Gov. Jim Doyle called on the Wisconsin state Legislature Monday urging action on six bills he considers important priorities before the current session adjourns in May.
The legislation would enact ethics and elections reforms, make price gouging illegal in Wisconsin, expand Family Care and approve Doyle's Healthy Wisconsin catastrophic-insurance plan.
Citing the recent passage of essential bills which addressed emergency heating assistance and strengthened sex-offender enforcement, Doyle said in a statement the tentative agenda for next week causes concern for important priorities which might get left on the back burner.\
""These are major changes, and I know there's always a resistance to change,"" Doyle said. ""But the Legislature has had plenty of time to study these reforms, and now it's time for them to do what is in the best interests of the people of Wisconsin and take action.""
Justin Sargent, spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit, said Senate Democrats are ready to take action on health care to make it more affordable for Wisconsin families.
""The action plan for affordable health care is an essential call for health care in Wisconsin,"" Sargent said. ""What we've seen is a lack of that as a priority from the majority party.""
Sargent said Senate Democrats also want the Homeowner's Property Exemption to be passed, in addition to the six bills Doyle listed. The exemption would bring more fairness to the tax structure by reducing property taxes on the average home-owner by $500, he said.
According to Todd Allbaugh, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, the state Senate has already passed several of Doyle's bills.
In particular, he said Senate Bill 653, which would expand Family Care, was passed on a voice vote and is currently in the Assembly. If passed, Family Care's objective of helping more people move out of nursing homes and into community-based care would be extended statewide.
""Governor Doyle is criticizing the Legislature as a whole for not dealing with important priorities. At best, that's disingenuous, and at the worst, he's intentionally trying to pull the wool over people's eyes,"" Allbaugh said. ""From the records here, three of the biggest pieces of legislation he's pointed out have already passed the state Senate. We obviously support reform, that's why Republicans put out their reform agenda last fall.""
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