Sides Spar Over Differences
The conferees are taking turns blasting the others side's budget proposal.
Sen. Decker blasted the Republicans' defense of "big oil." Rep. Rhoades said the Democratic budget proposals spend more than state residents can afford, and said the Healthy Wisconsin, "I don't want the government running my health care."
Sen. Jauch ripped the Assembly Republican budget up and down, saying it "seems to be devised without any moral compass."
Rep. Fitzgerald said Gov. Doyle's budget is "very liberal" and said he has constituents that have to work two jobs just to afford the tax burden in the state of Wisconsin. Taxpayers are "angry right now," Fitzgerald said.
Rep. Kreuser sounded a more conciliatory tone, but did rip the Assembly GOP budget for cutting education, firefighters, and police, among other things. He said the GOP budget a "budget that united our (Assembly Dem) caucus."
Sen. Fitzgerald tore apart the Healthy Wisconsin plan, listing a number of unanswered questions and unintended consequences of the proposal, and said there is dissension among Democrats about it, including Gov. Doyle. "I have no idea how this conference committee can function when it seems Democrats need a conference committee on health care before they come to this table," he said.
Fitzgerald did offer some hope for compromise, saying Gov. Doyle's proposal to extend BadgerCare "deserves some consideration."
Labels: Decker, Jauch, Kreuser, Rep. Fitzgerald, Rhoades, Sen. Fitzgerald
