June 5, 2009

 

 

Joint Budget Committee
Completes Budget Work

By Senator Jon Erpenbach, 27th Senate District

 

Last Friday the Joint Finance Committee completed its work on the state budget. While I am not a member of the Joint Committee on Finance, they did their job and came up with a balanced budget, despite finding out half-way through the process they needed to find an additional $1.6 billion in cuts. I will continue to fight to exclude non-fiscal items that have not been removed from the budget, including the auto insurance provisions and the civil liability changes which could have a significant unknown impact on Wisconsin consumers and businesses.

The goal of the Legislature is to complete a responsible budget on time that cuts state spending while protecting middle class taxpayers, jobs, education, and police and fire protection – this budget from the Joint Committee on Finance does that during the most difficult time in recent memory.

Cutting over $3.2 Billion in Spending

No other legislature in recent history has cut spending more deeply than the budget approved by the Joint Finance Committee does:

• Cuts $3.2 billion in state spending.

• Spends $870 million less than the current budget--the first time spending in a proposed budget has been less than the previous budget in recent history. 

Protecting Middle Class Taxpayers

Critics who predicted a raise the income or sales tax were sorely disappointed:

• The middle class will see no increase in either the sales or income tax. 

• JFC provided an additional $55 million in property tax relief and expand the Homestead Tax Credit to provide additional property tax relief to low-income families and seniors.

Creating Jobs and Helping Workers

Making wise use of federal economic recovery money, JFC funded hundreds of transportation projects that will put thousands of people to work while also:

• Providing needed funding to our technical colleges to help workers get the training they need to get back to work.    

• Expanding the availability of angel funding making it easier for small businesses to attract investment and investments in high tech businesses.

Maintaining Quality Education

• JFC substantially increased financial aid for students at both UW and Technical college campuses making higher education more affordable despite the need to increase tuition.

• JFC protected local schools from deep cuts so our children will continue to receive the best education possible while protecting property taxpayers.

Keeping the Public Safe

• This budget protects the courts and district attorneys from the deep cuts other agencies will be forced to make. 

• JFC created a special fund to help maintain local police, fire and sheriff protections at levels that will keep our communities safe.

Leading by Example

In this time of crisis it is important that we lead by example: 

• JFC rescinded the upcoming pay increase for legislators and many of us, myself included, will return pay that is equivalent to taking 16 days of furlough.

• Legislative staff is taking 16 days of unpaid furlough.

• I continue to return to the state the Legislative pay raise that was enacted January of this year.

Early in this process Republican leaders said solving the crisis was “not their problem.”  And they kept their word, refusing to provide any plan of their own.   Fortunately, Democrats weren’t afraid to step up and make the difficult choices.  The result is a balanced budget that cuts over $3 billion, spends less than our current budget, and still protects core services.

In the next few weeks the Legislature will complete its work on the state budget – your input is appreciated. This is a very difficult budget at a very difficult time. Please keep in touch. For more information please contact my office at 888-549-0027 or 608-266-6670 or sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov