State Democrats hinted earlier this week an economic stimulus package for the state is in the works, but specific aspects of the plan are yet to be determined.
State Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance, previously said a stimulus package made with Gov. Jim Doyle could be part of their legislative agenda.
John Anderson, spokesperson for Miller, stressed job creation, saying that it will be the top priority for Senate Democrats."" He said it was too early to discuss any specifics of economic legislation.
""The proposals are still in the [formative] stage and we're waiting for the governor,"" he said.
Democrats now control both houses of the state Legislature, and Jim Bender, spokesperson for incoming Assembly Minority Leader state Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, said Assembly Republicans would ""be strong supporters of initiatives that '¦ help our economy grow.""
However, he said the stimulus package could ""have a uphill battle"" given the state budget deficit, which is projected at $5 billion, and any tax increases would spur Republican resistance.
""Going to the taxpayers and [having] them send more money to Madison is the wrong answer,"" Bender said. ""You have much more money going out than you have coming in, and the people that are sending the money in can't be asked to send more.""
Anderson would not get into specifics on how Democrats would pay for the package because of how young the idea is.
""We're still fleshing out the different ideas and reviewing the different options for the state of Wisconsin,"" he said.
Doyle introduced a number of economic reforms with the cooperation of Assembly Republicans in the spring despite disagreements from many Democrats in the Legislature.
The measures passed in the Assembly, which was then controlled by Republicans, but faced opposition from the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Lee Sensenbrenner, spokesperson for Doyle, also did not want to discuss specific parts of economic policy prematurely.
