.
The Wisconsin Senate passed its version of the Joint Finance Committee’s budget bill last week on a vote of 17-16. While I understand that it is tough to create a budget bill in the midst of these extraordinary economic times, I believe that state legislators should be doing everything they can to rebuild our economy, not stifle economic growth.
I voted against this $62 billion budget bill because it is not in the best interests of my constituents or the state of Wisconsin. During the past months, I have had the opportunity to hold office hours throughout my district. As I met with constituents from Ontario, Prairie du Chien, Wauzeka, Westby, Holmen and Stoddard, it became clear that very few people were satisfied with the state budget or the direction that our state is headed.
As I told my constituents back in February, I would advocate measures that will reduce the tax burden on hard-working families and that would enhance our economic climate for business growth in Wisconsin. My solution of a state spending freeze at 2007-08 levels would have been one step in the right direction by reducing a state deficit.
I then offered a solution to my fellow colleagues to model Wisconsin’s budgeting process after our neighboring state of Minnesota’s zero-based budgeting technique, which forces agencies to re-examine their missions and prioritize their programs so policymakers can determine where scarce funds should be best allocated.
All the while, our budget deficit only became worse. In early May, the governor reported that the budget deficit had grown an additional $1.5 billion. Still, the Joint Finance Committee continued to keep spending increases in the budget bill. I then offered an amendment to the Senate Democrats’ version of the budget bill that would have eliminated all earmarks and non-fiscal policy items from the budget. This amendment failed to pass allowing about $38 million in earmarks to remain in the budget plus 88 non-fiscal policy items.
Now, the Senate has passed its version of the budget bill, which increases spending by an additional $300 million from the Joint Finance Committee’s original version. In the end, we have a budget bill that increases government growth, stifles the private sector and creates additional hardships for Wisconsin families and Main Street businesses.
Wisconsin’s business climate was recently ranked 43 out of 50 among states in the nation by Forbes magazine. A recent Time magazine article ranked Wisconsin 46 out of 50 states in job growth. We are currently in the bottom five in economic growth, and this budget bill will only hasten a continual descent.
Maintaining the services that people need requires a strong economic climate. We already have much in place in Wisconsin to attract business growth: an incredible Midwestern work ethic, a great educational system, good infrastructure and a wonderful environment, but we’re lacking an economic climate conducive to attracting new jobs and retaining the ones we have.
Creating a better business environment and stimulating job growth will continue to be my priority as the 2009-10 legislative session continues, and I look forward to working together with my colleagues to continue to rebuild Wisconsin’s economy.
.
Advertisement 
