The state Joint Finance Committee passed the 2009-'11 biennial budget May 29 after approving motions to account for a $1.6 billion deficit increase that became evident in May.
In light of Gov. Jim Doyle's recent emergency budget address, the JFC faced pressure to complete its work on the budget bill. The budget implements a 5 percent across-the-board cut for state agency spending and promises to reduce state spending from tax dollars by 3.4 percent.
The bill protects individuals whose income is below $300,000 a year from an increase in income tax but raises the income tax on those who make more than $300,000. No increase in general sales tax was introduced.
Republicans on the JFC have accused Democrats on the JFC of ""backroom meetings"" and ""late-night deals"" along with making a ""bad budget worse,"" according to a statement from the four Republican members of the JFC.
""Dozens of pieces in this budget package are complex policy matters that should be considered separately in the light of day rather than crammed into a 1,700-page document late at night,"" state Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, said in a statement.
Republican JFC members said they were originally optimistic the JFC could make improvements to Doyle's original budget. Despite this, the JFC Republicans denounced the Democrats' spending choices, but the budget passed by a 12-4 margin on a party-line vote.
State Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Schofield, praised the budget bill for making necessary cuts and said the current state of the economy required tough choices.
""Every state agency, including the state Legislature, will have to make cuts and tighten their belt. We need to squeeze every nickel out of every dollar so that every program is more efficient,"" Decker said in a statement.
The budget bill will now move on to the state Assembly, with voting expected to begin June 10.
