Marotta Goes on Offensive to Tout Budget
DOA Secretary Marc Marotta began his testimony to the JFC at about 11:10 a.m. by touting Doyle's budget. While the session was generally more civil than expected, committee members still had tough questions for Gov. Doyle's number one man.
Marotta said this budget has the lowest structural deficit of the last six budgets, improves the state's liquidity, reduces the size of government by eliminating 1,800 positions, and even establishes a $36 million rainy day fund.
Marotta said Wisconsin's economy is leading the Midwest in job growth and leading the nation in manufacturing growth. He also lauded the plan to consolidate purchasing and procurement, which he said will save the state money for years to come.
“We can quibble about a lot of parts of this budget ... But I think the people of Wisconsin have spoken pretty clearly to this committee,” Marrotta said, referring to the public hearings held around the state.
“This budget is a gut check and reality check for all of us in the administration and the Legislature,” Marotta said. “It is a true representation of what you stand for.”
JFC Co-Chair Dean Kaufert said he was "disappointed" by the budget, and jabbed at the
governor's property tax freeze proposal, calling it, "Bumper sticker politics which the governor has now come on board with but in a different way."
Kaufert wondered if the state continues to set the bar too high on education funding, and how much the fund transfers and one-time money will hamper the next administration's ability to balance the budget.
"This is very much a balancing act," Marotta admitted, but added the bonding to cover debt in this budget is the lowest in the last three. "Sometimes with a budget you're not faced with good or bad choices, you're faced with two bad choices and you choose the one that will do the least amount of damage."
