Democrats in control of the state Senate unveiled their proposal to stimulate the economy Wednesday, with the plan already facing opposition from the Republican-controlled Assembly.
The plan, Wisconsin Invests Now, includes $50 million in funding for road construction and $5 million in technical college grants.
Democratic leaders said the construction funding would create around 2,500 jobs.
We've seen how investing in our infrastructure strengthens the economy of our state so let's stick with what works,"" said Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston.
Financial aid to UW and technical college students is increased by $1.3 million annually under the plan.
According to the plan, closing a tax loophole that lets businesses in Wisconsin not pay some taxes if their corporate headquarters are in Las Vegas would create $90 million to finance the proposal.
Assembly Republicans and Gov. Jim Doyle each have their own separate economic proposals. Assembly Republican leaders reacted strongly in opposition to the Senate proposal.
""Senate Democrats are pushing a 'tax and spend' agenda at the worst possible time,"" said Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, in a release. ""You don't create jobs by taxing businesses.""
Huebsch has previously stated that some of the initiatives in Doyle's plan might be able to pass in the Assembly. Areas of agreement include reducing taxes on certain investments and giving tax breaks for research and development.
Doyle and Senate Democrats stated they agree on raising the minimum wage to $7.25, although Republican leaders oppose it.
The Senate proposal is also similar to Doyle's plan in that it seeks to increase funding for renewable energy, with the Senate proposal to increase renewable energy grants by $8 million annually.
Jeff Buhrandt, spokesman for Democratic plan sponsor state Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls, said Kreitlow is ""hopeful [Senate Democrats] can reach some common ground"" with Doyle and Republicans on the three different proposals.
