Reed Act Funding Reduced By $3 Million
The committee cut nearly $3 million from federal Reed Act funding recommended by Gov. Doyle for apprenticeship programs and the Grow Wisconsin Initiative in budget papers 842 and 843. The cuts passed on party-line 12-4 votes. The unspent money will remain in the unemployment compensation fund.
The motion to amend budget paper 842 removed 975,000 over the biennium and deleted 1.2 FED positions. The motion to amend budget paper 843 removes 2 million in federal funding.
Rep. Scott Jensen said "overspending" on Reed Act programs is drawing down the unemployment compensation fund and could lead to the need to raise taxes on businesses.
Rep. Mark Pocan said the Reed Act funding is an integral part of Gov. Doyle's Grow Wisconsin, which he said is obviously doing something right because job growth here is outpacing much of the country.
Jensen was amazed the Dems can complain about the poor economy under President Bush but praise the economic renaissance brought about by Doyle. “How they're able to pull those two thing off at the same time is impressive to me,” he said.
Pocan offered to get Jensen some Doyle campaign materials. “I agree
Gov. Doyle has done a great job and should be re-elected,” Pocan said.
