A motion to order the Department of Justice to provide $1 million to fund pay increases for assistant district attorneys and assistant public defenders sparked a lively quarrel among Dems and Republicans on the JFC.

Rep. Mason, who authored the motion along with Sen. Taylor, said that in talks with his local DA the most important priority was being able to increase compensation for assistants. Taylor said that the DOJ received a 2.4 percent increase in its budget under Gov. Doyle's proposal at a time when most agencies are seeing cuts.

The LFB said reducing DOJ spending authority by $1 million would represent a 1.6 percent reduction.

According to the LFB, the minimum starting salary for a full-time assistant DA or public defender is $48,500 annually. Under the motion, an attorney making the minimum salary would get a 3.5 percent pay bump.

The maximum compensation is $117,100. Under the motion, someone earning that amount would get a 1.5 percent increase.

Rep. Vos said that the mandate would force the DOJ to pull money from important programs that aid crime victims and catch criminals. But Rep. Pocan countered that he has faith that AG Van Hollen is "smart and savvy enough" to avoid using funding from vital programs.

"I'm going to defend the attorney general," Pocan said. "I think he's really much more professional than to go after those areas."

The motion passed 12-4 on a party-line vote.

-- By Greg Bump