MONROE - Like many private-sector workers and other state employees, aides to state lawmakers will be required to take unpaid time off. Lawmakers may be doing so voluntarily, sort of.
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, and Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, announced Thursday that aides will be required to take 16 days off without pay over the next two years. Assembly members are encouraged to cut their pay by a similar amount to help solve the state's growing budget shortfall.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said he and his staff person, Luke Bacher, had planned for a furlough in his office even before the Assembly leaders made their decision.
"We thought our office should reflect what's going on in the district," Davis said. "Government shouldn't be immune."
Assembly leaders said government must make cuts and tighten its budget, just as families across the state have done.
Legislators can't be furloughed, according the Wisconsin Constitution; instead they will have to determine an hourly rate and return the money to the state.
Davis said the furloughs won't be easy, but people in the district also are facing tough economic situations.
"This isn't easy for any family," he said.
Bacher will take eight days off this year and eight days off next year. While he's out of the office, Davis will take over office duties.
"Everyone is asking to do more with less. If (Bacher) isn't working I'll be there helping out."
Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, said he understands and supports the decision to require furloughs. He has two people working in his office.
"It's a necessary step," he said.
The Senate decided last week to require furloughs for staff.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, who has four full-time staff people in his office, said it was something that needed to be done in light of the budget problems.
Sheridan's spokeswoman Rebekah Sweeney said the speaker had discussed the issue with the chamber's majority Democrats and expected many of them to return their pay.
Already, lawmakers have pledged to give up 2 percent pay raises that were scheduled to go into effect in 2011. A committee that sets pay is expected to formally rescind those raises in coming weeks, Sweeney said.
That step comes after lawmakers were criticized for a 5.3 percent pay raise that took effect this year. Several have refused to accept it, giving the money back or to charity. Others have kept the pay, which cannot be adjusted up or down during their two-year session.
Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, announced last week he would return 16 days worth of pay to show solidarity with state workers. His spokeswoman, Carrie Lynch, said Thursday that Senate employees also would likely face furloughs but details were being worked out.
She said it will be up to each senator whether to return any pay. Elected officials must pay taxes on the wages whether they accept them or not.
The Assembly furloughs mirror those announced last week by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle for executive branch employees to respond to the state's projected budget hole, which got deeper Thursday.
A report from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau added another $50 million to the $6.6 billion projected shortfall through June 30, 2011. The bureau said it expected a $34 million decline in income taxes collected over the next two years and a projected $16 million drop in tribal gambling revenue.
Along with the furloughs, Doyle announced last week he would lay off up to 1,100 executive branch employees, try to cancel a 2 percent raise promised to 10,000 employees in June and cut agency budgets by 5 percent.
Those drastic steps alone, however, will not balance the budget. Democrats who control the Legislature say they are considering other spending cuts, tax increases and borrowing to fix the shortfall caused partly by lower than projected income and business tax collections.
The Legislature's budget committee is expected to resume its work next week.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, and Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, announced Thursday that aides will be required to take 16 days off without pay over the next two years. Assembly members are encouraged to cut their pay by a similar amount to help solve the state's growing budget shortfall.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said he and his staff person, Luke Bacher, had planned for a furlough in his office even before the Assembly leaders made their decision.
"We thought our office should reflect what's going on in the district," Davis said. "Government shouldn't be immune."
Assembly leaders said government must make cuts and tighten its budget, just as families across the state have done.
Legislators can't be furloughed, according the Wisconsin Constitution; instead they will have to determine an hourly rate and return the money to the state.
Davis said the furloughs won't be easy, but people in the district also are facing tough economic situations.
"This isn't easy for any family," he said.
Bacher will take eight days off this year and eight days off next year. While he's out of the office, Davis will take over office duties.
"Everyone is asking to do more with less. If (Bacher) isn't working I'll be there helping out."
Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, said he understands and supports the decision to require furloughs. He has two people working in his office.
"It's a necessary step," he said.
The Senate decided last week to require furloughs for staff.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, who has four full-time staff people in his office, said it was something that needed to be done in light of the budget problems.
Sheridan's spokeswoman Rebekah Sweeney said the speaker had discussed the issue with the chamber's majority Democrats and expected many of them to return their pay.
Already, lawmakers have pledged to give up 2 percent pay raises that were scheduled to go into effect in 2011. A committee that sets pay is expected to formally rescind those raises in coming weeks, Sweeney said.
That step comes after lawmakers were criticized for a 5.3 percent pay raise that took effect this year. Several have refused to accept it, giving the money back or to charity. Others have kept the pay, which cannot be adjusted up or down during their two-year session.
Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, announced last week he would return 16 days worth of pay to show solidarity with state workers. His spokeswoman, Carrie Lynch, said Thursday that Senate employees also would likely face furloughs but details were being worked out.
She said it will be up to each senator whether to return any pay. Elected officials must pay taxes on the wages whether they accept them or not.
The Assembly furloughs mirror those announced last week by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle for executive branch employees to respond to the state's projected budget hole, which got deeper Thursday.
A report from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau added another $50 million to the $6.6 billion projected shortfall through June 30, 2011. The bureau said it expected a $34 million decline in income taxes collected over the next two years and a projected $16 million drop in tribal gambling revenue.
Along with the furloughs, Doyle announced last week he would lay off up to 1,100 executive branch employees, try to cancel a 2 percent raise promised to 10,000 employees in June and cut agency budgets by 5 percent.
Those drastic steps alone, however, will not balance the budget. Democrats who control the Legislature say they are considering other spending cuts, tax increases and borrowing to fix the shortfall caused partly by lower than projected income and business tax collections.
The Legislature's budget committee is expected to resume its work next week.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.