The full Assembly passed the 2015-17 biennial budget by a vote of 52-46 recently.
Over the past several months, I've heard from many of you about ways to improve our state's two-year spending plan and what I, as a legislator, should work to prioritize. With your feedback, I truly believe that I've been effective in taking the governor's original proposal and making it better for the people of southwest Wisconsin.
I'm pleased that this budget prioritizes our public schools and makes a $200 million investment in our K-12 system. It also moves to save SeniorCare, and ensures our ADRCs and IRIS are maintained for our most vulnerable.
While I am proud of the progress that my colleagues and I made in improving this budget, I felt that ultimately I could not in good conscience support its final passage.
Although there is a reduction in the amount of borrowing in this budget, I continue to fear that our state's transportation spending is on an unsustainable path. With an aging infrastructure and a stagnant source of transportation revenues, this budget does not go far enough in addressing our state's long-term transportation needs.
Many of you have also shared with me your concerns with the effects that this budget will have on public education. As a parent of two, I strongly believe that it's our responsibility to ensure that our students, whether in our K-12 system or in our universities, receive the support they need to be successful. Sadly, I believe this budget falls short in this measure.
As an independent voice for our community in the state legislature, I will continue to work hard to represent your views in our state Capitol. The input I received from many of you was crucial in helping me reaching this decision, and I believe that my vote on this budget best reflects the views of our district.
Governor's Budget Vetoes
Before signing the state budget into law, Gov. Walker vetoed a number of provisions within the two-year spending plan. Unfortunately, included in his list of vetoes were a few programs that I had championed on behalf of our district.
We all know that there has been a dramatic uptick in the use of illicit drugs in our community. Since Lafayette County is the only county in our district that doesn't belong to a drug task force to fight these crimes, I was able to secure $100,000 in this budget to help the county combat this epidemic. Citing the funding as a budget earmark in his veto message, the governor's office has indicated to me that they support the concept of this program, but would like to see the funding provided through another avenue - perhaps through the state Department of Justice. Although a setback, I'll continue to work with Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill to find a way to best address this need.
- Todd Novak represents the 51st Assembly District. He can be reached at 608.266.7502 or email rep.novak@legis.wisocnisn.gov
Over the past several months, I've heard from many of you about ways to improve our state's two-year spending plan and what I, as a legislator, should work to prioritize. With your feedback, I truly believe that I've been effective in taking the governor's original proposal and making it better for the people of southwest Wisconsin.
I'm pleased that this budget prioritizes our public schools and makes a $200 million investment in our K-12 system. It also moves to save SeniorCare, and ensures our ADRCs and IRIS are maintained for our most vulnerable.
While I am proud of the progress that my colleagues and I made in improving this budget, I felt that ultimately I could not in good conscience support its final passage.
Although there is a reduction in the amount of borrowing in this budget, I continue to fear that our state's transportation spending is on an unsustainable path. With an aging infrastructure and a stagnant source of transportation revenues, this budget does not go far enough in addressing our state's long-term transportation needs.
Many of you have also shared with me your concerns with the effects that this budget will have on public education. As a parent of two, I strongly believe that it's our responsibility to ensure that our students, whether in our K-12 system or in our universities, receive the support they need to be successful. Sadly, I believe this budget falls short in this measure.
As an independent voice for our community in the state legislature, I will continue to work hard to represent your views in our state Capitol. The input I received from many of you was crucial in helping me reaching this decision, and I believe that my vote on this budget best reflects the views of our district.
Governor's Budget Vetoes
Before signing the state budget into law, Gov. Walker vetoed a number of provisions within the two-year spending plan. Unfortunately, included in his list of vetoes were a few programs that I had championed on behalf of our district.
We all know that there has been a dramatic uptick in the use of illicit drugs in our community. Since Lafayette County is the only county in our district that doesn't belong to a drug task force to fight these crimes, I was able to secure $100,000 in this budget to help the county combat this epidemic. Citing the funding as a budget earmark in his veto message, the governor's office has indicated to me that they support the concept of this program, but would like to see the funding provided through another avenue - perhaps through the state Department of Justice. Although a setback, I'll continue to work with Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill to find a way to best address this need.
- Todd Novak represents the 51st Assembly District. He can be reached at 608.266.7502 or email rep.novak@legis.wisocnisn.gov
