Doyle to announce vetoes tomorrow
Gov. Jim Doyle will announce his vetoes to the budget repair bill at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Governor's Conference Room in the state Capitol.
Doyle has repeatedly expressed his displeasure with two key provisions of the Legislature's budget repair compromise - -- the $209 million in bonding from the tobacco settlement, and the shift of $125 million in aids to local school districts.
Republicans in both legislative houses have warned that any attempt by the governor to access transportation funds to close the projected $525 million budget deficit will lead to an override vote.
"We'll be back if (Doyle) touches transportation," Assembly Majority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald
Doyle had proposed transferring $257 million from the transportation fund and backfilling the borrowing with bonds to help plug the budget hole. That move was rejected by legislators in favor of tobacco securitization and the school funding shift.
An override attempt would have to begin in the Republican-controlled Assembly. An override would need approval from two-thirds of the 99-member house to move to the Senate. Republicans control the chamber 52-47. One Republican member, Rep. Mark Gundrum, is currently deployed overseas.
Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, said Tuesday he's not thinking much about an override until the Assembly takes action.
"I'd be very surprised if the Assembly was able to muster the votes to override anything," he said.
Listen to Doyle's comments today on the budget bill here.
Labels: Budget_Repair_Bill, Doyle, Veto
