Rep. Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, said all the right things Monday during his first speech as Wisconsin Assembly speaker. It remains to be seen whether the majority party Democrats and minority Republicans can do the right things in addressing the state's fiscal crisis.
Sheridan, speaking as the next legislative session began Monday, urged bipartisan and innovative approaches to bridging a budget gap that could be as high as $5.4 billion. Political rivals will need to collaborate, Sheridan said, and "there is room for innovative ideas from all members of this body as we work to turn things around."
He's right, of course. But as we all know, achieving true bipartisanship in Madison - as it also is in most other political venues - is much easier (and more often) said than done.
Democrats, now in control of the Assembly as well as the Senate and the governor's mansion, bear a great responsibility in facilitating bipartisanship and innovation. They are the party in charge, after all, and either can stifle Republican efforts or welcome their input and ideas.
Republicans have a role in this endeavor, as well, however. They either can be obstructionists from their minority position, or they can vow to work within the new political realities that voters created.
Given the budget situation, taxation and spending will be the potential battlegrounds in this and future sessions in the near term. These areas will be where Sheridan's bipartisan pledge will be put to an extreme and early test.
Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative Democrats have mentioned a number of tax and fee increases as partial solutions to the state's budget mess. There's nothing innovative about that, of course.
Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, last week called on Democrats to reconsider tax and fee increase proposals, saying "we need to fix our state's budget deficit without raising taxes." Meanwhile, State Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, was blasting Doyle on Monday for asking for federal economic stimulus money for state projects. Nothing but the party line in those attacks.
One reality is that some tax and fee increases will be necessary if billions of dollars are to be made up in the budget. And Democrats are going to have to agree to spending cuts, or give up on other expenditures on their wish lists.
Another reality is that simply raising some taxes and cutting some spending measures won't get the job done anymore. Further innovative efforts, from both parties, will be required.
Such as, say, in the area of education funding reform ...
Stay tuned.
Sheridan, speaking as the next legislative session began Monday, urged bipartisan and innovative approaches to bridging a budget gap that could be as high as $5.4 billion. Political rivals will need to collaborate, Sheridan said, and "there is room for innovative ideas from all members of this body as we work to turn things around."
He's right, of course. But as we all know, achieving true bipartisanship in Madison - as it also is in most other political venues - is much easier (and more often) said than done.
Democrats, now in control of the Assembly as well as the Senate and the governor's mansion, bear a great responsibility in facilitating bipartisanship and innovation. They are the party in charge, after all, and either can stifle Republican efforts or welcome their input and ideas.
Republicans have a role in this endeavor, as well, however. They either can be obstructionists from their minority position, or they can vow to work within the new political realities that voters created.
Given the budget situation, taxation and spending will be the potential battlegrounds in this and future sessions in the near term. These areas will be where Sheridan's bipartisan pledge will be put to an extreme and early test.
Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative Democrats have mentioned a number of tax and fee increases as partial solutions to the state's budget mess. There's nothing innovative about that, of course.
Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, last week called on Democrats to reconsider tax and fee increase proposals, saying "we need to fix our state's budget deficit without raising taxes." Meanwhile, State Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, was blasting Doyle on Monday for asking for federal economic stimulus money for state projects. Nothing but the party line in those attacks.
One reality is that some tax and fee increases will be necessary if billions of dollars are to be made up in the budget. And Democrats are going to have to agree to spending cuts, or give up on other expenditures on their wish lists.
Another reality is that simply raising some taxes and cutting some spending measures won't get the job done anymore. Further innovative efforts, from both parties, will be required.
Such as, say, in the area of education funding reform ...
Stay tuned.
