Budget time in Madison is starting to feel a little like Groundhog Day in the newsroom.
Two years ago, it seemed as if there were daily news stories reporting no progress in the budget talks. It was frustrating, but understandable. The Assembly was controlled by Republicans, the Senate by Democrats. And Assembly Republicans were hesitant to give away anything in negotiations because they knew the Democratic governor was waiting at the end of the process with his Frankenstein veto pen.
This year, its different. Democrats have control over everything, even the Joint Finance Committee, which has 12 Democrats and 4 Republicans.
But yet for the second straight tonight, weve waited to place in the newspaper a report of progress from the budget committee. None came either night.
On Tuesday, the committee was to discuss, among other things, the Department of Corrections budget. That includes the controversial provision to release some nonviolent offenders early to save the state some money. But the committee meeting Tuesday was canceled.
The committee then was supposed to meet at noon Wednesday. Then the meetings start time was pushed back to 7:30 p.m. No problem, still plenty of time to get the story in Thursdays Times, even with our previous-night deadline.
Then came the notice Wednesday evening that the meeting wasnt going to start until 10 p.m. Who the heck starts a meeting at 10 p.m.
Apparently not the Joint Finance Committee, because about an hour later we received word that thered be no meeting Wednesday. Apparently, there are delays in drafting motions for the committee to consider.
Whatever.
Committee co-chair Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said Democrats have agreements on remaining unresolved issues aid to schools, state agency cuts, etc. Ill bet they do.
Pocan said the committee plans to finish its work by the end of the day Thursday as promised.
That I wont bet on. But Ill hold a space in Fridays paper for it.
Well see.
Two years ago, it seemed as if there were daily news stories reporting no progress in the budget talks. It was frustrating, but understandable. The Assembly was controlled by Republicans, the Senate by Democrats. And Assembly Republicans were hesitant to give away anything in negotiations because they knew the Democratic governor was waiting at the end of the process with his Frankenstein veto pen.
This year, its different. Democrats have control over everything, even the Joint Finance Committee, which has 12 Democrats and 4 Republicans.
But yet for the second straight tonight, weve waited to place in the newspaper a report of progress from the budget committee. None came either night.
On Tuesday, the committee was to discuss, among other things, the Department of Corrections budget. That includes the controversial provision to release some nonviolent offenders early to save the state some money. But the committee meeting Tuesday was canceled.
The committee then was supposed to meet at noon Wednesday. Then the meetings start time was pushed back to 7:30 p.m. No problem, still plenty of time to get the story in Thursdays Times, even with our previous-night deadline.
Then came the notice Wednesday evening that the meeting wasnt going to start until 10 p.m. Who the heck starts a meeting at 10 p.m.
Apparently not the Joint Finance Committee, because about an hour later we received word that thered be no meeting Wednesday. Apparently, there are delays in drafting motions for the committee to consider.
Whatever.
Committee co-chair Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said Democrats have agreements on remaining unresolved issues aid to schools, state agency cuts, etc. Ill bet they do.
Pocan said the committee plans to finish its work by the end of the day Thursday as promised.
That I wont bet on. But Ill hold a space in Fridays paper for it.
Well see.
