feb 14 2007, 05:13 PM
Governor Doyle seemed to ridicule Governor Tommy Thompson during his budget speech last night, proclaiming the state got itself into a tremendous hole in the 1990s. He specifically mentioned expensive new programs, excessive use of one time money, exploding corrections costs, and runaway deficits. That is ironic since Governor Doyle's budget is loaded with new programs. He used one-time money in his last budget by raiding the Transportation Fund of $427-million, and the state is currently, today, in deficit and is in a structural deficit.
Governor Doyle brags that Wisconsin showed a small surplus in 2005 and a surplus in 2007. The highly reliable Legislative Fiscal Bureau says Wisconsin today has a shortage of $100-million. How can a shortage be a surplus?
The Governor said," Over the last four years, we've dramatically reduced the use of one-time spending." The taxpayers have not forgotten Governor Doyle's veto raiding $427-million from the Transportation Fund.
The Governor promised that, "At least 98 percent of our citizens will have access to health care coverage - more than any other state in the nation."
The Governor promises to make every dollar you pay for health insurance completely tax free. I'm skeptical of the governor's use of the word free. Someone is going to have to pay for this and every other program the Governor is seeking.
The Governor promises to save the taxpayers of Wisconsin $1.7 billion over the next four years. The state budget is a biennial document that only covers the next two years.
The Governor says "the budget is not merely a set of numbers and actuarial tables. It is a statement of priorities and values ... our commitment to nourish the abilities, energy and creativity of every Wisconsin child." He continues, "We should make a major new investment in school breakfast, four-year-old kindergarten, and smaller class sizes from kindergarten through third grade. We must reform the school financing formula. We can start by helping rural districts with transportation costs, providing relief to schools with declining enrollment, and continuing to address the disparity faced by our lowest spending districts." There must be a hefty price tag associated with all those glittering generalities.
He issued a "guarantee that every young person who is willing to work hard and make the grade will have a spot in college and a financial package to help pay for it."
One of the Governor's most taxing remarks in his budget address is, "We must repeal the outdated, inflexible QEO." Watch your income dwindle.
The Governor then informs during his speech that, "Wisconsin's citizens are going to have to pay some new fees in this budget."
Stay tuned for more State Budget Watch.
