The State Senate passed its version of the Joint Finance Committee's budget bill last week on a vote of 17-16. While I understand that it is tough to create a budget bill in the midst of these extraordinary economic times, I believe that state legislators should be doing everything they can to rebuild our economy not stifle economic growth.
I voted against this $62 billion budget bill because it is not in the best interests of my constituents or the state of Wisconsin. Over the past months, I have had the opportunity to hold office hours throughout my district. As I met with constituents from Ontario, Prairie du Chien, Wauzeka, Westby, Holmen and Stoddard, it became clear that very few people were satisfied with the state budget or the direction that our state is currently headed.
As I told my constituents back in February, I would advocate for measures that will reduce the tax burden on hard working families and that would enhance our economic climate for business growth in Wisconsin. My solution of a state spending freeze at 2007-2008 levels would have been one step in the right direction by reducing a state deficit.
I then offered a solution to my fellow colleagues to model Wisconsin's budgeting process after our neighboring state of Minnesota's zero-based budgeting technique which forces agencies to re-examine their missions and prioritize their programs so policy makers can determine where scarce funds should be best allocated.
All the while, our budget deficit only became worse. In early May, the governor reported the budget deficit had grown an additional $1.5 billion. Still, the Joint Finance Committee continued to keep spending increases in the budget bill. I then offered an amendment to the Senate Democrats' version of the budget bill which would have eliminated all earmarks and non-fiscally policy items from the budget. This amendment failed to pass, allowing approximately $38 million in earmarks to remain in the budget plus 88 non-fiscal policy items.
Now, the Senate has passed its version of the budget bill which increases spending by an additional $300 million from the Joint Finance Committee's original version. In the end, we have a budget bill that increases government growth, stifles the private sector and creates additional hardships for Wisconsin families and Main Street businesses.
Wisconsin's business climate recently was ranked 43rd out of 50 among states in the nation by Forbes Magazine. A recent Time Magazine article ranked Wisconsin 46 out of 50 states in job growth. We are at the bottom five in economic growth and this budget bill will only hasten a continual descent.
Creating a better business environment and stimulating job growth will continue to be my priority as the 2009-2010 legislative session continues and I look forward to working together with my colleagues to continue to rebuild Wisconsin's economy.
I voted against this $62 billion budget bill because it is not in the best interests of my constituents or the state of Wisconsin. Over the past months, I have had the opportunity to hold office hours throughout my district. As I met with constituents from Ontario, Prairie du Chien, Wauzeka, Westby, Holmen and Stoddard, it became clear that very few people were satisfied with the state budget or the direction that our state is currently headed.
As I told my constituents back in February, I would advocate for measures that will reduce the tax burden on hard working families and that would enhance our economic climate for business growth in Wisconsin. My solution of a state spending freeze at 2007-2008 levels would have been one step in the right direction by reducing a state deficit.
I then offered a solution to my fellow colleagues to model Wisconsin's budgeting process after our neighboring state of Minnesota's zero-based budgeting technique which forces agencies to re-examine their missions and prioritize their programs so policy makers can determine where scarce funds should be best allocated.
All the while, our budget deficit only became worse. In early May, the governor reported the budget deficit had grown an additional $1.5 billion. Still, the Joint Finance Committee continued to keep spending increases in the budget bill. I then offered an amendment to the Senate Democrats' version of the budget bill which would have eliminated all earmarks and non-fiscally policy items from the budget. This amendment failed to pass, allowing approximately $38 million in earmarks to remain in the budget plus 88 non-fiscal policy items.
Now, the Senate has passed its version of the budget bill which increases spending by an additional $300 million from the Joint Finance Committee's original version. In the end, we have a budget bill that increases government growth, stifles the private sector and creates additional hardships for Wisconsin families and Main Street businesses.
Wisconsin's business climate recently was ranked 43rd out of 50 among states in the nation by Forbes Magazine. A recent Time Magazine article ranked Wisconsin 46 out of 50 states in job growth. We are at the bottom five in economic growth and this budget bill will only hasten a continual descent.
Creating a better business environment and stimulating job growth will continue to be my priority as the 2009-2010 legislative session continues and I look forward to working together with my colleagues to continue to rebuild Wisconsin's economy.
