It is old news that the state budget is in limbo. It is two months past the due date, and Wisconsin is the only state to be tardy in producing a budget. The question now is, who or what is to blame. Many are quick to blame the Republicans and Democrats for reaching an uncomfortable stalemate.
Yet, the lawmakers should be commended, for refusing to budge on issues they deem important. For example, Democrats will not budge on their propositions for public education, and Republicans are adamant that certain tax raises not be included in the budget. Clearly, the legislators of our state have fervor.
Nonetheless, there is something seriously wrong when, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, activists for workers' unions fall asleep during the budget meetings and lobbyists do not even bother to show up. Who would want to show up just to watch Republicans and Democrats bicker like a married couple?
When it seems like Republicans and Democrats are arguing for the sake of arguing, it is not difficult to lose faith in state government. Who wouldn't lose faith when the conference committee members - four Democrats and four Republicans - have only had nine sessions in the month of August?
When it comes down to the basics, these conference committee members are civil servants, and their duty is to the state of Wisconsin. They do not have time to twiddle their thumbs and create the budget at their leisure. That is not to say that no work is being done, but as civil servants, they better be pouring coffee and pulling all-nighters to pass the budget.
Besides the conference committee lacking the zest needed to further the budget, there are many statewide issues pending that need immediate attention. For example, health care logistics are pressing down upon Wisconsin's citizens.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin contains eight out of 10 of the U.S. cities with the highest physician fees. Furthermore, Milwaukee exceeds the national average for hospital costs by 63 percent.
Additionally, many state reforms, like the smoking ban and cable deregulation, cannot be enacted without the aid of a state budget. Likewise, taxes and fees cannot be raised, which pleases some, namely those applying to college or trying for their driver's license, but in order for the state to function and persevere in the long-run, these taxes must be instituted.
If Wisconsinites are out of luck, the budget will have to pass when adequate services are no longer available to Wisconsin's citizens. One would hope the lawmakers would buck up and prevent such a travesty from happening, but the people of Wisconsin will just have to join the politicians in limbo until perhaps October or November.
