Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative leaders announced Friday that an agreement on the overdue state budget had been reached, with a full vote possible as soon as Tuesday.
The state budget has been late for over 100 days, with the Democrat-controlled state Senate, the Republican-controlled state Assembly and Doyle failing to reach an agreement. Last week a version of the budget passed the state Senate, but was not successful in the state Assembly with a 53 to 44 vote against the proposal.
Doyle said at a press conference Friday that the negotiating process has at times been difficult, but the most recent version of the budget is something both political parties can be proud of.
“For the first time in a long time, Wisconsin has a budget—one that funds our priorities and creates opportunities for regular hardworking people,” Doyle said.
The deal would contain a cigarette tax increase of $1 per pack, but will not have a hospital assessment tax promoted by Doyle and the Senate Democrats.
A proposed tax on oil companies to pay for transportation fees that Doyle advocated was excluded from the agreement as well.
These three issues were some of the biggest differences between the Assembly proposals and the Governor’s version of the budget that failed last week.
The agreement would also provide $159 million for the UW System, lower than the $165 million requested by UW administrators, but over three times the $62 million allocated in previous Assembly versions of the budget.
The plan also allocates $32 million for financial aid, as well as $12 million for free college tuition for veterans.
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said the agreement reached makes the needs of taxpayers a priority and still funds necessary state programs.
“[This budget] is making sure that we provide for those who couldn’t provide for themselves, but we do it within the taxpayers ability to pay,” Huebsch said.
Huebsch said he was not sure if a majority of Assembly Republicans would vote for the budget agreement, but he was “confident” that between Democrats and Republicans, the budget would have enough votes to pass. Over 20 Assembly Republicans have signed pledges stating they will accept “no new taxes.”
Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit, said the budget conference committee of legislative leaders from the Senate and Assembly would vote on the proposal Monday.
If no issues are raised, then she and Huebsch plan on scheduling a full vote in each chamber by Tuesday.
“We’ve got to free Tom Nelson,” Robson said amid laughter, referencing the state Representative who is refusing to leave his desk at the Capitol until the state budget is passed.
