Change Font Size: [+] [-]

Doyle Budget Proposal First Step in Tough Budget Process

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

MADISON – Governor Doyle made his bi-annual budget address today to a joint
session of the Wisconsin legislature, during which he laid out his plans to
address a $5.7 billion projected shortfall and put to use federal stimulus
funding meant to encourage private sector job growth in Wisconsin. Senator
Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) offered the following statement on the
Governor’s address:

“The Governor’s address has given us a roadmap for balancing our budget
even during a rough economy and stimulating the job growth that will help
the economy recover. His plan uses a combination of large but reasonable
spending cuts, targeted tax reforms and new federal stimulus funding to
balance our budget and avoid an economic disaster. By closing corporate tax
loopholes that have shifted too much of the tax burden onto the shoulders
of working families and small businesses, Governor Doyle’s plan allows the
state to protect vital services, the education of our children and health
care for working families.

“I applaud his aggressive approach to economic development in this
proposal. By putting federal stimulus dollars to work building roads and
bridges throughout Wisconsin, including over $7 million dollars of projects
in Dunn, Eau Claire and Wood counties, he’ll put thousands of

Wisconsin workers back to work right away, giving our economy the boost it
desperately needs. Governor Doyle also makes a critical investment in our
state’s long term economy by expanding access to job creating tax credit
programs, including the $500,000 targeted for businesses in the
nanotechnology industry.

“This is the first step in what will be a difficult budget process.
Lawmakers will now be taking this proposal out to every corner of the state
and getting feedback from our constituents. As usual, the partisans on the
other side of the isle who helped get us into this mess will spin their
usual rhetoric while offering no new ideas and no real solutions. But the
tone in Madison –as in

Washington—is more about taking care of the people than fighting
ideological battles. We’re ready to lead and we’re looking forward to
approving a new budget that repositions our economy for recovery and future
growth.”

Last Updated (2009-03-06 16:22:23)