Stalemate is an embarrassment, Robson says
Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson said the special session called for by Gov. Doyle was brought on by an Assembly Republican caucus that doesn't want a new state budget.
"By not allowing their negotiating team to compromise, Assembly Republicans have abdicated their responsibility of leadership," Robson said. "They have left an indelible, black historic mark on the budget process that affects every resident of this state."
"This budget is 100 days late because Assembly Republicans signaled all the way back in April that they had no interest in doing a state budget," she said. "It's October and some Republicans are still applauding and celebrating this embarrassing stalemate."
She said Senate Dems have been flexible in a number of areas: offering $500 million in spending cuts in their latest offer, taking Healthy Wisconsin off the table, taking the real estate transfer fee of the table, and other provisions.
"The response from Republican leadership to our overtures has been nothing but political posturing and delay. The silence is deafening," she said.
Robson said the Dems are willing to continue negotiations with Huebsch and the Republicans, but will be on the floor Monday with the compromise bill if there is not significant progress in those negotiations.
