WisPolitics Budget Blog

Sen. Jauch said the Dems' renewables package "acknowledges in very important ways (Assembly Republican) positions," and hopes there'll be agreement on it soon.

"We could have that done next week. There's no reason why we shouldn't," he said.

Rep. Huebsch acknowledged the two sides aren't far apart on the issue, but said there are differences such as the Dems' plan to raise the recycling tipping fee.

Labels: Huebsch, Jauch, Renewable Energy

Last budget, the Democrats coined the phrase "concrete vs. kids" to slam Republicans, who they said put a greater emphasis on budget increases for transporation and roadbuilding funds than funds for K-12 education.

Sen. Jauch has now brought up in the last two meetings that the Assembly Republican budget includes a 12 percent increase for Department of Corrections funding, but just a 3 percent increase for the UW System.

"You are shutting the door to higher education with your budget rather than opening the door, which is where we need to be," Jauch said.

Labels: Jauch

Responding to Rep. Fitzgerald's statement that the Assembly GOP budget doesn't raise taxes, Sen. Jauch said to say that shows the Republicans "a misunderstanding or complete ignorance of your own budget."

He said the Assembly budget includes a $90 million reduction in Homestead Tax eligibility for families earning under $24,000 per year.

"Your priority was to provide a tax break for people who sell gold bullion while at the same time sticking it 81,000 of the most vulnerable (state residents)," Jauch said.

He said the Republican proposal "just simply doesn't add up" and "lacks a moral compass."

Labels: Jauch

The conferees are taking turns blasting the others side's budget proposal.

Sen. Decker blasted the Republicans' defense of "big oil." Rep. Rhoades said the Democratic budget proposals spend more than state residents can afford, and said the Healthy Wisconsin, "I don't want the government running my health care."

Sen. Jauch ripped the Assembly Republican budget up and down, saying it "seems to be devised without any moral compass."

Rep. Fitzgerald said Gov. Doyle's budget is "very liberal" and said he has constituents that have to work two jobs just to afford the tax burden in the state of Wisconsin. Taxpayers are "angry right now," Fitzgerald said.

Rep. Kreuser sounded a more conciliatory tone, but did rip the Assembly GOP budget for cutting education, firefighters, and police, among other things. He said the GOP budget a "budget that united our (Assembly Dem) caucus."

Sen. Fitzgerald tore apart the Healthy Wisconsin plan, listing a number of unanswered questions and unintended consequences of the proposal, and said there is dissension among Democrats about it, including Gov. Doyle. "I have no idea how this conference committee can function when it seems Democrats need a conference committee on health care before they come to this table," he said.

Fitzgerald did offer some hope for compromise, saying Gov. Doyle's proposal to extend BadgerCare "deserves some consideration."

Labels: Decker, Jauch, Kreuser, Rep. Fitzgerald, Rhoades, Sen. Fitzgerald

Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, excoriated the Republican motion to limit the per pupil adjustment to $100, calling it a "Darth Vader approach to children."

"I have a hard time understanding the Republican compulsion to take a meat axe to the children of this state," Jauch fumed.

Labels: DPI, General_School_Aids, Jauch

While he was arguing in favor of the governor's proposal to create a new Department of Children and Families, Sen. Jauch, D-Poplar, said he was glad the committee is taking up issues now that affect families, rather than waiting until the end of the budget process.

He said the education budget should be next on the agenda, and the Department of Corrections should be last.

"I'm waiting for the day when we take kids over criminals," he said.

"If we run out of money, let's run out of money then (Corrections budget)," Jauch said.

Labels: Corrections, Education budget, Jauch

What started out as a breeze has bogged down as both sides dig in over Gov. Doyle's budget proposals.

The latest is Doyle's proposal to charge a $5 fee to small businesses who file sales tax returns by paper was roundly criticized by Republicans. The proposal, called the "tax tax" by some Republicans, is aimed at encouraging electronic filing. (Budget paper 688.) The fee is expected to generate an extra $2.8 million in revenue for the state annually.

Republicans moved to eliminate the proposal.

Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, said some small businesses don't have access to the Internet, and he also has privacy concerns "if you're like me and the Department of Revenue shared your Social Security number with the rest of the world."

Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbottsford, said the proposal punishes those who don't have Internet. "Let's be honest, this is a tax on a tax."

Rep. Dan Meyer, R-Eagle River, said the session was shaping up to be "a great day for government" with the number of spending fee increases the committee has already approved.

But co-chair Sen. Russ Decker, D-Wausau, said filers can also avoid the fee by filing by phone. Suder replied that not all residents, such as the Amish, have telephones.

Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, said we are moving toward an electronic society, and that there is efficiency to be gained by technology that reduces the need for staff and bigger government.

Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, said Republicans are "making a mountain out of a mole hill."

"It's really simple, you make a phone call, you don't have to pay an extra fee."

Labels: Decker, Jauch, Stone, Suder, Tax Tax, Taylor

The committee has returned from its break, with Rhoades telling Jauch that Republicans agree the Crex Meadows Youth Conservation Camp in Grantsburg is a good project, but he may not be pursuing the right funding source. She asks Jauch if he'd like to pull it back until a later time.

Jauch replied that the same case could be made with any motion down the line. He seemed to warn that defeating the motion would impact negotiations down the road.

"I've seen this committee work like a boxing match and I've seen this committee work in a very collegial way," Jauch said, explaining that the job of the committee is to get as much of the budget completed before it goes to the legislative houses.

"I understand that programs like this you want to fund without expending new GPR, there for it has to come from someplace. I've identified a funding source," he said.

Jauch's motion failed on a party-line 8-8 vote.

Labels: Jauch, Rhoades, Youth Apprenticeship Program

The JFC is informal to discuss an amendment introduced by Sen. Bob Jauch to divert $80,000 from the Youth Apprenticeship Program in the second year of the biennium for the Crex Meadows Youth Conservation Camp. To receive the funds, the camp must raise $20,000.

The Burnett County camp serves at-risk students in Northern Wisconsin. About 60 students participate each year, and Jauch said students who attend the camp have an 86 percent high school graduation rate.

Assembly Republicans on the committee balked at the earmark, but Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, had a word withthe GOP Republicans just before they could take a vote. Co-chair Rep. Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson, then called for the committee to stand informal.

Labels: DWD, Jauch, Youth Apprenticeship Program

Budget paper 305 concerns fees for securities agents and investment advisers. The governor has proposed raising the fee from $30 to $60 for the initial license and annual renewals. Program revenue from the increase is estimated at $3 million annually.

Co-chair Rep. Kitty Rhoades moves for a vote on alternative 3 of the budget paper, which would eliminate the fee increase.

Sen. Luther Olsen says the governor's proposal is an example of the fee transfers in the budget. Co-chair Sen. Russ Decker says fee transfers have been going on for as long as he's been in the Legislature, and the state's "gotta pay the bills."

Initially, Rhoades motion passes 8-7-1, but the absent member, Sen. Bob Jauch, walked in just as the roll call was being completed. They record Jauch's vote as no, and the motion is defeated 8-8. The governor's proposal passes.

Labels: Decker, DFI, Jauch, Olsen, Rhoades

Responding to Rep. Robin Vos' argument that the Capital Budget loads debt on future generation through borrowing, Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, said waiting will cost more in the long run.

Jauch used as an example the state Capitol renovation project. With Building Commission secretary Rob Cramer's help, he was able to estimate that the cost of restoring the Capitol building would have ballooned by a third if started today, from the estimated $160 million that was spent to an estimated $240 million if the project was undertaken now.

Jauch also argued that the building program could generate as many as 30,000 construction jobs.

Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbottsford, said he agreed with Jauch that the Capitol renovation was a good investment.

"You may want to frame that," Rep. Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson, quipped.

"Someone call a doctor I think I'm having a heart attack," Jauch said.

However, Suder added, while the projects are worthy, taxpayers cannot afford them, and the list must be prioritized.

Labels: Capital_Budget, Jauch, Suder

Sen. Bob Jauch said in the last several budgets the state hasn't provided adequate reimbursement to hospitals who care for poor patients. He said while he believes the state should be picking up more of the medical assistance reimbursement, going after more federal dollars, triggered by assessing a hospital gross revenue tax, as the governor has proposed is the best option.

"It's the only choice we have when we lower taxes as much as we have," he said.

DHFS Secretary Hayden said the sole purpose of the assessment is to pass more money on to the hospitals for medical assistance reimbursement.

Racine Republican Rep. Robin Vos questioned Jauch's assertion about lower taxes. "Spending has gone from $33 billion to $55 billion over the last decade). Even though you think we're being successful, the numbers from the Fiscal Bureau show we've almost doubled spending in the last 10 years."

Labels: DHFS, Hayden, Hospital Assessment, Jauch, Vos