The Republican controlled state Assembly voted on specific portions of the budget Tuesday, passing two pieces of legislation unlikely to be introduced in the Democrat-controlled state Senate.
Both bills are part of a proposal called a Property Taxpayer Relief"" package by Republicans in the Assembly.
AB506 deals with funding for state public schools, and passed 70-27, with 20 Democrats voting in favor.
The bill is to prevent a property tax increase of $600 million that might occur after Sept. 28 if schools need to make up for a lack in state funding, according to Assembly Majority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon.
""The Assembly Republicans took the lead and put forth a compromise plan to stop that increase,"" Fitzgerald said.
Assembly Assistant Minority Leader Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, said some Assembly Democrats voted for AB506 because it was good for their specific districts. Democrats did this knowing the bill is very unlikely to be acted upon in the state Senate according to Richards.
""There is a wide consensus this didn't get us closer to resolving the budget,"" Richards said.
Fitzgerald spokesperson Jim Bender said the amount of Assembly Democrats that voted for the bill puts political pressure on Senate Democrats to pass similar legislation. The fact that the bill passed with a veto-proof majority shows it could easily pass the Senate, according to Bender.
State Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit, said in a statement that AB506 puts the state $115 million in debt. Tuesday's voting also delayed negotiations on the entire budget in the Conference Committee, according to Robson.
""They know this doesn't get us any closer to resolution on a real budget,"" Robson said.
The second bill passed closer to party lines, 52-45, and dealt with property tax levies.
