Budget repair bill on the floor
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said Republicans would have preferred a solution that did more to cut state spending, and he said no one is thrilled with having to do a budget repair bill.
"If any of these were good ideas, frankly we would have done them already," he said. "But in the end the people of the state of Wisconsin have asked us to come here and govern ... and figure out a way that we can keep this state moving forward."
Huebsch said that he is hopefully that the slowing economy that created the budget shortfall will turn around, and he said that Wisconsin may be able to move out of the slowdown faster than its neighbors.
Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, opened his remarks by acknowledging that the bill is not popular with the guv.
"There will be no gathering tonight at the residence if we pass this," Kreuser said. Instead, there will be a "dutch treat" reception at The Silver Dollar a block from the Capitol. "Bipartisan, of course," he said.
Kreuser said the changes that came in the last week have made the bill better, but he also lamented "missed opportunities" like the hospital assessment and funding for the KRM commuter rail line.
"Out of all the ideas that were out there, these were the ones we had to agree on," Kreuser said. "It's compromise."
Labels: Budget_Repair_Bill, Huebsch
