Doyle, Huebsch, Robson meeting on proposed budget deal
The governor and legislative leaders were meeting this afternoon on a proposed budget compromise that would increase the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack and include a $200 million transfer from the Patients Compensation Fund, according to multiple sources.
The proposal would drop Gov. Jim Doyle's proposed hospital tax as a concession to collect as many Assembly GOP votes as possible, according to the sources. The package also includes several funding earmarks for Milwaukee that the governor has supported for the state's largest city.
Gov. Jim Doyle, Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch and Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson were attending the 2 p.m. meeting to discuss details of the proposal.
Huebsch spokesman John Murray would not comment on the proposal other than to say the latest offer on the table was "tentative" and warning that any deal could fall apart.
