Major progress was shown on the state budget impasse on Friday, with Democrats in control of the state Senate dropping their proposal for universal health care.
Democrats on the Conference Committee of legislative leaders said they were willing to set aside the Healthy Wisconsin plan if Republicans agreed to an alternative package, according to state Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit.
Republicans in control of the state Assembly have told her that Healthy Wisconsin accounted for 84.4 percent of the budget difference between the Senate and Assembly, Robson said at a press conference.
Here's their opportunity to put their money where their mouth is,"" she said.
The alternative package focuses on the health care program for children in the state, BadgerCare Plus, as well as health insurance for lower income families without children and a proposed tax on cigarettes.
Robson said the Assembly and Senate are now only $300 to $400 million apart, as opposed to the billions of dollars in differences seen earlier.
Republicans on the Conference Committee have said they are opposed to the alternative package and would prefer Healthy Wisconsin be dropped without adding other conditions.
""Assembly Republicans will offer nothing in exchange for Healthy Wisconsin,"" said Jim Bender, spokesperson for Assembly Majority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon.
The new proposal consists of over 70 items and would cost over $1 billion, according to Bender. This is essentially ""buying"" the removal of Healthy Wisconsin, Bender said.
Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, held a press conference after the Senate Democrats' offer and said he was pleased with the progress being made.
""I commend the Senate Democrats and their leader Senator Robson for taking the next step today to move this budget forward,"" Doyle said.
Doyle said the expansion of Badger Care Plus and the cigarette tax are health care proposals he wants in the final budget, according to Doyle.
He also announced he would be meeting jointly with Robson and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, to discuss the budget at the Governor's Mansion Monday.
The budget negotiations today will deal with all possible budget issues, and Doyle said no issue would be considered non-negotiable. However, Doyle said he has certain expectations and priorities in terms of what he wants in the budget.
""I am not going to sign a budget that cuts [K-12] education, I am not going to sign a budget that doesn't provide adequate funding for the University of Wisconsin,"" Doyle said.
At a press conference, Huebsch said he is pleased Doyle is taking a more active role in the budget process. He similarly said all items could be discussed or negotiated at today's meeting, though the Assembly wants to see major concessions on tax increases.
""We've drawn a bottom line on nothing,"" Huebsch said, but he also previously stated, ""the tax increases in this budget are simply too high.
