Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
State Budget Watch: A late state budget means Wisconsin avoids many pitfalls
By Mary Lazich
Monday, Aug 6 2007, 03:15 PM
The New York Times is lamenting the fact that three states, including Wisconsin, have entered the second month of the fiscal year without one. The other two states are Illinois and California.
The New York Times writes:
“In Wisconsin, a stalemate has dragged on for weeks, as a Senate led by Democrats and a General Assembly led by Republicans passed budgets with a $10 billion gap between them. On Wednesday, a conference committee approved more than 500 budget items, The Associated Press reported, but hundreds of more controversial items are unresolved.”
The press will probably start writing more articles in the near future about the failure to pass a budget on time and the potential negative consequences this could have for Wisconsin.
Keep in mind the state is not like the federal government that shuts down if it doesn’t have a budget. In Wisconsin, the state merely continues to operate under the previously approved budget.
I have said that the budget process may drag out until November. While some editorial writers and special interest groups may protest, I say the delay isn’t necessarily a crisis.
For every day the state operates under the old budget, that is another day without:
• The Senate Democrats’ $15.2 billion socialistic government health care plan.
• A government health care plan that would be the largest tax increase in the history of the United States.
• Governor Doyle’s proposed $1.75 billion in tax and fee increases.
• Higher property taxes resulting from Governor Doyle lifting the caps on local spending
• A cigarette tax increase
• A tax on hospitals
• A tax on oil companies
• A tax on nursing home beds
• An increase in vehicle registration fees
• An increase in driver’s license fees
• A raid of the Patient’s Compensation Fund
If those are my options, I will take a tardy budget.
