Source: Dems offer to drop hospital assessment, keep oil franchise fee in latest budget offer
One of the latest Dem offers at the conference table proposes dropping the hospital assessment and an increase to the real estate transfer fee in exchange for leaving in the oil franchise fee and combined reporting on business taxes, according to a source who has been briefed on the ongoing negotiations at the Executive Residence.
The source said the Dem offer also included $350 million in additional program cuts. But those reductions would not impact the proposed expansion of BadgerCare that Gov. Jim Doyle proposed earlier this year to extend health care coverage to more Wisconsin residents.
The source estimated the two sides are about $300 million apart from agreeing on a full budget package.
Dems have also offered to lower proposed increases in the tipping fee, the nursing home bed tax and the sales tax filing fee, according to the source.
Assembly Republicans caucused this morning before legislative leaders were expected to continue talks at the residence, though a time had not been set to resume negotiations.
For more on the negotiations, see today's PM Update.
