tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117669792009-02-15T20:30:07.815-06:00Administratornoreply@blogger.comBlogger1914125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-3524922282487508762009-02-15T20:19:00.002-06:002009-02-15T20:25:09.770-06:00

This post is to notify you that the URL for the WisPolitics Budget Blog has changed effective immediately. To visit the site directly, the new URL is http://blogs.wispolitics.com/budget/The new URL for the RSS feed ishttp://blogs.wispolitics.com/budget/feed.xmlContact schramm@wispolitics.com with any questions about this change.

Administratornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-55643320757640457102009-02-13T16:12:00.004-06:002009-02-13T16:52:13.312-06:00

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-LaCrosse, sent out this summary of the benefits for Wisconsin of the $789 million stimulus bill passed by the House today. The Senate is set to vote on the bill later, and President Obama is expected to sign it on Monday.According to Kind, the American Recovery and Reinvstment Act: - Creates or saves 70,000 jobs in Wisconsin over the next two years.- Provides a "Making Work

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-78401972650911975192009-02-12T15:10:00.005-06:002009-02-12T15:31:36.332-06:00

In a press conference with reporters this afternoon, Gov. Jim Doyle said that in addition to the $2 billion the federal stimulus bill, the legislation provides $550 million for infrastructure projects in Wisconsin as well as other cash through grants and other programs.In the final tally, the impact to the state from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act could reach $3.5 billion, Doyle

Administratornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-11832616535598108162009-02-12T14:10:00.004-06:002009-02-12T15:10:42.093-06:00

Wisconsin is in line to receive roughly $2 billion for medical assistance and education programs from the compromise stimulus legislation federal lawmakers hammered out, Gov. Jim Doyle said today.Doyle, speaking with reporters on a conference call with U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, said the money by no means will alleviate the state's $5.7 billion budget shortfall. He said the budget he introduces next

Administratornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-38310863536587869402009-02-12T10:46:00.003-06:002009-02-12T12:29:27.995-06:00

Citing a White House analysis, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind says in a press release that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act could bring as many as 70,000 jobs to the Badger State."This bill is a smart mix of tax cuts for small businesses and 95 percent of American families, investment in vital infrastructure, and aid to people in need," Kind said. "While there will never be total consensus on a

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-44429837842185197752009-02-11T17:40:00.001-06:002009-02-11T17:42:40.942-06:00

GOP legislative leaders derided the stimulus plan introduced by Gov. Jim Doyle and Dem lawmakers today as a collection of tax increases with limited capacity for job growth. Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, said their members were unlikely to support the package, and Jeff Fitzgerald predicted Assembly Democrats would have

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-4608355910875019102009-02-11T17:00:00.002-06:002009-02-11T17:31:44.879-06:00

Gov. Jim Doyle said today that the federal stimulus package agreed to today by congressional leaders and President Obama does not fully restore the full fiscal stabilization funds that were pared back by the U.S. Senate.Doyle said a portion of the funds were put back in, but he doesn't think "it's a whole lot."Doyle on Tuesday expressed concern over the Senate's version of the stimulus bill,

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-60516026815871724042009-02-11T14:38:00.004-06:002009-02-11T15:57:27.273-06:00

The state stimulus plan introduced today by Gov. Jim Doyle and Democratic legislative leaders will be on a fast track as the authors hope to get it to the governor by Feb. 20.The Joint Finance Committee will begin deliberations on the bill Tuesday, the same day Gov. Jim Doyle will unveil his 2009-11 budget bill.Some highlights of the bill:* $125 million in cuts to state agencies, including

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-42004698702925150092009-02-11T13:37:00.001-06:002009-02-11T13:45:22.700-06:00

State agencies would be required to lapse $125 million, hospitals would pay a new assessment to generate matching federal dollars and businesses would be subject to combined reporting for their tax bills under legislation the governor and lawmakers unveiled this afternoon.The bill would trim the state's $5.7 billion budget gap by an estimated $675 million.The package also includes expanding

Administratornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-65311935721963012702009-02-11T12:04:00.003-06:002009-02-11T12:09:47.645-06:00

A state stimulus package to be released later today is expected to include a new assessment on hospital revenues, combined reporting for corporate taxes and a provision giving lawmakers some oversight of any federal money flowing into the state to jumpstart the economy.The governor and legislative leaders scheduled a 1:30 p.m. news conference today to announce details of the plan. Some final

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-33058855555122328622009-02-11T11:03:00.002-06:002009-02-11T11:08:39.649-06:00

Gov. Jim Doyle said today's state stimulus package announcement will be focused on creating jobs and enacting cuts and revenue uppers to help balance the state budget. "I think what we're talking about is a good package and one that will help us significantly," Doyle said during a media availability in Milwaukee. "It's going to be both something that will help us a lot with the budget and it's

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-7118938718702841282009-02-10T17:03:00.001-06:002009-02-10T17:05:48.417-06:00

Gov. Jim Doyle's cabinet secretaries will forgo a scheduled 2 percent pay increase scheduled to go into effect this summer. Administration Secretary Mike Morgan wrote in a letter to the secretaries yesterday that Doyle had asked him to formally direct them to give up the pay hike. The cabinet met to discuss the issue yesterday. "We have all agreed to take this step because, as leaders of this

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-5266325372401496972009-02-10T14:38:00.004-06:002009-02-10T16:29:10.751-06:00

Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, said this afternoon he hoped a deal on a state stimulus package could be done by tonight or tomorrow."We've still got some details to work out," Decker said. "Hopefully we'll have something to announce very shortly."The governor and lawmakers have been working to hammer out a deal on a state bill that would complement the federal stimulus package,

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-6002667562843778182009-02-10T13:48:00.002-06:002009-02-10T16:32:22.128-06:00

Lawmakers have reached a general overall agreement on a state stimulus package, a source with knowledge of the deal told WisPolitics this afternoon.The source said details would likely be released tomorrow.The governor and lawmakers have been working to hammer out a deal on a state bill that would complement the federal stimulus package, streamline processes for moving federal money into state

Administratornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-86513009889973385632009-02-10T13:40:00.004-06:002009-02-10T15:47:19.009-06:00

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Middleton, said in a statement the economic recovery package the Senate approved today is not perfect, but the country's rising unemployment rate requires quick and responsible action."The economic recovery package is not perfect but it does take important steps to create or save millions of jobs while addressing our country's energy and infrastructure challenges,"

Administratornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-44660098641370589442009-02-10T12:45:00.003-06:002009-02-10T12:51:18.421-06:00

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Milwaukee, released some details on what funds are included in the $838 billion Senate stimulus package approved this morning on a 61-37 vote.Among the provisions is $1.6 billion nationally for federal and state law enforcement initiatives, and provisions for funding nutrition and agricultural initiatives.

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-42976353210312819692009-02-10T10:12:00.011-06:002009-02-10T10:47:25.836-06:00

Gov. Jim Doyle said this morning that he was "very discouraged" by the U.S. Senate's removal of state fiscal stabilization funds in the federal stimulus package.He told the Wisconsin Counties Association's Legislative Exchange conference this morning that those funds were meant to help state and local governments meet basic needs in this struggling economy."You wonder what they were thinking," he

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-64706849411002106592009-02-09T17:03:00.003-06:002009-02-09T17:31:38.864-06:00

The U.S. Senate passed a cloture vote to end debate on the federal stimulus bill in that chamber. Sixty-one senators voted for cloture, narrowly meeting the requirement of 60 votes to end the debate. Thirty-six senators, all Republicans, voted against cloture.The vote clears the way for a vote on passage tomorrow.A spokesman for Gov. Jim Doyle said today the governor "has some concerns" about a

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-86350755324165860882009-02-09T10:06:00.000-06:002009-02-09T10:07:17.921-06:00

The U.S. Senate is expected to take a procedural vote on the federal stimulus package today, which could lead to a vote on passage tomorrow. Senators made cuts to the package passed in the House, including cutting $40 billion for state fiscal stabilization, $2 billion for broadband funding, and $600 million for Title I school funding.Once the bill is passed by the Senate, it will go to a

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-75149043091264566262009-02-06T11:35:00.002-06:002009-02-06T13:42:21.820-06:00

Sen. Russ Decker wants a proposal to broaden the availability of tax exemptions for low-income housing in the stimulus package. But not everyone involved in the talks is on the same page.The conflict has some budget watchers concerned that a hard-line stance could derail the state stimulus package and foul the water for money expected to come from the feds. The so-called "Columbus Park fix" was

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-56651463993423894322009-02-05T13:55:00.005-06:002009-02-05T14:04:06.340-06:00

Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker said he would like to see a state stimulus package include provisions to balance the current fiscal year's projected $594 million budget gap.Decker, D-Weston, also said he'd like to see a stimulus bill come together before Gov. Jim Doyle delivers his 2009-11 state budget on Feb. 17."There's still a few things on the table," Decker said. Decker and Sen. Mark

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-24925726689213904562009-02-04T14:23:00.003-06:002009-02-04T14:30:48.049-06:00

The White House this afternoon sent out a release touting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and detailing the impact it will have on each state. The bill was passed by the House last week, and is currently in the Senate.Here is what the White House has to say about what the stimulus plan will do for Wisconsin:The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is a nationwide effort to create

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-15671091688534546732009-02-04T11:47:00.005-06:002009-02-04T11:59:57.048-06:00

Gov. Jim Doyle's office announced today that he will delay his budget address until Feb. 17.Doyle's office said he wanted to wait until more was known about what is contained the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill is currently in deliberation in the U.S. Senate and has passed the House.Under state statute, Doyle was originally supposed to deliver the budget by the end of January but

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-16877160791748118422009-02-04T11:31:00.002-06:002009-02-04T11:34:52.894-06:00

The Democratic Policy Committee has released its analysis of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the impact it will have on states.The DPC, using figures from the Senate Appropriations Committee, estimates Wisconsin will $3.1 billion in benefits from the stimulus package.See their analysis of the Wisconsin benefits here.Find information on all 50 states here.

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11766979.post-25922817459634826682009-02-04T10:19:00.000-06:002009-02-04T10:20:41.017-06:00

The Assembly Committee on Organization this morning unanimously approved a ban on fundraising during budget negotiations after some initial GOP objections.Rep. Mark Gottlieb, R-Port Washington, questioned whether the bill allows the speaker to exceed his authority by regulating the conduct of members outside the chamber.Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, countered that the bill mirrors

Greg Bumpnoreply@blogger.com