Huebsch surpised and disappointed by special session
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch said Assembly Republicans are "surprised and disappointed by" Gov. Jim Doyle's announcement today that he will call a special session to try to break the budget deadlock.
"The fact is over the last couple of weeks we have been working to try and make progress with the governor, and with the Senate Democrats as to resolving the state budget," Huebsch said.
Huebsch said the governor "is now walking away from this negotiation and basically laying down an ultimatum. It is not the way that you negotiate to try and get to resolution, but it is unforunately the direction the governor has chosen to go today."
Huebsch indicated that he will abide by the call for the special session, but didn't sound committed to bringing Doyle's budget compromise to the floor.
"As far as taking that buget to the floor, that is to be resolved mainly because I have not yet seen what the governor is going to try to introduce," he said.
Huebsch said the latest Republican offer, made yesterday, includes increased K-12 funding, a 14 percent financial aid increase for UW System students, restoration of the Homestead Tax Credit, restoration of the compensation reserve fund, more funding for the UW System, restoration of cuts to shared revenue, and restoration of cuts to the Department of Corrections. The increased funding would be paid for by a 75-cent increase in the per pack tax on cigarettes, and a transfer from the Patients Compensation Fund of between $100 million and $175 million, Huebsch said.
Huebsch said he hopes to continue negotiating to reach a legislative budget agreement before Monday. He said the offer the governor will provide, if it is identical to what was placed on the table last Friday, will include $1 billion increases in taxes and spending over levels included in the Republican-penned Assembly budget.
