Assembly Republicans -- some of whom may be needed to pass the state budget out of the chamber later this week -- are being briefed by Legislative Fiscal Bureau staff on the JFC version of the budget today.

The GOP lawmakers, joined by RPW chairman Reince Priebus and executive director Mark Jefferson, met in open caucus this morning to discuss the LFB summary of AB 75.

Rep. Mike Huebsch of West Salem asked LFB director Bob Lang to assess the pattern of using segregated fees and program revenues to complement general purpose revenue in recent budgets, arguing that, "GPR is not what it once was." Democrats are touting a 3.2 percent decrease in GPR spending in the JFC budget; Huebsch said that all funds have to be considered when comparing budgets.

Lang said that other funds to play a larger role in the budget process, but cautioned that much of that spending in the 2009-2011 budget derives from federal stimulus funds.

"You really need to look at all funds to compare this budget to previous budgets," Huebsch said. "It is fair for us to out and say, 'This budget increases spending over the previous budget by 6.3 percent.'"

Republicans also took on SB 232, passed this morning by Joint Finance, which moves stimulus money for school aids in the next biennium into this fiscal year's spending. Rep. Robin Vos of Caledonia noted that the bill, if passed, moves the JFC budget's proposed GPR spending from a 3.2 percent decrease to a 2.3 percent decrease.

Lang told Rep. Kitty Rhoades of Hudson that SB 232 constitutes another "adjustment" to the current fiscal year's budget.

"Is there a record as to how many budget adjustment bills are done under one session?" Rhoades asked.

"The longest one of Gov. Doyle's budgets has lasted is seven months," replied Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Ashwaubenon.


-- By Andy Szal